Park, No-June Bong, Sim-Kyu Lee, Sullim Jung, Yujung Jegal, Hyun Kim, Jinchul Kim, Si-Kwan Kim, Yong Kee Kim, Su-Nam 2024-01-19T16:30:18Z 2024-01-19T16:30:18Z 2021-09-02 2020-11 1226-8453 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/117931 Background: The skin acts as a barrier to protect organisms against harmful exogenous agents. Compound K (CK) is an active metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2 and Rc, and researchers have focused on its skin protective efficacy. In this study, we hypothesized that increased expression of the serine protease inhibitor Kazal type-5 (SPINK5) may improve skin barrier function. Methods: We screened several ginsenosides to increase SPINK5 gene promoter activity using a transactivation assay and found that CK can increase SPINK5 expression. To investigate the protective effect of CK on the skin barrier, RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to investigate the expression levels of SPINK5, kallikrein 5 (KLK5), KLK7 and PAR2 in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and histological changes associated with the skin barrier were performed in a UVB-irradiated mouse model and a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis-like model. Results: CK treatment increased the expression of SPINK5 and decreased the expression of its downstream genes, such as KLKs and PAR2. In the UVB-irradiated mouse model and the DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis model, CK restored increased TEWL and decreased hydration and epidermal hyperplasia. In addition, CK normalized the reduced SPINK5 expression caused by UVB or DNCB, thereby restoring the expression of the proteins involved in desquamation to a level similar to normal. Conclusions: Our data showed that CK contributes to improving skin-barrier function in UVB-irradiated and DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis-like models through SPINK5. These results suggest that therapeutic attempts with CK might be useful in treating barrier-disrupted diseases. (C) 2019 The Korean Society of Ginseng. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. English KOREAN SOC GINSENG SERINE-PROTEASE INHIBITOR ATOPIC-DERMATITIS NETHERTON-SYNDROME STRATUM-CORNEUM ULTRAVIOLET-B GENE ASSOCIATION MUTATIONS POLYMORPHISMS DESQUAMATION Compound K improves skin barrier function by increasing SPINK5 expression Article 10.1016/j.jgr.2019.11.006 1 JOURNAL OF GINSENG RESEARCH, v.44, no.6, pp.799 - 807 JOURNAL OF GINSENG RESEARCH 44 6 799 807 scie scopus kci ART002645666 000589649400006 2-s2.0-85076514294 Plant Sciences Chemistry, Medicinal Integrative & Complementary Medicine Plant Sciences Pharmacology & Pharmacy Integrative & Complementary Medicine Article SERINE-PROTEASE INHIBITOR ATOPIC-DERMATITIS NETHERTON-SYNDROME STRATUM-CORNEUM ULTRAVIOLET-B GENE ASSOCIATION MUTATIONS POLYMORPHISMS DESQUAMATION Atopic dermatitis Compound K Skin barrier SPINK5 UV