β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a leucine metabolite that may have a positive effect in protein catabolic conditions. Therefore, we hypothesized that HMB treatment could attenuate the sepsis-induced protein catabolic state. The aims of our study were to elucidate the effect of HMB in healthy and septic animals and to evaluate the differences in the action of HMB in different muscle types. Intact and septic (5 mg endotoxin/kg i.p.) rats were administered with HMB (0.5 g/kg/day) or saline. After 24 h, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles were isolated and used for determination of total and myofibrillar proteolysis, protein synthesis, leucine oxidation, activity of cathepsins B and L, chymotrypsin-like activity, and expression of α-subunits of proteasome. Our results indicate that the catabolic state induced by the endotoxin treatment was caused both by increase in protein breakdown (due to activation of proteasome system) and by attenuation of protein synthesis. The EDL (muscle composed of white, fast-twitch fibers) was more susceptible to these changes than the SOL (muscle composed of red, slow-twitch fibers). The HMB treatment had no effect in healthy animals but counteracted the changes in septic animals. The action of HMB was mediated by attenuation of proteasome activity and protein breakdown, not by stimulation of protein synthesis. More pronounced effect of the HMB treatment on myofibrillar proteolysis was observed in the SOL.

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Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has detrimental effects on skin accompanied by the increased metabolism of hyaluronan (HA), a linear polysaccharide important for the normal physiological functions of skin. In this study, the modulation of human keratinocyte response to UVB irradiation by HA (970 kDa) was investigated. Immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were irradiated by a single dose of UVB and immediately treated with HA for 6 and 24 h. The irradiation induced a significant decrease in the gene expression of CD44 and toll-like receptor 2 6 h after irradiation. The expressions of other HA receptors, including toll-like receptor 4 and the receptor for HA-mediated motility, were not detected in either the control or UVB-irradiated or HA-treated HaCaT cells. UVB irradiation induced a significant decrease in the gene expression of HA synthase-2 and hyaluronidase-2 6 h after irradiation. The expressions of HA synthase-3 and hyaluronidase-3 were not significantly modulated by UV irradiation. Interestingly, HA treatment did not significantly modulate any of these effects. In contrast, HA significantly suppressed UVB-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release including interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. Similarly, HA treatment reduced the UVB-mediated production of transforming growth factor β1. HA treatment also significantly reduced the UV irradiation-mediated release of soluble CD44 into the media. Finally, HA partially, but significantly, suppressed the UVB-induced decrease in cell viability. Data indicate that HA had significant protective effects for HaCaT cells against UVB irradiation.

Skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light evokes a complex stress response in keratinocytes. Keratin filament organization provides structural stability and mechanical integrity of keratinocytes. Involucrin is a transglutaminase substrate protein contributing to the formation of insoluble cornified envelopes. However, a more complex role for keratins and involucrin has been proposed, including the regulation of cell stress response. The aim was to evaluate modulations of keratin 1, 10 and involucrin expression in HaCaT in the light of the complex response of these cells to UV-B radiation, including effects on c-Jun and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) gene expression and production of interleukin (IL) 6 and 8. A UV-B (300±5 nm) dose of 10 mJ/cm2 was selected since this dose resulted in a partial decrease in cell viability in contrast to higher UV-B doses, which induced complete cell death 48 h after treatment. The UV-B radiation induced significant expression of keratin 1 and 10 and decreased expression of involucrin. This was accompanied by increased expression of c-Jun and MMP-1 and IL-6 and IL-8 production. The data suggest that the expression of keratin 1, 10 and involucrin is modulated in HaCaT keratinocytes as a part of the complex stress response to UV radiation.