Pse-T2-Based Short Peptides with Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity, Stability, and Safety Combat MDR and in Mouse Infection Model.

Infections caused by MDR pathogens are on the rise worldwide, and relying on conventional antibiotics can be life-threatening for patients. To address this issue, we used a functional truncated peptide, Pse-T2-C12, which exhibited excellent antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antipersister activities, along with a rapid killing rate against all tested pathogens. Pse-T2-C12 kills bacterial cells via pore formation, permeabilization, and disruption of bacterial membranes.

Anti-senescence and anti-apoptotic effects of immature peel ethanol extract on ultraviolet B-irradiated skin keratinocytes.

Immature peel has garnered attention due to its potent antioxidant effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of immature citrus peel extract (ICPEE) against ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced senescence and apoptosis in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Cells were pretreated with ICPEE for 1 h and exposed to UVB.

Desalinated Lava Seawater Promotes Wound Healing by MMP9 Through Activating ERK Pathways in HaCaT Cells.

Background/aim: Wounds are injuries to skin that frequently occur in daily life. Delayed wound healing can affect quality of life. Therefore, new materials for treating skin wounds are continuously being developed.

5-Fluorouracil induces hair loss by inhibiting β-catenin signaling and angiogenesis.

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a side effect of the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, the mechanism of action in hair follicle cells is unclear. This study investigated the mechanism of action of 5-FU on the hair cycle and growth in vitro and in vivo.

3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Attenuates Allergic Contact Dermatitis by Generating CD4Foxp3 T cells.

Background/aim: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in inflammatory responses by regulating the activity of various immune cells. M2 macrophages induced by IL-10 and TGF-β exhibit anti-inflammatory functions and induce Treg differentiation. Although the beneficial effects of 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB) on various diseases have been widely reported, the mechanisms, through which it alleviates allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) via Tregs and macrophages, are not well understood.

Tissue damage alleviation and mucin inhibition by P5 in a respiratory infection mouse model with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Although the discovery of antibiotics has made significant positive contributions to public health and medicine, it now poses a serious threat due to the increasing antibiotic resistance in various bacteria. Carbapenem-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is spreading globally, exacerbating respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), with broad antibacterial activity, have emerged as promising alternatives for treating MDR A.

The inhibitory effect of chlorogenic acid on oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by PM in HaCaT keratinocytes.

Exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM) can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis in the human skin. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a bioactive polyphenolic compound with antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Protective Effect of Fermented Sea Tangle Extract on Skin Cell Damage Caused by Particulate Matter.

The skin is directly exposed to atmospheric pollutants, especially particulate matter 2.5 (PM) in the air, which poses significant harm to skin health. However, limited research has been performed to identify molecules that can confer resistance to such substances.

Diesel exhaust particulate matter impairs Toll-like receptor signaling and host defense against staphylococcal cutaneous infection in mice.

Air pollution is an emerging cause of mortality, affecting nearly 5 million people each year. Exposure to diesel exhaust fine particulate matter (PM) aggravates respiratory and skin conditions. However, its impact on the protective immunity of the skin remains poorly understood.

Limonin, a Component of Immature Citrus Fruits, Activates Anagen Signaling in Dermal Papilla Cells.

Hair loss remains a significant problem that is difficult to treat; therefore, there is a need to identify safe natural materials that can help patients with hair loss. We evaluated the hair anagen activation effects of limonin, which is abundant in immature citrus fruits. Limonin increased the proliferation of rat dermal papilla cells (rDPC) by changing the levels of cyclin D1 and p27, and increasing the number of BrdU-positive cells.

Lycosin-II Exhibits Antifungal Activity and Inhibits Dual-Species Biofilm by and .

The increase and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance is a global public health issue. To address this, new antimicrobial agents have been developed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit a wide range of antimicrobial activities against pathogens, including bacteria and fungi.

Hesperidin Exhibits Protective Effects against PM-Mediated Mitochondrial Damage, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Cellular Senescence in Human HaCaT Keratinocytes.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM) exposure can trigger adverse health outcomes in the human skin, such as skin aging, wrinkles, pigment spots, and atopic dermatitis. PM is associated with mitochondrial damage and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Hesperidin Protects Human HaCaT Keratinocytes from Particulate Matter 2.5-Induced Apoptosis via the Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Autophagy.

Numerous epidemiological studies have reported that particulate matter 2.5 (PM) causes skin aging and skin inflammation and impairs skin homeostasis. Hesperidin, a bioflavonoid that is abundant in citrus species, reportedly has anti-inflammatory properties.

Bactericidal activities and action mechanism of the novel antimicrobial peptide Hylin a1 and its analog peptides against Acinetobacter baumannii infection.

We developed an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) as a candidate substance for replacing antibiotics. Previously, a novel 18-amino acid antimicrobial peptide Hylin a1 was isolated from an electro-stimulated arboreal South American frog Hypsiboas albopunctatus, and was found to demonstrate antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. In a recent study, the analog peptides were designed based on the parent peptide Hylin a1 to decrease toxicity and to maintain antimicrobial efficacy.

5-Bromo-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Promotes Hair Growth through Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and Autophagy Pathways and Inhibition of TGF-β Pathways in Dermal Papilla Cells.

Various studies addressing the increasing problem of hair loss, using natural products with few side effects, have been conducted. 5-bromo-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB) exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in mouse models of atopic dermatitis and inhibited UVB-induced oxidative stress in keratinocytes. Here, we investigated its stimulating effect and the underlying mechanism of action on hair growth using rat vibrissa follicles and dermal papilla cells (DPCs), required for the regulation of hair cycle and length.

PEP27-2, a Potent Antimicrobial Cell-Penetrating Peptide, Reduces Skin Abscess Formation during Infections in Mouse When Used in Combination with Antibiotics.

PEP27, a 27-amino acid (aa) peptide secreted by , is an autolytic peptide that functions as a major virulence factor. To develop a clinically applicable antimicrobial peptide (AMP), we designed PEP27 analogs with Trp substitutions to enhance its antimicrobial activity compared to that of PEP27. Particularly, PEP27-2 showed strong antimicrobial activity against a wide variety of bacteria, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

A Novel Antimicrobial Peptides From Pine Needles of Sieb. et Zucc. Against Foodborne Bacteria.

Pine needles are used in several East Asian countries as food or traditional medicine. It contains functional components that exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. We determined and characterized the novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from Sieb.

A phage protein-derived antipathogenic peptide that targets type IV pilus assembly.

Phage-inspired antibacterial discovery is a new approach that recruits phages in search for antibacterials with new molecular targets, in that phages are the biological entities well adapted to hijack host bacterial physiology in favor of their own thrive. We previously observed that phage-mediated twitching motility inhibition was effective to control the acute infections caused by and that the motility inhibition was attributed to the delocalization of PilB, the type IV pilus (TFP) assembly ATPase by binding of the 136-amino acid (aa) phage protein, Tip. Here, we created a series of truncated and point-mutant Tip proteins to identify the critical residues in the Tip bioactivity: N-terminal 80-aa residues were dispensable for the Tip activity; we identified that Asp82, Leu84, and Arg85 are crucial in the Tip function.

ER71/ETV2 Promotes Hair Regeneration from Chemotherapeutic Drug-Induced Hair Loss by Enhancing Angiogenesis.

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia and hair loss can be stressful in patients with cancer. The hair grows back, but sometimes the hair tends to stay thin. Therefore, understanding mechanisms regulating hair regeneration may improve the management of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

Myristoleic Acid Promotes Anagen Signaling by Autophagy through Activating Wnt/β-Catenin and ERK Pathways in Dermal Papilla Cells.

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs.

Scorpion-Venom-Derived Antimicrobial Peptide Css54 Exerts Potent Antimicrobial Activity by Disrupting Bacterial Membrane of Zoonotic Bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance is an important issue affecting humans and livestock. Antimicrobial peptides are promising alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, the antimicrobial peptide Css54, isolated from the venom of , was found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against bacteria such as , , , and that cause zoonotic diseases.

HNG, A Humanin Analogue, Promotes Hair Growth by Inhibiting Anagen-to-Catagen Transition.

The hair follicle goes through repetitive cycles including anagen, catagen, and telogen. The interaction of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and keratinocytes regulates the hair cycle and hair growth. Humanin was discovered in the surviving brain cells of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

L-Ascorbic Acid Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth by Inducing IRE/JNK/CHOP-Related Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated p62/SQSTM1 Accumulation in the Nucleus.

Anticancer effects of L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C, L-AA) have been reported in various types of cancers. L-AA intake reduces breast cancer recurrence and mortality; however, the role of L-AA in the treatment of breast cancer remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism action of L-AA on breast cancer growth.