Our research laboratory focuses on skin pigmentation and atopic dermatitis. As hyperpigmentation induced by UV irradiation or unusual pigmentation caused by medical conditions such as melasma, postinflamatory melanoderma and solar lentigo is undesirable, the development of effective skin-lightening agents is essential. We are trying to elucidate the cause of hyperpigmentation and develop materials to treat such conditions. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an itchy inflammatory dermatitis with a chronic course with remissions and exacerbations. AD occurs primarily in children, but persisting cases in adulthood as well as adult late-onset AD occur. It is estimated that about 20% of the population of the industrialized countries has an atopic constitution. We are trying to restore the integrity of the skin barrier, in particular the composition of the stratum corneum which appears to be of great importance for the development and progression of skin lesions in patients with AD.

Ongoing Projects
- Pathways, enzymes and transport proteins involved in skin melanin biosynthesis and melanosome tranport
- Post translational modification of tyrosinase and related enzymes
- Skin lipids and compounds which strengthen skin barrier fuction
- In vitro and In vivo models for atopic dermatitis

1. Choi TY, Sohn KC, Kim JH, Kim SM, Kim CH, Hwang JS, Lee JH, Kim CD, Yoon TJ.(2009) Impact of NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase-1 on Pigmentation. J Invest Dermatol. In press

2. Na JI, Hwang JS, Park HJ, Kim DH, Park WS, Youn SW, Huh CH, Park KC. (2009) A new moisturizer containing physiologic lipid granules alleviates atopic dermatitis. J Dermatolog Treat. In Press.

3. Shin JY, Shin JI, Kim JS, Yang YS, Hwang Y, Yang JS, Shin D, Seo JH, Jin YS, Park YC, Hwang JS, Kweon DH. (2009) Assembly of Coenzyme Q10 nanostructure resembling nascent discoidal high density lipoprotein particle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 388(2):217-21.

4. Jung CH, Yang YS, Kim JS, Shin YK, Hwang JS, Son ED, Lee HH, Chung KM, Oh JM, Lee JH, Kweon DH.(2009) Inhibition of SNARE-driven neuroexocytosis by plant extracts. Biotechnol Lett. 31(3):361-9.

5. Son ED, Kim H, Choi H, Lee SH, Lee JY, Kim S, Closs B, Lee S, Chung JH, Hwang JS(2009) Cathepsin G increases MMP expression in normal human fibroblasts through fibronectin fragmentation, and induces the conversion of proMMP-1 to active MMP-1. J Dermatol Sci. 53(2):150-2

6. Lee JY, Kim YK, Seo JY, Choi CW, Hwang JS, Lee BG, Chang IS, Chung JH (2008) Loss of elastic fibers causes skin wrinkles in sun-damaged human skin. J Dermatol Sci. 50(2):99-107.

7. Kim YH, Cho SM, Hyun JW, Ryoo IJ, Choo SJ, Lee S, Seok SJ, Hwang JS, Sohn ED, Yun BS, Bae KH, Yoo ID.(2008) A new antioxidant, clitocybin A, from the culture broth of Clitocybe aurantiaca. J Antibiot (Tokyo). 61(9):573-6.

8. Kang BY, Kim S, Lee KH, Lee YS, Hong I, Lee MO, Min D, Chang I, Hwang JS, Park JS, Kim DH, Kim BG(2008) Transcriptional profiling in human HaCaT keratinocytes in response to kaempferol and identification of potential transcription factors for regulating differential gene expression. Exp Mol Med. 40(2):208-19.

9. Kim JH, Baek SH, Kim DH, Choi TY, Yoon TJ, Hwang JS, Kim MR, Kwon HJ, Lee CH. (2008) Downregulation of melanin synthesis by haginin A and its application to in vivo lightening model. J Invest Dermatol. 128(5):1227-35.

10. Na YJ, Baek HS, Ahn SM, Shin HJ, Chang IS, Hwang JS. (2007)[4-t-Butylphenyl]-N-(4-imidazol-1-yl phenyl)sulfonamide (ISCK03) inhibits SCF/c-kit signaling in 501mel human melanoma cells and abolishes melanin production in mice and brownish guinea pigs Biochem Pharmacol. 74(5):780-6.

11. Hwang JS, Hwang JS, Chang I, Kim S. (2007) Age-associated decrease in proteasome content and activities in human dermal fibroblasts: restoration of normal level of proteasome subunits reduces aging markers in fibroblasts from elderly persons. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 62(5):490-9.

12. Choi H, Ahn S, Chang H, Cho NS, Joo K, Lee BG, Chang I, Hwang JS. (2007) Influence of N-glycan processing disruption on tyrosinase and melanin synthesis in HM3KO melanoma cells. Exp Dermatol. 16(2):110-7.

13. Son ED, Choi GH, Kim H, Lee B, Chang IS, Hwang JS.(2007) Alpha-ketoglutarate stimulates procollagen production in cultured human dermal fibroblasts, and decreases UVB-induced wrinkle formation following topical application on the dorsal skin of hairless mice.Biol Pharm Bull. 30(8):1395-9.

14. Choi TY, Kim JH, Ko DH, Kim CH, Hwang JS, Ahn S, Kim SY, Kim CD, Lee JH, Yoon TJ.(2007) Zebrafish as a new model for phenotype-based screening of melanogenic regulatory compounds Pigment Cell Res. 20(2):120-7.

15. Kim S, Hwang JS, Choi JK, Rho HS, Kim DH, Chang I, Lee SH, Lee MO, Hwang JS.(2006) Phytosphingosine Stimulates the Differentiation of Human Keratinocytes and Inhibits TPA-Induced Inflammatory Epidermal Hyperplasia in Hairless Mouse Skin. Mol Med. 12(1-3): 17-24

16. Kang HY, Hwang JS, Lee JY, Ahn JH, Kim JY, Lee ES, Kang WH. (2006) The dermal stem cell factor and c-kit are overexpressed in melasma. Br J Dermatolol. 154:1094-1099

17. Hwang JS et al.,(2009) Composition for enhancing melanogenesis in hair containing GDNF, method for enhancing melanogenesis in hair using GDNF, and method for screening hair-melanogenesis enhancer using GDNF expression level # 10-0889460-0000

18. Hwang JS et al., (2009) Composition for controlling melanogenesis containing Rho GDI-alpha, and method for screening melanogenesis modulator using Rho GDI-alpha #10-0889460-0000

19. Hwang JS et al., (2007)External composition for skin whitening containing Manassantin B as active ingredient #PCT/KR2007/005523

20. Hwang JS et al., (2007)Composition for external application to the skin containing Cathepsin G Inhibitors For Preventing Skin Aging And Screening Method for development of antiaging materials #PCT/KR2007/005451