Signaling Molecules of Human Skin Cells as the Targets for Injection Cosmetology

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2021 Oct 13:14:1473-1480. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S321104. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Introduction: Skin aging is a natural process that cannot be stopped. However, there are many ways to help attenuate premature aging of the skin and reduce the signs that have already appeared. One of them is the subcutaneous administration of preparations containing a combination of hyaluronic acid, active amino acids, and peptides providing an anti-aging clinical effect. The purpose of this research is to study in vitro new signaling molecules with the anti-aging effects and influence of hyaluronic acid fillers on its expression.

Methods: The study was conducted using cell cultures of human facial skin: 1) mixed culture of human facial skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and 2) culture of human facial skin keratinocytes enriched with Merkel cells. Immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy and Western blot were used to identify markers of aging.

Results: HA-Y and HA-S activated the expression of Klotho in the case of aging mixed culture of human skin keratinocytes and Merkel cells. The increase in expression of MTH-1 with aging of cultures provides evidence of activating defense mechanisms against reactive oxygen species that are accumulating with aging, under the action of HA-S and HA-Y. There was a statistically valid increase in the area of expression of melatonin receptor 1A and 1B markers when adding both HA-S and HA-Y to cultured cells.

Conclusion: This investigation showed that the studied fillers have biological effects, testifying the stimulation of reparative processes in the skin under their control.

Keywords: Merkel cells; active amino acids; clock; collagen; hyaluronic acid; klotho; reparative processes; skin aging.