The Paracrine Effect of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Orchestrates Competition between Different Damaged Dermal Fibroblasts to Repair UVB-Induced Skin Aging

Abstract EN

Background.

Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) are the primary cells in skin and are associated with UVB-induced skin photoaging.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have been proposed as a treatment for skin aging.

The goal of this study was to investigate paracrine mechanisms by which ASCs repair HDFs damage from UVB exposure.

Methods.

ASCs were cocultured with UVB-irradiated and nonirradiated HDFs.

We compared HDF senescence, proliferation, migration, oxidative stress, and cytokine expression.

In a nude mouse UVB-induced photoaging model, ASCs were injected subcutaneously, and skin samples were collected weekly between postoperative weeks 3 through 7.

Histological analysis, PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the effect of ASCs.

Results.

Compared with UVB-irradiated HDFs, nonirradiated HDFs showed higher proliferation and migration, reduced apoptosis, and fewer senescent cells when cocultured with ASCs.

The expression of extracellular matrix-related cytokines was also regulated by ASCs.

In addition, ASCs effectively reversed UVB-induced skin photoaging in vivo.

We propose that ASCs more robustly coordinate healthy HDFs than UVB-damaged HDFs to repair aging skin.

Conclusions.

ASCs improved the function of both UVB-damaged and healthy HDFs through paracrine effects.

However, the impact of ASCs on healthy HDFs was greater than UVB-damaged HDFs.

These findings help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the skin rejuvenation effect of ASCs.