Citrus lemon-derived nanovesicles induced collagen expression in UVB-induced photoaged models
Kimia Modares1, Seyed Mohammad Atyabi2, Marjan Mohamadali2
1Department of Biology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Various vesicle-based therapeutic strategies have recently been investigated as potential approaches for skin rejuvenation and anti-aging. In this study, the rejuvenating effects of Citrus lemon-derived nanovesicles (CLDNVs) on photoaged skin were evaluated in a murine model.
Methods:
CLDNVs were isolated and characterized based on their morphology, concentration, particle size, and surface markers. The cytotoxicity of CLDNVs on human dermal fibroblast cells was assessed using the MTT assay. Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to UVB radiation for 10 weeks to induce photoaging. Subsequently, they were treated for 28 days with CLDNVs (300 µg/mL) either alone or in combination with 0.05% retinoic acid. The anti-aging effects of the treatments were evaluated on days 14 and 28 using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's Trichrome staining, and immunofluorescence analysis of Col1a1 protein expression. The relative mRNA expression of type I collagen and matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp1 and Mmp3) were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).
Results:
Treatment with CLDNVs significantly reduced epidermal thickness compared with the UVB-irradiated group (P < 0.0001). The Collagen-positive area was significantly increased in both the CLDNV-treated and retinoic acid-treated groups compared with the UVB-irradiated group (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, IF analysis demonstrated a significant increase in collagen levels in the CLDNV-treated group compared with the UVB-irradiated group (p < 0.001). Moreover, CLDNV treatment significantly upregulated Col1a1 expression (P < 0.0001) and downregulated Mmp1 expression compared with the UVB-irradiated group.
Conclusion:
CLDNVs demonstrated promising potential as a natural and effective approach for mitigating UVB-induced skin photoaging. Their beneficial effects were associated with reduced epidermal thickness and enhanced type I collagen production, as evidenced by increased Cola1 gene and protein expression. These findings suggest that CLDNVs may represent a promising candidate for the development of novel strategies for the prevention or treatment of photoaging.
