Plant Polyphenols Regulate Chemokine Expression and Tissue Repair in Human Keratinocytes Through Interaction with Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Components of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor System

Aims: To evaluate mechanisms underlying modulation of inflammatory chemokines in primary human keratinocytes (normal human epidermal keratinocytes) and repair-related processes in wound models by plant polyphenols (PPs) with antioxidant and superoxide scavenging properties (verbascoside [Vb], resveratrol [Rv], polydatin [Pd], quercetin [Qr], and rutin).

Results: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-controlled chemokines CXCL8/interleukin 8 (IL-8), CCL2/monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and CXCL10/interferon gamma-produced protein of 10 kDa (IP-10) were modulated by transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and by the tumor necrosis factor alpha/interferon gamma combination (T/I). EGFR phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and downstream cytoplasmic signaling pathways (extracellular regulation kinase [ERK]1/2, p38, STAT3, and PI-3K) were studied. All PPs did not affect TGF-α-induced STAT3 phosphorylation, whereas they suppressed T/I-activated NFkappaB and constitutive and T/I-induced but not TGF-α-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Vb and Qr suppressed total EGFR phosphorylation, but they synergized with TGF-α to enhance nuclear accumulation of phosphorylated EGFR. Vb strongly inhibited TGF-α-induced p38 phosphorylation and T/I-induced NFkappaB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding to DNA. Vb was an effective inhibitor of T/I-stimulated chemokine synthesis, and it accelerated scratch wound healing in vitro. Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of Vb were confirmed in vivo in the full-thickness excision wound. Although Pd and Rv did not affect EGFR activation/translocation, they and Qr synergized with TGF-α and T/I in the induction of IL-8 transcription/synthesis while opposing enhanced MCP-1 and IP-10 transcription/synthesis connected with pharmacologically impaired EGFR functioning.

Innovation: PPs perturb the EGFR system in human keratinocytes, and this effect may be implicated in the regulation of inflammatory and repair-related processes in the skin.

Conclusion: Anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects of PPs depend on their interaction with EGFR-controlled cytoplasmic and nuclear pathways rather than on their direct redox properties.