Marine-derived nutrient improves epidermal and dermal structure and prolongs the life span of reconstructed human skin equivalents

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Imedeen™ is a cosmeceutical that provides nutrients to the skin. One of its active ingredients is the Marine Complex™ (MC). AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate whether MC affects skin morphogenesis differently in female and male human skin equivalents (HSEs). METHODS Human skin equivalents were established with cells obtained from female or male donors between 30 and 45 years of age and cultured for seven or 11 weeks in the presence or absence of MC. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined early differentiation by keratin 10 expression, (hyper)proliferation by keratin 17 and Ki67, and basement membrane composition by laminin 332 and collagen type VII. In addition, the expression of collagen type I and the secretion of pro-collagen I were measured. RESULTS Marine Complex strongly increased the number of Ki67-positive epidermal cells in female HSEs. In the dermis, MC significantly stimulated the amount of secreted pro-collagen I and increased the deposition of laminin 332 and collagen type VII. Furthermore, MC prolonged the viable phase of HSEs by slowing down its natural degradation. After 11 weeks of culturing, the MC-treated HSEs showed higher numbers of viable epidermal cell layers and a thicker dermal extracellular matrix compared with controls. In contrast, these effects were less pronounced in male HSEs. CONCLUSION The MC nutrient positively stimulated overall HSE tissue formation and prolonged the longevity of both female and male HSEs. The ability of MC to stimulate the deposition of basement membrane and dermal components can be used to combat 2 human skin aging in vivo.