Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

There is a growing need for a skin model that combines the natural physiology of skin while reducing reliance on mice. Natural physiology is achieved by using fresh, intact skin explants sourced from living organisms such as humans or mice. This study focused on the standardization and characterization of an in vitro mouse skin explant model for investigating solar ultraviolet (sUV)-induced skin damage. We developed a protocol to use skin explants derived from the discarded tissue of mice after euthanasia. These explants consist of intact dermal and epidermal layers suspended in cell culture medium and maintained in vitro. To assess the viability of the skin explants, we evaluated tissue morphology (via hematoxylin and eosin [H&E] staining), viability markers, and DNA damage markers. Our ex vivo model preserves the key characteristics and physiological responses of in vivo skin for short incubation periods, while minimizing the use of mice. This model enables the study of DNA damage and repair, and it has broad applications, including studies on skin photoprotection, topical treatments, drug development, and cosmetics.

The primary effector cells involved in the formation of hypertrophic scars are fibroblasts. A potential peptide, ADSCP2 (adipose-derived stem cell peptide 2, the peptide fragment of ALCAM protein), derived from adipose-derived stem cell-conditioned medium, has been identified as having the potential to mitigate hypertrophic scar formation by targeting pyruvate carboxylase. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Whether ADSCP2 attenuates hypertrophic scar fibrosis at the transcription level remains unclear. Consequently, this study sought to elucidate the potential mechanism associated with ADSCP2 by examining genome-wide transcriptional alterations and changes in chromatin accessibility in fibroblasts. This was achieved through the integrated analysis of assay for transposase accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). In the ADSCP2 treatment group, ATAC-seq identified a total of 7,805 differential peaks associated with 3,176 genes. RNA-seq analysis revealed 345 upregulated and 399 downregulated transcripts in the same group. A combined Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of both downregulated genes and close-ACRs (accessible chromatin regions) genes within the ADSCP2 treatment group indicated regulation of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway (OXPHOS) by ADSCP2. The amalgamation of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data elucidates that two OXPHOS associated genes, namely COX6B1 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6B1) and NDUFA1 (NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) alpha subcomplex-1), demonstrate significant downregulation in the presence of ADSCP2. Further analysis using the integrative genomics viewer indicates that the promoter regions of both COX6B1 and NDUFA1 exhibit a higher degree of closure in the ADSCP2 treatment group. Quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated that ADSCP2 treatment resulted in a reduction of COX6B1 and NDUFA1 mRNA expression levels. Furthermore, cellular ATP and lactic acid concentrations were diminished in the ADSCP2-treated group. Collectively, these findings suggest potential avenues for future research into the therapeutic application of the peptide ADSCP2 in the treatment of hypertrophic scars.

BACKGROUND: Deoxycholate is approved for submental fat reduction due to its ability to lyse cells and reduce fat accumulation, but it is used off-label in aesthetic treatments for subcutaneous fat reduction for several other parts of the body. OBJECTIVE: Review the clinical evidence supporting using sodium deoxycholate and delivery systems for aesthetic purposes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review explores the clinical evidence for sodium deoxycholate's efficacy and safety in fat reduction, exploring the use of delivery systems to mitigate adverse effects. A comprehensive literature search across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed was executed to prepare this review. RESULTS: Clinical studies confirm that subcutaneous deoxycholate injections effectively reduce submental fat, with long-term results suggesting maintained efficacy up to 3 years post-treatment. However, adverse effects are noted, prompting research into novel delivery systems, which include sustained-release liquid crystal formulations and micro/nanoparticle-based systems, promising to reduce side effects while enhancing efficacy. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore that deoxycholate is clinically well-established in efficacy and safety, with substantial evidence for treating submental fat. More extensive clinical studies are necessary to establish its safety and effectiveness in larger treatment areas and optimize treatment outcomes using different delivery systems.