Skin, cell growth

GSLs play crucial roles in functions of the nervous system and skin, cell growth and differentiation, infections, cancer, and immune response [1, 2, 12], Owing to their strategic position in membranes, they interact with toxins, bacteria, and viruses. They form membrane lipid rafts and present the attached carbohydrates as cell-surface receptors and, thus, serve as portals of entry for pathogens through carbohydrate-protein interactions [13]. For example, HIV entry is mediated by GalCer receptors of the host cells [14],... 

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (seborrhoea) is the result of accelerated skin cell growth and sebaceous gland activity on the scalp, face and trunk. The condition may also involve the area in and around the ears, the eyebrows and eyelashes. 

The market for squalane is larger and is based on its use in skin cosmetics. It is claimed to be a natural component of sebum and is rapidly absorbed into the skin. Claimed benefits include moisturizing properties, skin lubrication properties, barrier properties, and rejuvenating action both by promotion of skin cell growth and by inhibition of bacteria which retard cell growth. 

Treated rats had 1000 mg/kg FW liver (vs. 4.7 in controls) lowered hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell counts mean survival time of 67 days hepatic and renal histopathology Dose-time-dependent increase in copper concentrations in liver, spleen, and lung little accumulation in muscle and skin. Reduced growth at 2.5 and 3.75 mg/kg BW daily reduced survival at 3.75 mg/kg BW. Maximum copper concentrations recorded, in mg/kg FW (vs. saline controls,) were 710 in liver (<5), 212 in kidney (<10), 7 in lung (<1.5), 27 in spleen (<2.0) 6 in bone (<2.0) and 2.2 in testes (<1.6) Increased serum ceruloplasmin and white blood cell number... 

Keratinocytes are also important cellular sources of cytokines such as the T-cell growth factor IL-15 in the skin. IL-15 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of different skin diseases by virtue of its action on the maintenance of T cells - possibly also intraepithelial T cells. 

In the biomedical area, SPHs and SPH composites can be used to make various biomedical devices, such as artificial pancreas, artificial cornea, and artihcial skin, articular cartilage, soft tissue substitutes, cell growth substrates in tissue engineering, burn dressings, surgical augmentation of the female breast, or hemoperfusion in blood detoxification and in the treatment of uremia. 

Epidermal growth factor EGE saUvary glands intestine cells of epidermal origin (e.g. skin cells) ... 

Mechanism of Action A synthetic vitamin Dj analog that regulates skin cell (kerat-inocyte) production and development. Therapeutic Effect Preventing abnormal growth and production of psoriasis (abnormal kerafinocyte growth). Pharmacokinetics Minimal absorption through intact skin. Metabolized in liver. 

Preliminary in vitro and animal studies of the effects of silymarin and silybinin have been carried out with several cancer cell lines. In murine models of skin cancer, silybinin and silymarin were said to reduce tumor initiation and promotion. Induction of apoptosis has also been reported using silymarin in a variety of malignant human cell lines (eg, melanoma, prostate, leukemia cells, bladder transitional-cell papilloma cells, and hepatoma cells). Inhibition of cell growth and proliferation by inducing a Gx cell cycle arrest has also been claimed in cultured human breast and prostate cancer cell lines. The use of milk thistle in the clinical treatment of cancer has not yet been adequately studied but preliminary trials are under way. 

Ornithine decarboxylase catalyzes the transformation of ornithine to the polycationic bases, putresine, spermine, and spermidine. These compounds exert regulatory effects on cell growth. It has been shown that quercetin (10 to 30 pmol/mouse) markedly suppressed the stimulatory effect of the transporters associated with antigen processing (TPA) on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and on skin tumor formation in mice initiated with dimethylbenzanthracene. Such inhibition may be related to the activation of the catalytic site, which is under nonconventional regulation by small molecules. Also, the synthetic flavonoid flavone acetic acid was shown to inhibit the activity of ODC in stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and human colonic lamina propria lymphocytes. 

Mian, N., Analysis of cell-growth-phase-related variations in hyaluronate synthase activity of isolated plasma-membrane fractions of cultured human skin fibroblasts, Biochem. J., 237, 333, 1986. 

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