Endotoxin-Induced L-Arginine Pathway Produces Nitric Oxide and Modulates the Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel in Cultured Human Dermal Papilla Cells

Endotoxin induces an enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine (NO synthase) in vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts, leading to the release of NO. We evaluated the release of NO and its intracellular action on the Ca2+-activated K+ channel (Kca channel) in cultured human dermal papilla cells by use of the electron paramagnetie response (EPR) spin trapping method and the patch clamp technique. In dermal papilla cells pretreated for 24h with endotoxin (1 μg/ml), application of 1mM L-arginine generated NO, although no measurable release of NO was observed in cells without endotoxin pretreatment, as determined by the EPR spin trapping method. With the patch clamp technique, we found that the Kca channel of dermal papilla cells had high conductance and was voltage dependent. In addition, after endotoxin pretreatment, the extracellular application of 100 μM L-arginine modulated the Kca channel in the cellattached patch confignrations. In inside-out patch configuration, however, NO produced by L-arginine itself did not modulate the Kca channel. This modulation of the Kca channel was suppressed by pretreatment with 100 μm Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of inducible and constitutive NO synthases. Methylene blue, a blocker of guanylate cyclase, inhibited the L-arginine-induced activation of the Kca channel. These results indicate that the endotoxin-induced L-arginine pathway generates NO, which consequently modulates the Kca channel in cultured human dermal papilla cells by increasing of cyclic GMP-dependent phosphorylation

サイキン ノ アトピーセイ ヒフエン

From the 1980s, the number of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and other allergic diseases has been increasing in Japan. Of these, AD is far more highlighted by mass media than other allergic diseases. It is probably because adult patients with severe AD have been far more increasing in number when compared to other countries, and because there is a social problem concerning so-called “atopy business” that sells skillfully unreliable but expensive goods to AD patients who are disappointed with topical corticoid therapy. Characteristic clinical features of adult AD include persistent facial erythema, so-called dirty neck, and severe itching that sometimes make these patients hesitate to even go out. Although topical corticosteroids are still used as a mainstream therapy for AD, a new immunosuppuressive drug, tacrolimus, is becoming a first-choice regimen for skin lesions of the face and neck in adult AD. There are various theories to explain why adult type AD has been increasing. Of these, it seems important that the structure of houses and styles of daily life have been changing in recent Japan

Identification and Characterization of Skin Biomolecules for Drug Targeting and Monitoring by Vibrational Spectroscopy

The article discusses the application of vibrational spectroscopy techniques for in vivo identification and characterization of glucose biomolecules monitored in the skin of healthy, prediabetes and diabetes subjects; for molecular characterization of water and proteins in in vivo monitored patch tested inflamed skin of the patients with contact dermatitis; for description of nucleic acids and proteins at the molecular level with progression to malignancy in skin cancerous lesions. The results of the studies show new possibilities to assess activity levels of glucose metabolism in the skin tissue of healthy, prediabetes and diabetes subjects; activity and severity of inflammation; activity of the processes of carcinogenesis with regard to benign, premalignant and malignant transformation. Based on our findings, we suggest that vibrational spectroscopy might be a rapid screening tool with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to identify and characterize skin biomolecules in described diseases for drug targeting and monitoring by the pharmacological community

コウレイシャ ノ ヒフ シュヨウ

Skin tumors in aged patients consist of benign tumors, precancerous lesions or carcinomas in situ, and skin cancers. We reviewed the clinical characteristic and treatment for each of them, and the molecular pathogenesis and protection for skin cancers. Exposure to ultra-violet (UV) radiation is the most common cause of skin cancers. In particular, UV-B radiation is mainly involved in the mutagenesis in the skin by two major photoproducts of a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer and a (6-4) photoproduct. Recently, the ozone layer of the earth has been destroyed, and the increase in UV-B radiation on the earth surface can be expected in the next years. Therefore, we should add special attention to patients with skin cancers that are predicted to increase in number, and UV protection by sunscreens from childhood should be essential for the prevention against skin cancers in the 21st century

ロウジンセイ カンピショウ ヒフ ソウヨウショウ ヒシ ケツボウセイ シッシン

How we can treat “itch”? That is a very important subject when we examine old patients. Especially in a dry season, “skin dryness” accelerates “itch”, and then the patients who suffer from senile pruritus and asteatotic eczema owing to dry skin (senile xerosis) considerably increase. In this paper, we describe the etiology, the crinical appearanses, the treatments, and the suggestions of daily life of their diseases. We emphasize that the each stage of the senile xerotic diseases individually needs the appropreate skin care and treatments, and that the patients can prevent the diseases from advancing if they alter the habits of daily life

A case of episodic angioedema associated with eosinophilia

Background Gleich et al. first described 4 cases of episodic angioedema associated with eosinophilia as a distinct entity in 1984. Since then, several cases of this disorder have been reported in the United States, Europe and Japan. Observations We report a case of a 22-year-old pregnant Japanese woman with this disorder. She had no fever and her general condition was good except the angioedema which was limited to her limbs. During an acute episode, her white blood cell count increased to 29,500/mm3 with 50% eosinophils, following an elevated serum interleukin-5 (IL-5) level. Spontaneous resolution occurred in 1 month after the onset. In a 5 month follow-up, no evidence of cardiac or other visceral organ involvement was found, and no recurrence occurred. Conclusions Our case, combined with those reported in the literature, suggests that Japanese cases of episodic angioedema associated with eosinophilia differ from Caucasian cases in clinical symptoms and some other points

スイホウセイ シッカン

Some autoimmune bullous disorders are not uncommon among elderly people. We reaported 2 cases of autoimmune bullous disorders of elderly people with complications. Case 1 was a 64 year-old man with pemphigus vulgaris. He was complicated with acquired hemophilia A due to factor VIII inhibitor. Case 2 was an 80 year-old man with bullous pemphigoid. He had huge liver tumor. We should keep in mind that autoimmune bullous disorders in elderly persons may be complicated with other systemic disease, especially internal malignancy