hyperpigmentation/protease

The membrane protease LonB is an essential protein in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii and globally impacts its physiology. However, natural substrates of the archaeal Lon protease have not been identified. The whole proteome turnover was examined in a H. volcanii LonB mutant under reduced and

BACKGROUND During photoaging, the density of melanin chromatophores is heterogeneous in the epidermis. OBJECTIVE To define the patterns of pheomelanin-enriched melanotic hypermelanosis of the face in phototype II subjects and to assess the effect of depigmenting agents. Azelaic acid and glycolic

BACKGROUND Hyperpigmentation disorders are common and diverse conditions that may require treatment for medical and/or cosmetic reasons. Hyperpigmented lesions can reduce patients' quality of life, self-perception, and social and vocational functioning. The most commonly used treatments for

Despite numerous drug interactions that occur with human immunodeficiency virus-1 protease inhibitors, there are relatively few drug reactions. We present two patients receiving saquinavir who developed fixed drug reactions. Both reactions cleared while patients received a therapeutic dose of the

Skin pigmentation is the result of melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is a key mediator of melanosome transfer, which occurs as the melanocyte extends its dendrite toward surrounding keratinocytes that take up melanosomes by phagocytosis. We

The cause of hyperpigmentation, such as solar lentigo and seborrheic keratosis, is the excessive accumulation of melanin pigments in the epidermal basal layer. Melanin pigments are synthesized in the melanosomes, which are specific organelles produced by melanocytes in the basal layer. Melanosomes

Human mast cells have been shown to release histamine in response to the neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), but it is unknown whether these cells express proopiomelanocortin (POMC) or POMC-derived peptides. We therefore examined highly purified human skin mast cells and a

Facial epidermal pigmentation and skin tumors can be caused by UV exposure and other physical and chemical irritations. In this report we describe the primary culture of melanocytes from human face skin. The ability to culture these melanocytes will enable their morphological and biological

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) progresses through a series of clinical stages, from healthy skin to poorly healing leg ulcers. The aim of this study was to analyse the distribution pattern and activity level of urokinase-type (uPA) and tissue-type plasminogen activators (tPA) in normal skin and

The porphyrias are the only group of diseases caused by endogenous phototoxic agents. While patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria and those with porphyria cutanea tarda both have skin lesions on sun-exposed areas, there are differences in their cutaneous manifestations. Based on information

The control of melanogenesis is an important strategy in the treatment of abnormal skin pigmentation for cosmetic purposes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-melanogenic effect of Asterina pectinifera (A. pectinifera) extracts by cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay, cellular

Madecassoside (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Centella asitica (L.), is used as a therapeutic agent in wound healing and also as an anti-inflammatory and anti-aging agent. However, the involvement of MA in skin-pigmentation has not been reported. This study was conducted to investigate

BACKGROUND Solar lentigines (SLs) are macular hyperpigmented lesions associated with sun exposure and age. Histopathologically, SLs are defined by a hyperpigmented basal layer and elongated rete ridges. The molecular mechanisms involved in the formation and the development of SLs are not completely

HIV-infected patients have a higher risk of developing cutaneous reactions than the general population, which has a significant impact on patients' current and future care options. The severity of cutaneous adverse reactions varies greatly, and some may be difficult to manage. HIV-infected patients

The virulence of Legionella pneumophila is dependent upon its capacity to acquire iron. To identify genes involved in expression of its siderophore, we screened a mutagenized population of L. pneumophila for strains that were no longer able to rescue the growth of a ferrous transport mutant.