It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Friday, October 27, 2023
The sunscreen paradox: McGill University researchers warn of ‘false sense of security’
Sunscreen is important, says Dr. Ivan Litvinov, but it is also the least effective way to protect your skin when compared to sun protective clothing and sun avoidance
Sunscreen usage is climbing, but so are melanoma and skin cancer rates: this, researchers say, is the sunscreen paradox.
“The problem is that people use sunscreen as a ‘permission slip’ to tan,” said Dr. Ivan Litvinov, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Chair of the Dermatology Division at McGill University and co-author with Dr. Sandra Peláez, Dr. Richie Jeremian and Dr. Pingxing Xie of two recent studies that explore the sunscreen paradox.
“People think they are protected from skin cancer because they are using a product marketed to prevent a condition.”
Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen or stay in the sun for hours after applying sunscreen in the morning. “This gives them a false sense of security,” said Litvinov.
To understand the factors between varying incidence rates of melanoma in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, a group of researchers including Litvinov and Peláez conducted 23 focus groups.
In the study, they found that Canadians living in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island – provinces with high melanoma incidence rates – were more likely to report using sun protection, more aware of the health risks of sun exposure, and more apt to follow the UV index. Despite this, they also received more sun exposure due to warmer temperatures and a tendency to engage in outdoor activities.
Similarly, in a second study of the United Kingdom Biobank by Jeremian, Xie and Litvinov, the researchers documented that sunscreen use was surprisingly associated with a more than twofold risk of developing skin cancer.
The sunscreen paradox
“These combined findings suggest a sunscreen paradox, whereby individuals with higher levels of sun exposure also tend to use more but not an adequate quantity of sunscreen or other sun-protection measures, providing a false sense of security,” said Litvinov.
Interventions to address knowledge and practice gaps in sun protection and skin cancer prevention must consider this sunscreen paradox and the unique norms of communities around the world, he added.
“Sunscreen is important, but it is also the least effective way to protect your skin when compared to sun protective clothing, rash guards, and sun avoidance. People can and should enjoy the outdoors, but without getting a sun burn or a suntan,” said Litvinov.
Understanding the Perceived Relationship between Sun Exposure and Melanoma in Atlantic Canada: A Consensual Qualitative Study Highlighting a “Sunscreen Paradox”
USDA grant will help MU researchers address opioid epidemic in rural Missouri
Five rural Missouri counties with highest drug overdose mortality rates will be supported with interventions related to childhood trauma.
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Childhood trauma is a key risk factor for future substance use disorder, overdose, and suicide. This is particularly problematic in rural areas where children experience higher rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs are commonly defined as physical and emotional abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, parental separation or divorce, intimate partner violence, and having household members with serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or a history of incarceration.
Now, a three-year, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant awarded to the University of Missouri will help virtually train various members of the workforce — such as healthcare providers, mental health and behavioral health providers, social workers, and even childcare providers, and dentists — who serve individuals and families affected by ACEs in five high-risk rural Missouri counties with the ultimate goal of reducing opioid overdoses and suicides.
The five Missouri counties involved are Dent, Washington, Crawford, St. Francois and Phelps, all of which ranked among the highest in Missouri for drug overdose mortality rates in 2021. Julie Kapp, an associate professor in the MU College of Health Sciences and primary investigator for the grant, developed the online training module.
The grant involves collaborators from MU Extension, Show-Me ECHO; Office of Health Outreach, Policy and Education (HOPE); Missouri Telehealth Network; Missouri Center for Health Policy; and MO HealthNet (Missouri’s Medicaid program).
“More than 60% of adults nationally are exposed to ACEs in childhood, and these exposures are linked with increased risk for substance abuse and suicide,” Kapp said. “If we can target upstream factors such as ACEs, we are hopeful that we can reduce the pipeline that leads to substance abuse occurring in the first place.”
Kapp added that many health care providers and other members of the workforce are unaware of ACEs, which leaves a significant gap and the need for training opportunities.
“Our goal is to provide additional tools beyond just prescriptions,” Kapp said. “Someone struggling with substance abuse may have the desire to stop, but if they have never dealt with their childhood trauma, it will be an uphill battle. One of our former ACEs trainees who works with incarcerated individuals said, ‘Many of [these individuals] do not identify their life experiences as traumatic. They view their traumas as typical.’”
The training module, which can be taken asynchronously and completed in approximately three hours, covers such topics as: what ACEs are; the prevalence of ACEs in rural areas; strategies to support families, emphasizing positive childhood experiences, resources available and developing a trauma informed care model.
“This evidence-based training module has already been well-received by members of various organizations in the Missouri workforce, and they have reported the content is informative, helpful and relevant,” Kapp said.
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Online games use dark designs to collect player data
The privacy policies and practices of online games contain dark design patterns which could be deceptive, misleading, or coercive to users
Gaming is a $193 billion industry – nearly double the size of the film and music industries combined – and there are around three billion gamers worldwide. While online gaming can improve wellbeing and foster social relations, privacy and awareness issues could potentially offset these benefits and cause real harm to gamers.
The new study, by scientists at Aalto University’s Department of Computer Science, reveals potentially questionable data collection practices in online games, along with misconceptions and concerns about privacy among players. The study also offers risk mitigation strategies for players and design recommendations for game developers to improve privacy in online games.
‘We had two supporting lines of inquiry in this study: what players think about games, and what games are really up to with respect to privacy,’ says Janne Lindqvist, associate professor of computer science at Aalto. ‘It was really surprising to us how nuanced the considerations of gamers were. For example, participants said that, to protect their privacy, they would avoid using voice chat in games unless it was absolutely necessary. Our game analysis revealed that some games try to nudge people to reveal their online identities by offering things like virtual rewards.’
The authors identified instances of games using dark design – interface decisions that manipulate users into doing something they otherwise wouldn’t. These could facilitate the collection of player data and encourage players to integrate their social media accounts or allow data sharing with third parties.
‘When social media accounts are linked to games, players generally can’t know what access the games have to these accounts or what information they receive,’ says Amel Bourdoucen, doctoral researcher in usable security at Aalto. ‘For example, in some popular games, users can log in with (or link to) their social media accounts, but these games may not specify what data is collected through such integration.’
The global gaming community has been subject to increased scrutiny over the past decade because of online harassment and the industry’s burnout culture. While these issues still linger, the push for more tech regulation in the EU and US has also brought privacy issues to the forefront.
‘Data handling practices of games are often hidden behind legal jargon in privacy policies,’ says Bourdoucen. ‘When users' data are collected, games should make sure the players understand and consent to what is being collected. This can increase the player’s awareness and sense of control in games. Gaming companies should also protect players’ privacy and keep them safe while playing online.’
According to the study, participants were often unaware that their chat-based conversations might be disclosed to third parties. Games also didn’t notify players of data sharing during the game.
The study showed that players are aware of the risks, and it highlights several mitigation tactics used by players. ‘We found that players try to maintain their privacy when playing online games by choosing text chats for discussion instead of voice chats, since they believe they may be more closely watched,’ says Bourdoucen. ‘According to our findings, female players are the most impacted and feel the need to conceal their gender when playing by creating various avatars or refraining from having voice conversations with other players.’
Finally, the study proposes solutions to counter these problems, such as more transparent approaches to data collection. Overall, the authors recommend that games and gaming platforms strive to protect all their players.
‘Games really should be fun and safe for everybody, and they should support the player’s autonomy. One way of supporting autonomy would be able to let players opt out from invasive data collection,’ says Lindqvist.
JOURNAL
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
GFZ GEOFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM POTSDAM, HELMHOLTZ CENTRE
IMAGE:
LANDSCAPE IN THE AUSTRALIAN NORTHERN TERRITORIES ON A FIELD TRIP TO THE 1.6-BILLION-YEAR-OLD BARNEY CREEK FORMATION IN THE MCARTHUR BASIN TO COLLECT OLDEST 2-METHYLHOPANE SAMPLES FOR THIS STUDY.
Cyanobacteria are a key species in Earth's history, as they introduced atmospheric oxygen for the first time. The analysis of their evolution therefore provides important insights into the formation of modern aerobic ecosystems. For a long time, a certain type of fossil lipid, so-called 2-methylhopanes, was considered to be an important biomarker for Cyanobacteria in sediments, some of which are hundreds of millions of years old. However, this came into doubt when it turned out that not only Cyanobacteria but also Alphaproteobacteria are genetically capable of producing these lipids.
An international research team led by Yosuke Hoshino from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and Benjamin Nettersheim from MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen has now studied the phylogenetic diversification and distribution of the genes – including HpnP – that are responsible for the synthesis of the parent lipids for 2-methylhopanes: The researchers have deciphered when these genes were acquired by certain groups of organisms. They were able to show that HpnP was probably already present in the last common ancestor of Cyanobacteria more than two billion years ago, while the gene only appeared in Alphaproteobacteria about 750 million years ago. For the times before that, 2-methylhopanes can therefore serve as a clear biomarker for oxygen-producing Cyanobacteria.
The study, which has now been published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, shows how genetics, in interaction with sedimentology, paleobiology and geochemistry, can improve the diagnostic value of biomarkers and refine the reconstruction of early ecosystems.
Background: The importance of cyanobacteria in Earth's history
Cyanobacteria played a crucial role in transforming the Earth from its initial oxygen-free state to a modern, oxygen-rich system in which increasingly complex life is possible. Cyanobacteria were probably the only relevant group of organisms that converted inorganic substances into organic ones (so-called primary producers) and produced oxygen for long stretches of the Precambrian (the first four billion or so years of Earth's history, from its beginnings to about 540 million years ago). Therefore, the analysis of their evolution is of great importance for understanding the common history of life and Earth.
The importance of fossil lipids as biomarkers
In principle, the fossil remains of whole Cyanobacteria can serve as an indicator of the presence of oxygenic photosynthesis in the geological past. However, due to preservational biases and ambiguities in recognizing fossil cyanobacterial cells, geochemists rather use fossilised diagnostic lipids, such as 2-methylhopanes. 2-Methylhopanoids (non-fossilised parent molecules) are produced by the bacteria and – in contrast to the bacteria themselves– can be fossilised and detected in sedimentary rocks even after hundreds of millions of years in good quality and in quantities corresponding to their original occurrence.
However, there have recently been doubts about the suitability of 2-methylhopane as a biomarker for Cyanobacteria: the discovery of the lipid biosynthesis gene revealed that Alphaproteobacteria are also capable of producing these lipids. This means that temporally tracing oxygen-producing processes on Earth by 2-methylhopanes is no longer possible.
New approach: Comprehensive genetic analysis combined with new, high-purity sediment analyses
An international research team led by Yosuke Hoshino and Christian Hallmann, scientists in GFZ Section 3.2 “Organic Geochemistry”, and Benjamin Nettersheim from MARUM at the University of Bremen has now systematically investigated which organisms other than Cyanobacteria possess the genes (abbreviated as the SC and HpnP genes) necessary for the production of 2-methylhopanoids, and when they acquired those genes during the course of evolution. In this way, the team was able to show that the fossil lipid 2-methylhopane can still be used as a clear biomarker for the existence of Cyanobacteria for times dating back more than 750 million years.
In addition, the researchers have created an integrated record of 2-methylhopane production over the course of Earth's history. For this, they combined their molecular data with new sediment analyses carried out under high-purity conditions.
“The method we proposed is in principle applicable to any organic matter in geological archives and has great potential to trace the evolution of different ecosystems with much higher temporal and spatial resolution than before,” Hoshino sums up.
Methodology I: Computational study for genetic analysis
For the analysis of the genetic relationships, Hoshino searched publicly available databases, containing millions of gene and protein sequences, for organisms with the SC and HpnP genes. Based on this genetic data set, he created so-called phylogenetic trees, which provide information on how the SC and HpnP genes were transferred between different organisms and whether the gene transfer took place vertically via inheritance or horizontally between evolutionarily unrelated organisms. Furthermore, the researchers were also able to determine when individual gene transfers took place in the evolutionary history of the genes by comparing previous studies that utilized the so-called molecular clock technique that takes into account the DNA mutation rate and estimates the timeline for the gene evolution.
Methodology II: New type of ultra-clean sample preparation
In addition, because Precambrian biomarker records are extremely sensitive to contamination, the researchers used an ultra-clean method to extract organic matter from sediment cores. The geological samples in the form of cores were collected by several co-authors from 16 countries. They represent different geological periods from the Paleoproterozoic (2.5 billion years ago) to the present. The relative abundance of 2-methylhopanes was then measured in the organic matter.
The results in detail
There are many bacteria that possess both SC and HpnP genes, but they are mainly Cyanobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria. Each group is found to have acquired the two genes independently. This is in contrast to earlier studies that concluded that Cyanobacteria acquired these genes from Alphaproteobacteria at a late stage in their evolution. The new study further revealed that the common ancestor of Cyanobacteria already possessed both genes more than 2.4 billion years ago, when oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere during the so-called Great Oxidation Event.
In contrast, Alphaproteobacteria acquired the SC and HpnP genes at the earliest only 750 million years ago. Before that, 2-methylhopanoids were thus only produced by Cyanobacteria. The researchers interpret a slightly delayed increase of sedimentary 2-methylhopanes around 600 million years ago as a sign of the global spread of Alphaproteobacteria, which may have favored the concurrent evolutionary rise of eukaryotic algae.
Summary and outlook
“The individual analytical methods mentioned above are not new, but few researchers have attempted to perform comprehensive analyses for SC and HpnP and to integrate genetic data with sedimentary biomarker data before, as this requires combining two completely different scientific disciplines – molecular biology and organic geochemistry,” says Hoshino.
“The source of sedimentary 2-methylhopanes has been a topic of long debate,” adds Christian Hallmann. — “This new study not only provides clarity about the diagnosticity of 2-methylhopanes and the role of Cyanobacteria in deep time; its methodology offers a new avenue forward to refine the diagnosticity of, in theory, any biomarker lipid once the biosynthesis genes are known”.
Close-up picture of a core sample: The oldest samples are drill core samples from the 1.6-billion-year-old McArthur Basin in Northern Australia. This is among the oldest biomarker samples known to date and contains the information about primary production by photosynthetic organisms at that time.
CREDIT
Photo: Benjamin Nettersheim, MARUM University of Bremen
UPTON, NY—Plant biologists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have engineered enzymes to modify grass plants so their biomass can be more efficiently converted into biofuels and other bioproducts. As described in a paper just published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, these enzymes modify molecules that make up plant cell walls to provide access to fuel-generating sugars normally locked within complex structures.
“The concept of biomass to biofuel seems simple, but it is technically very difficult to release the sugars,” noted Chang-Jun Liu, a senior plant biologist at Brookhaven Lab who led the study.
Plant biomass is full of energy-rich complex sugar molecules generated from photosynthesis. Each plant cell is surrounded by a rigid cell wall made of sugars and a material called lignin that provides structural support. Reducing lignin to gain access to the sugars has been the focus of research aimed at using plants to generate fuels and other products commonly made from petroleum.
For nearly 15 years, Liu has been tackling this problem using engineered enzymes called monolignol 4-O-methyltransferases (MOMTs). These enzymes, which do not exist in nature, are designed to alter the chemical structure of monolignols—the main building blocks of lignin. Changing the structure of the building blocks prevents them from linking together, which reduces the lignin content of plants and makes the sugars more accessible.
In prior work, Liu and his colleagues successfully expressed MOMTs in poplar trees. These enzymes reduced the trees’ lignin content and enabled more abundant sugar release from the plants. In the new research, they tested the potential applications of the MOMT enzymes in grass plants, which have an abundant biomass yield. Grasses can also grow in harsh environments, such as on soils deficient in water or nutrients. Cultivating engineered plants in such environments could potentially produce large amounts of biomass optimized for conversion to fuel and bioproducts—without competing for land needed to produce food crops.
“However, grass plant cell walls, like those from the rice plants that we studied, are even more complicated in terms of structure and composition,” explained Nidhi Dwivedi, Brookhaven Lab research associate and lead author on the new paper. In addition to sugar and lignin, grass plant cell walls also contain additional phenolic compounds that “cross-link” the cell wall components, making them even stronger and harder to break down.
“The complexity of grass plant cell walls made us curious as to whether our enzymes would improve sugar recovery,” noted Liu. “We wanted to know if MOMTs could modify the grass cell walls in a way that would provide access to the biomass.”
Less Lignin, More Sugars
Liu and Dwivedi chose to focus on two versions of the enzyme for this study—MOMT4 and MOMT9—each of which were designed to modify a different lignin subunit.
Working with collaborators from Kyoto University in Japan, Liu’s team conducted chemical analyses on rice plants engineered to express either MOMT4 or MOMT9. These studies showed there was less lignin in the modified grass plants compared to unaltered plants. Collaborators from Appalachian State University in North Carolina examined sections of the modified plant stems using scanning electron microscopy and observed changes that were consistent with the chemical analyses.
“Throughout the stem, the cell walls appeared thinner,” said Dwivedi. “And in some cells the walls even looked deformed or buckled.”
With less lignin in the cell walls, the scientists were able to collect up to 30% more sugar from plants expressing MOMT4 and up to 15% more sugar in plants expressing MOMT9, compared to unaltered plants. Through a process called fermentation, this sugar can be converted into biofuels like ethanol, which is a common additive used to lower the fossil fuel content of gasoline.
Surprisingly Promiscuous Enzymes
Enzymes—molecules that generally facilitate chemical reactions—commonly target just one type of molecule. MOMT4 and MOMT9 were designed to act upon monolignols. But when Liu and his colleagues ran tests on these enzymes, the results revealed that these engineered enzymes exhibited “promiscuity.” In addition to acting on the monolignols, both MOMTs acted on other cell wall components—the cross-linking phenolics and also a phenolic called tricin, which is a lignin precursor unique to grass plants.
When these enzymes were expressed in rice plants, they made the expected structural changes to the traditional lignin building blocks, and thus reduced the plants’ overall lignin content. But by changing the structures of the cross-linking phenolics and tricin, the MOMTs also reduced the incorporation of those compounds into the cell walls further weakening them. The scientists also found an accumulation of modified phenolics in the rest of the plant tissue that was not present in unaltered plants.
“This was quite a difference from what we saw when we expressed the same enzymes in poplar trees,” noted Liu. “The broader effects of expressing the enzymes really surprised us. Overall, the changes were positive in terms of optimizing sugar yield from grass cell walls. But there were also some unintended effects.”
For example, plants expressing MOMT9 did not grow as tall as the unaltered plants, reducing the quantity of biomass from which sugar could be accessed. The plants also failed to produce seeds, which would be a problem if the scientists want the modified plants to reproduce as a sustainable source of biofuel sugars.
To address these challenges, the scientists plan to explore methods for controlling how lignin gets modified in different parts of the plant. For example, if the scientists can reduce lignin levels everywhere in the plant other than the reproductive organs, they could maximize the ability to extract sugars without affecting the fertility of the plants.
The scientists also want to see if their MOMT enzymes can optimize sugar yields from other grass plant species.
“After seeing the effectiveness of this enzyme technology in rice, we are confident that it can be used to modify other grass energy crops like sorghum and bamboo,” Liu said.
“Biofuels are a promising alternative to non-renewable energy sources,” Dwivedi added, “This study provides insights into how scientists can optimize the release of sugar that is present in cell walls, thus overcoming some of the waste that occurs with unmodified biomass crops.”
This work was primarily funded by the DOE Office of Science.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit science.energy.gov.
Simultaneous suppression of lignin, tricin and wall-bound phenolic biosynthesis via the expression of monolignol 4-O-methyltransferases in rice
Burt’s Bees® presents clinical evidence demonstrating ability of nature-based products to support barrier function and microbiome health in sensitive skin and lips
Clinical studies from the 2023 Integrative Dermatology Symposium showcase how ingredients from nature support the lip and skin microbiome, in addition to improving the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation
DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 27, 2023 – Burt’s Bees, the #1 dermatologist recommended natural skin care brand* and a pioneer in skin care solutions, announced its latest research findings on the benefits of nature-based regimens to cleanse, nourish, and protect skin health. The studies will be presented at the hybrid Integrative Dermatology Symposium (IDS) from Oct. 27-29, 2023.
The latest research findings from Burt’s Bees highlight:
The ability of a topical treatment with a unique blend of botanicals toimprove appearance of age spots in diverse skin.
The impact of a lip care product with naturally derived plant oils, butters, beeswax, and turmeric extract to maintain a healthy lip microbiome.
The effectiveness of a nature-based skin care regimen to maintain a balanced skin barrier and microbiome in sensitive skin populations.
“Each person has a unique microbiome, and we want to support that one-of-a-kind balance to best promote each patient’s skin health. This means first, do no harm. In other words, do not cause dysbiosis or disrupt the microbiome,” said Hemali Gunt, Ph.D., head of clinical and scientific affairs at Burt’s Bees. “These nature-based formulas have been shown to do exactly that — maintain the unique microbiome in both face and lip skin — and improve the skin’s appearance.”
New Burt’s Bees data being presented at IDS 2023 include:
Topical treatment with a unique blend of botanicals containing Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, and Terminalia chebula improves the appearance of age spots in a multi-ethnic panel; Gunt H., Levy S. and Draelos D.; Oct. 28, 2023, poster presentation from 2:45-3:15 p.m. PDT.
About the Research: The study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a nature-based topical cream in reducing the appearance of age spots across different skin types and tones.
A 12-week study was conducted in 40 female participants with moderate age spots and photodamage.
A dermatologist-investigator assessed the product efficacy by clinical grading and with skin colorimeter measurements obtained from a target pigmented spot and from a corresponding clear site on the face, all performed at baseline, weeks 4, 8, and 12.
Topical treatment with Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, and Terminalia chebula was determined to be clinically safe and effective in reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation in photodamaged skin within a variety of skin types and tones.
Impact of a lip care product with naturally derived plant oils, butters, beeswax, and turmeric extract on the lip microbiome – in vitro and in vivo examinations;Gunt H. and Levy S.; Oct. 28, 2023, poster presentation from 2:45-3:15 p.m. PDT.
About the Research: An in vitro assay and a clinical study were conducted to evaluate the effects of a lip treatment on the lip microbiome.
In vitro results showed no significant differences in the diversity of bacteria in the presence of the product when compared to the control.
Clinical grading and subject assessments in 43 females for 2 weeks showed a reduction in the appearance of lip dryness and enhanced the overall look of lip health compared to baseline. In addition, lip microbiome assessments showed no significant changes in the lip microbial diversity.
Daily use of a nature-based lip care product maintains lip health and assists in maintaining microbial diversity.
Maintaining a balanced skin barrier and microbiome in sensitive skin using a nature-based skin care regimen; Gunt H., Levy S. and Draelos Z.; Oct. 27, 2023, poster presentation from 3:00-3:30 p.m. PDT.
About the Research: A nature-based, bakuchiol-containing skin care regimen was evaluated to assess the effects on skin moisture barrier and the microbiome in sensitive skin populations.
The 4-week baseline-controlled clinical study was conducted in 45 female participants with sensitive skin who used a daily skin care regimen of cleanser, serum/toner, and cream.
Skin hydration and barrier function/transepidermal water loss were measured to assess tolerability and efficacy of the skin care regimen along with assessment of the skin microbiome via 16S rRNA analysis.
Results indicated that the nature-based skin care regimen containing bakuchiol improves skin barrier function without disrupting the skin microbiome in a sensitive skin population.
“Protecting the skin microbiome is essential as it augments the physical barrier between the skin and the external environment,” said Stanley Levy, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and study consultant. “Our study demonstrated the ability of a nature-based skin care regimen to improve skin barrier function without disrupting the skin microbiome, which is particularly important for those with sensitive skin.”
In addition to the three poster presentations, Hemali Gunt, Ph.D., will discuss the full mechanisms and forms of Burt’s Bees cleansers at the breakfast Product Theater session on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8:00 a.m. PDT. Gunt will also be featured on LearnSkin’s podcast with Dr. Hadar Lev-Tov and Dr. Raja Sivamani, where they will discuss the latest in lip health and lip microbiome research from Burt’s Bees. The podcast will air on Nov. 9, 2023.
About Burt’s Bees | Burt’s Bees® is the #1 dermatologist recommended natural skin care brand, born in the woods of Maine, and known for its original Beeswax Lip Balm. Burt’s Bees products are consciously made with ingredients from nature to nourish skin from head to toe. From responsible sourcing to mindful packaging and landfill-free operations, Burt’s Bees is made with care by nature, for nature, for all—since 1984. NYSE: CLX-B.
*Based on a September 2021 NielsenIQ national survey of U.S. Dermatologists
Hidden way for us to feel touch uncovered by Imperial researchers
Imperial researchers have discovered a hidden mechanism within hair follicles that allow us to feel touch.
Previously, touch was thought to be detected only by nerve endings present within the skin and surrounding hair follicles. This new research from Imperial College London has found that that cells within hair follicles – the structures that surround the hair fibre – are also able to detect the sensation in cell cultures.
The researchers also found that these hair follicle cells release the neurotransmitters histamine and serotonin in response to touch – findings that might help us in future to understand histamine’s role in inflammatory skin diseases like eczema.
Lead author of the paper Dr Claire Higgins, from Imperial’s Department of Bioengineering, said: “This is a surprising finding as we don’t yet know why hair follicle cells have this role in processing light touch. Since the follicle contains many sensory nerve endings, we now want to determine if the hair follicle is activating specific types of sensory nerves for an unknown but unique mechanism.”
A touchy subject
We feel touch using several mechanisms: sensory nerve endings in the skin detect touch and send signals to the brain; richly innervated hair follicles detect the movement of hair fibres; and sensory nerves known as C-LTMRs, that are only found in hairy skin, process emotional, or ‘feel-good’ touch.
Now, researchers may have uncovered a new process in hair follicles. To carry out the study, the researchers analysed single cell RNA sequencing data of human skin and hair follicles and found that hair follicle cells contained a higher percentage of touch-sensitive receptors than equivalent cells in the skin.
They established co-cultures of human hair follicle cells and sensory nerves, then mechanically stimulated the hair follicle cells, finding that this led to activation of the adjacent sensory nerves.
They then decided to investigate how the hair follicle cells signalled to the sensory nerves. They adapted a technique known as fast scan cyclic voltammetry to analyse cells in culture and found that the hair follicle cells were releasing the neurotransmitters serotonin and histamine in response to touch.
When they blocked the receptor for these neurotransmitters on the sensory neurons, the neurons no longer responded to the hair follicle cell stimulation. Similarly, when they blocked synaptic vesicle production by hair follicle cells, they were no longer able to signal to the sensory nerves.
They therefore concluded that in response to touch, hair follicle cells release that activate nearby sensory neurons.
The researchers also conducted the same experiments with cells from the skin instead of the hair follicle. The cells responded to light touch by releasing histamine, but they didn’t release serotonin.
Dr Higgins said: “This is interesting as histamine in the skin contributes to inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, and it has always been presumed that immune cells release all the histamine. Our work uncovers a new role for skin cells in the release of histamine, with potential applications for eczema research.”
The researchers note that the research was performed in cell cultures, and will need to be replicated in living organisms to confirm the findings. The researchers also want to determine if the hair follicle is activating specific types of sensory nerves. Since C-LTMRs are only present within hairy skin, they are interested to see if the hair follicle has a unique mechanism to signal to these nerves that we have yet to uncover.
This work was funded by Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC, part of UKRI), Proctor & Gamble, Wellcome Trust, and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, part of UKRI).
“Mechanical stimulation of human hair follicle outer root sheath cultures activates adjacent sensory neurons” by Higgins et al., published 27 October 2023 in Science Advances.
Imperial College London is a global top ten university with a world-class reputation. The College's 21,000 students and 8,000 staff are working to solve the biggest challenges in science, medicine, engineering and business.
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 found that it has a greater proportion of world-leading research than any other UK university, it was named University of the Year 2022 according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, University of the Year for Student Experience 2022 by the Good University Guide, and awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its COVID-19 response.
