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Lycopene ameliorates skin aging by regulating the insulin resistance pathway and activating SIRT1

Jing Li1,2, Xin Zeng3,2, Xiaolong Yang1

  • 1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, P. R. China. yxl19830915@163.com.

Food & Function
|October 13, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Lycopene (Ly) reverses skin aging by improving microvascular health and combating insulin resistance. This antioxidant promotes cell repair and blood vessel regeneration, protecting aging skin.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Gerontology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Skin aging is characterized by microvascular loss, impacting skin health.
  • Microvascular dysfunction and insulin resistance are key features of aged skin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of lycopene on skin aging, focusing on microvascular renewal and insulin resistance.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of lycopene's protective effects on aging skin cells and tissues.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies using aged primary skin fibroblast cells (PRSFs) treated with lycopene.
  • In vivo studies involving aged rats subjected to lycopene intervention.
  • Analysis included reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP, NAD+/NADH, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), Fibrillin-I, VEGF, insulin pathway proteins, and SIRT1 expression.
  • Metabolomic analysis (LC-MS) and KEGG pathway analysis were employed.

Main Results:

  • Lycopene reduced oxidative stress (ROS), senescence markers (β-galactosidase, AGEs), and improved mitochondrial function (ATP, NAD+/NADH, MMP) in vitro.
  • Lycopene increased Fibrillin-I and VEGF expression in aged skin cells.
  • In vivo, lycopene reversed reduced capillary density, blood flow, and signs of skin aging and mitochondrial disorder in aged rats.
  • Lycopene intervention improved insulin sensitivity and upregulated VEGF and SIRT1 expression.

Conclusions:

  • Lycopene effectively protects aging skin by promoting microvascular neovascularization.
  • Lycopene may reverse insulin resistance via the SIRT1 pathway during skin aging.
  • The findings highlight lycopene's potential as a therapeutic agent for age-related skin conditions.

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