Cellular responses to egg-oil (charismon©).

Egg-oil (Charismon©) is known for its beneficial action in wound healing and other skin irritancies and its antibacterial activity. The physiological basis for these actions has been investigated using cells in culture: HaCaT-cells (immortalized human keratinocytes), human endothelial cells in culture (HUVEC), peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes (PBML) and a full thickness human skin model (FTSM). Emphasis was on the influence of egg-oil on cell migration and IL-8 production in HaCaT cells, respiration, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen (ROS) production and proliferation in HUVEC and HaCaT cells, cytokine and interleukin production in PBML and UV-light induced damage of FTSM.

Changes in the sex hormone profile of male patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis under systemic therapy: results of a prospective longitudinal pilot study.

Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis exhibit increased cardiovascular mortality. Recent publications point towards psoriasis-induced insulin resistance as an important pathomechanism driving cardiovascular comorbidity in these patients. As the hormonal status in general and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in particular serve as sensitive indicators for insulin resistance, we analysed these parameters in the context of a set of multiple additional clinical and laboratory measurements in a cohort of male patients.

Reduced TRPC channel expression in psoriatic keratinocytes is associated with impaired differentiation and enhanced proliferation.

Psoriasis is a characteristic inflammatory and scaly skin condition with typical histopathological features including increased proliferation and hampered differentiation of keratinocytes. The activation of innate and adaptive inflammatory cellular immune responses is considered to be the main trigger factor of the epidermal changes in psoriatic skin. However, the molecular players that are involved in enhanced proliferation and impaired differentiation of psoriatic keratinocytes are only partly understood.

Systemic therapy of plaque-type psoriasis ameliorates endothelial cell function: results of a prospective longitudinal pilot trial.

Severe psoriasis is associated with significant cardiovascular mortality. We therefore investigated the effects of systemic therapy on the cardiovascular risk of psoriasis patients. Thirteen consecutive patients receiving fumaric acid esters were included and followed for 24 weeks both clinically and by means of laboratory monitoring, 10 completed the study.

Transcriptional induction of junctional adhesion molecule-C gene expression in activated T cells.

Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-C is an Ig superfamily protein, which is involved in the regulation of various inflammatory and vascular events such as transendothelial leukocyte migration. JAM-C is expressed highly on the surface of endothelial cells and platelets, whereas expression in T lymphocytes is not well studied. To investigate the specific gene regulation of JAM-C in T lymphocytes, we determined JAM-C expression in quiescent and activated human T cells.

Lipophilic prodrugs of amino acids and vitamin E as osmolytes for the compensation of hyperosmotic stress in human keratinocytes.

Skin keratinocytes are subjected to changing osmotic conditions and evolved counteracting mechanisms. Particularly, the expression of osmolyte transporters serves for the maintenance of cell volume in a hypertonic environment. In this study, we show that hyperosmotic stress significantly decreases the proliferation in HaCaT keratinocytes.

Specific TRPC6 channel activation, a novel approach to stimulate keratinocyte differentiation.

The protective epithelial barrier in our skin undergoes constant regulation, whereby the balance between differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes plays a major role. Impaired keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation are key elements in the pathophysiology of several important dermatological diseases, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Ca(2+) influx plays an essential role in this process presumably mediated by different transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.