Protective effects of antioxidin-RL from Odorrana livida against ultraviolet B-irradiated skin photoaging.

The unavoidable daily exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) B radiation is proven to have deleterious effects. The action mechanism of antioxidin-RL, an antioxidant peptide purified from skin secretions of frog Odorrana livida with amino acid sequence of AMRLTYNRPCIYAT, is well characterized by NMR titration and mutation based on ABTS scavenging activities. In order to explore the protective effects of antioxidin-RL against UVB-irradiated skin photoaging, cell uptake assay was used to detect the location of antioxidin-RL molecules serving various biological functions in the cells. The protective effects of antioxidin-RL on UVB-induced response were examined in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that antioxidin-RL successfully penetrated the cell membrane and exerted a positive effect on cell migration. It also effectively inhibited the UVB-induced excessive production of ROS and prevented oxidative damage to DNAs and proteins. Moreover, the mRNA expressions of MMP-1, VEGF, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α in antioxidin-RL-treated HaCaT and HSF cells were significantly down-regulated whereas those of FGF, procollagen type I and TGF-β1 up-regulated. Antioxidin-RL effectively prevented UVB-induced erythema on mouse skin, thereby inhibiting UVB-induced skin thickening and inflammation and increasing collagen deposition as demonstrated by in vivo experiments. Hence, the novel antioxidant peptide antioxidin-RL can effectively reduce UVB-induced skin reactions in vivo and in vitro, providing potential molecules against UVB-induced inflammation and photoaging.