The 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is demonstrated to be effective for non-ablative skin rejuvenation, but the molecular mechanism by which dermis responses to laser-induced damage and initiates skin remodeling is still unclear. HaCaT cells and 3T3 skin fibroblasts were irradiated with the 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at the different doses. Then, cells were collected and lysed for PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) before and after laser irradiation. The expressions of S100A8, advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (RAGE) and inflammatory cytokines in two cell lines were markedly upregulated after laser treatments. The PCR, Western blot, and ELISA analysis showed the significant increase of type I and III procollagen in the 3T3 cells treated with the 1064-nm laser. Interestingly, si S100A8 effectively inhibited the expression of cytokines and collagen, while S100A8 treatments significantly increased them. P-p38 and p-p65 levels were also elevated after the 1064-nm laser irradiation, which is positively related with S100A8. Cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were not changed, while the content of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) in two cells was increased after laser irradiation. Our results demonstrated that the overexpression of S100A8 induced by the 1064-nm laser irradiation triggered inflammatory reactions in skin cells. The inflammatory microenvironment and improvement of skin antioxidant capacity contribute to new collagen synthesis in the skin cells. Thus, S100A8 was required for laser-induced new collagen synthesis in skin cells. p38/MAPK and NF-κB signal pathways were involved in S100A8-mediated inflammatory reactions in response to laser irradiation.
Keywords: Collagen; S100A8; Skin inflammatory reactions; The 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.