Natural compounds in broccoli can cure genetic skin disorders

Natural compound sulforaphane is abundant in cauliflower and other cruciferous plants known for their ability to prevent cancer. Now sulforaphane has been discovered a new possibility in the treatment of eggs with serious genetic disorders of the skin called the blisterous epidermis (EBS). Pierre Coulombe and colleagues at Johns Hopkins College of Medicine in Baltimore reported the event at the annual American Cell Biology conference from 47.

EBS disease is very rare, but this dangerous genetic disease usually occurs in areas of skin with frictional trauma that appear fluid-filled lesions known as water balloons. Unfortunately, the treatment methods are very limited and only have analgesic effects. And many steps must be taken before the patient is tested clinically with sulforaphane. But Mr. Coulombe found that extract from broccoli sprouts is very rich in sulforaphane, safe in treating skin diseases.

(Photo: Hort.purdue.edu) In EBS patients, the innermost layer of the epidermis is made up of incredible, fragile, fragile horn cells. Most cases of EBS are caused by mutations of genes that produce proteins keratin 5 (K5) and keratin 14 (K14) . These two proteins are polymerized to form intermediate fibers in the skeleton of the basic horn cell. Since the discovery of EBS is a protein-based keratin disease in 1991, more than 40 secondary disorders affecting many types of tissue have been found to be associated with defects of the gene encoding in central protein fibers. time.

Coulombe and his colleagues studied sulforaphane as a chemical activator that can stimulate the production of missing keratin in basic horn cells. There are 54 preserved keratin proteins in mammals - the evolution has favored their existence. Many types of keratin are closely related to their gene order and properties due to the distribution of keratin in epidermal tissue. Coulombe explains that this causes 'functional redundancy', which means that a deficiency of some kind of keratin may be partially offset by the overlapping functions of a keratin relative.

Can this local deficiency be considered a basic therapy for EBS and related diseases? A previous evidence showed him that a local shortage was effective. In EBS patients, skin blisters may heal without scarring. This is related to the reception of K16 protein with the family of K15, K17 and K16 with the family name K14. These keratin in transgenic experimental mice lack the structural support function for the skin's keratinocytes.

Sulforaphane was first discovered by John Hopkins colleague Paul Talalay, found in cruciferous vegetables that have anti-cancer properties. First published in PNAS in August 2007, the researchers discovered that sulforaphane-exposed keratinocytes increased selective loading of keratin 16 and 17. They also found the method sulforaphane treatment for experimental mice with K14 deficiency of EBS significantly reduced epidermal injury while this method was ineffective for K5-deficient mice.