Sea Cucumber Collagen Peptides Exert an Anti-Skin Aging Effect by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Dermatology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Skin aging involves structural and functional deterioration, influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Skin fibroblasts play a crucial role in skin repair, wound healing, and inflammation, and are closely linked to the aging process.
• Sea cucumber collagen peptides possess known anti-aging, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties, but their specific mechanisms in skin aging are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of sea cucumber collagen peptides in mitigating D-galactose-induced skin aging in mice.
• To investigate the potential mechanism by which these peptides ameliorate skin aging, specifically focusing on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in skin fibroblasts.

Main Methods:

• D-galactose-induced aging mice were administered sea cucumber collagen peptides.
• Assessed skin hydration, barrier function, and hydroxyproline content.
• Analyzed skin morphology and detected ER stress-related proteins using immunofluorescence and Western Blot.

Main Results:

• Sea cucumber collagen peptides significantly enhanced skin barrier function, increased water and collagen fiber content in aging mouse skin.
• Observed improvements in the condition of skin fibroblasts and prickle cells.
• Evidence suggests the peptides inhibit ER stress in skin fibroblasts and improve prickle cell function.

Conclusions:

• Sea cucumber collagen peptides demonstrate significant anti-skin aging effects in vivo.
• The mechanism involves the inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in skin fibroblasts.
• These peptides show high bioavailability and potential as functional food ingredients for skin aging prevention.