Protective effects of skin permeable epidermal and fibroblast growth factor against ultraviolet-induced skin damage and human skin wrinkles.

Background: Epidermal and fibroblast growth factor (EGF and FGF1) proteins play an important role in the regeneration and proliferation of skin cells. EGF and FGF1 have considerable potential as possible therapeutic or cosmetic agents for the treatment of skin damage including wrinkles.

Objectives: Using protein transduction domains (PTD), we investigated whether PTD-EGF and FGF1 transduced into skin cells and tissue. Transduced proteins showed protective effects in a UV-induced skin damage model as well as against skin wrinkles.

Methods: Transduced PTD-EGF and FGF1 proteins were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The effects of PTD-EGF and FGF1 were examined by WST assay, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and skin wrinkle parameters.

Results: The PTD-EGF and FGF1 increased cell proliferation and collagen type 1 alpha 1 protein accumulation in skin tissue. Also, PTD-EGF and FGF1 inhibited UV-induced skin damage. Furthermore, topical application of PTD-EGF and FGF1 contained ampoules which were considered to improve the wrinkle parameters of human skin.

Conclusion: These results show that PTD-EGF and FGF1 can be a potential therapeutic or cosmetic agent for skin damaged and injury including wrinkles and aging.