Efficacy
of Chitin and Keratin Bioactive Fractions
in
Skin Inflammatory Processes Remission
Br ndusa
DUMITRIU1, Laura OLARIU4, Luiza Mariana TANASE2,
Sabina Cristiana SERBU3, Diana Manuela ENE5, Carmen
GAIDAU6, Natalia ROSOIU7
1 Scientific Researcher III, PhD, affiliation:
S.C. Biotehnos S.A., Research & Development Departament, Otopeni, Romania
(e-mail: dbrandusa@biotehnos.com).
2 Biochem, Scientific Researcher, PhD, S.C.
Biotehnos S.A., Research & Development Departament, Otopeni, Romania
(luiza.craciun@biotehnos.com). 3 Farmacist, S.C. Biotehnos S.A., Research &
Development Departament, Otopeni, Romania (sabina.serbu@biotehnos.com).
4 Senior Researcher I, PhD, S.C. Biotehnos
S.A., Research & Development Departament, Otopeni, Romania
(lolariu@biotehnos.com) corresponding author, Associeit Member Romanian
Academy of Scientist
5. Scientific Researcher III, PhD, S.C.
Biotehnos S.A., Research & Development Departament, Otopeni, Romania (diana.ene@biotehnos.com)
6 Eng., PhD, Head of Leather Research
Department of The Research and Development National Institute for Textiles and
Leather-Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, Bucharest, Romania (carmen_gaidau@hotmail.com)
7 Prof. Univ. Emeritus., Senior Researcher I,
PhD, Faculty of Medicine, The Doctoral School of Applied Sciences, Biology /
Biochemistry Section - PhD thesis supervisor, University Ovidius , Constanta,
full member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists, Biological Sciences Section
President (natalia_rosoiu@yahoo.com)
Abstract
The development of new
therapies in the field of regenerative medicine is a priority area, which
integrates, among other fields of research, the use of active molecules from
extracts of natural origin with renewable potential. In this context, the
biomedical applications of chitin from various natural sources (entomological,
marine etc.), as well as those of keratin from leather waste, are included. The
studies we initiated show the effectiveness of the Valke fraction of keratin,
isolated from sheep's wool, and that of type L (from insects) and R (from
crustaceans) chitin preparations, in modulating cellular processes specific to
skin tissue degradation: IL6, IL8, IL1α cytokine-directed inflammation,
angiogenic repairing processes (extracellular VEGF) and oxidative stress
(oxygenated free radicals). The cellular response of keratinocytes from a HaCaT
line under induced inflammation (LPS and TNFα) is manifested by increased
intracellular levels of oxygenated free radicals, counteracted mainly by chitin.
In case of bacterial infections simulated in vitro with LPS polysaccharide, the
antiinflammatory effects induced by Valke keratin on IL6-directed signaling
pathways (acute phase cytokine behavior) are noticeable. Moreover, the same
effects are reflected through the inhibition of IL8, the chemokine responsible
for neutrophil recruitment to the inflammatory site. Nonetheless, chitin
reduces the release of IL6, while strongly stimulating VEGF for "de
novo" angiogenesis in the injured tissue. In addition, the pro-irritant
cytokine IL1α is inhibited by chitin and keratin, which suggests a
reduction in the epidermal irritant potential. The results guide the
applications to several etiologies wound therapy. The studies were carried out
within 5 PTE Project / 2020 BIOTEHKER.
Keywords: keratin, chitin, keratinocytes, TNFα, LPS
DOI https://doi.org/10.56082/annalsarscibio.2021.2.7