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Alpinia zerumbet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Protect Against UVB-Induced Photoaging by Enhancing Mitochondrial
Mo-Rong Xu1, Hui-Chun Wang2, Meng-Shiou Lee3
1Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is a major cause of skin photoaging by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and barrier disruption. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) have emerged as promising bioactive nanocarriers, but their roles in mitochondrial regulation and skin barrier homeostasis remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of extracellular vesicles derived from Alpinia zerumbet leaves (AZEVs) against UVB-induced photoaging in HaCaT keratinocytes. The results indicated that AZEVs exhibited typical extracellular vesicle characteristics, with an average size of 150 nm and a negative surface charge. Functionally, AZEVs significantly enhanced cell viability in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells, reduced ROS accumulation, and restored mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production. Moreover, AZEVs upregulated mitochondrial biogenesis-related signaling pathway proteins (SIRT1, PGC-1α, Nrf2, and p-AMPK/AMPK) and TJ protein expression (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-3), preserving barrier integrity and promoting wound healing. In addition, AZEVs are enriched in conserved miRNAs (miR166, miR159, and miR156) and a novel miRNA (novel_1), with predicted targets involved in redox regulation and energy metabolism. In summary, AZEVs protect keratinocytes against UVB-induced damage by enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress, and preserving skin barrier integrity. These findings highlight AZEVs as a promising natural nanoplatform for anti-photoaging and skin repair applications.
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