Hyperforin/HP-β-Cyclodextrin Enhances Mechanosensitive Ca2+ Signaling in HaCaT Keratinocytes and in Atopic Skin Ex Vivo Which Accelerates Wound Healing

Cutaneous wound healing is accelerated by mechanical stretching, and treatment with hyperforin, a major component of a traditional herbal medicine and a known TRPC6 activator, further enhances the acceleration. We recently revealed that this was due to the enhancement of ATP-Ca2+ signaling in keratinocytes by hyperforin treatment. However, the low aqueous solubility and easy photodegradation impede the topical application of hyperforin for therapeutic purposes. We designed a compound hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin- (HP-β-CD-) tetracapped hyperforin, which had increased aqueous solubility and improved photoprotection. We assessed the physiological effects of hyperforin/HP-β-CD on wound healing in HaCaT keratinocytes using live imaging to observe the ATP release and the intracellular Ca2+ increase. In response to stretching (20%), ATP was released only from the foremost cells at the wound edge; it then diffused to the cells behind the wound edge and activated the P2Y receptors, which caused propagating Ca2+ waves via TRPC6. This process might facilitate wound closure, because the Ca2+ response and wound healing were inhibited in parallel by various inhibitors of ATP-Ca2+ signaling. We also applied hyperforin/HP-β-CD on an ex vivo skin model of atopic dermatitis and found that hyperforin/HP-β-CD treatment for 24 h improved the stretch-induced Ca2+ responses and oscillations which failed in atopic skin.