Relationship between skin fungal and bacterial microbiomes and skin pH.

Objective: The present study investigated the relationship between the skin bacterial and fungal microbiomes and skin pH at sebaceous sites, namely, the forehead, cheek and upper chest. We also examined the relationship between the skin microbiome and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is an indicator of rough skin.

Methods: Thirty healthy Japanese subjects (15 females and 15 males) were enrolled as subjects.

Immunostimulatory effects of a subcritical water extract of .

, a medicinal mushroom with various physiological activities, has been extensively investigated regarding its effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a subcritical water extract of (SWEG) on the immune system. The use of subcritical water with a higher temperature and pressure than hot water allows efficient elution of components from natural products.

The Microbiome in Comedonal Contents of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris is Composed of an Overgrowth of Spp. and Other Cutaneous Microorganisms.

Background: Acne vulgaris (acne) and cutaneous resident microorganisms are considered to be closely related. However, the bacterial and fungal microbiota in the comedonal contents of inflammatory acne lesions have not yet been investigated in detail.

Purpose: To clarify the relationship between cutaneous microorganisms and acne, we examined the microbiome in the comedonal contents of inflammatory acne and on the facial skin of patients with acne using 16s rRNA and ITS gene sequencing with a next-generation sequencer (NGS).

Morphological change of skin fibroblasts induced by UV Irradiation is involved in photoaging.

Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) are typically flattened or extensible shaped and play a critical role in the metabolism of extracellular matrix components. As the properties of fibroblasts in the dermis are considered to be influenced by their morphology, we investigated the morphological changes induced in fibroblasts by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation as well as the relationship between these changes and collagen metabolism. In this study, we showed that UVA exposure induced morphological changes and reduced collagen contents in HDFs.

Inhibitory effect of Phalaenopsis orchid extract on WNT1-induced immature melanocyte precursor differentiation in a novel in vitro solar lentigo model.

Recently, it has been reported that increased expression of WNT1 accelerates the differentiation of melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) in solar lentigines (SLs), hyperpigmented maculae commonly seen on sun-exposed areas of the skin. In this study, to establish an in vitro SL model, human epidermal squamous carcinoma cell line HSC-1, which expresses higher levels of WNT1 than normal human epidermal keratinocytes, was co-cultured with early passage normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEMs) as an in vitro McSC model. As a result, mRNA expression levels of melanocyte differentiation-related genes MITF and TYR in NHEMs were significantly increased by co-culturing with HSC-1 cells.