292 A retinol-Myrtus extract complex induced beneficial epigenetic and transcriptome changes related to human skin aging

Abstract

A facial moisturizer incorporating the extract of Myrtus and retinol (ROL) was developed, and previously showed that this ROL complex enhancing ROL activity helps to clinically delay and reduce the signs of skin aging. ROL complex exerts its many skin benefits through transcriptional activation. Recent studies suggest epigenetic regulation through micro-RNAs (miRNAs), specific inhibitors of targeted gene translation, may also play a role in the regulation of skin aging. However, no studies demonstrated retinol's rejuvenating skin benefits could be also associated with epigenetic regulation of miRNAs in human skin. Studies were conducted to discover whether ROL complex's support in the stimulation of anti-aging biomarkers could be associated with transcriptomics and epigenetic changes in miRNA expression in human skin cells. Human adult fibroblasts were treated with either ROL and ROL complex for up to 72 hours. mRNA, miRNA and protein expressions were evaluated. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) induced by ROL were identified and analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) to identify enriched biological processes. GO enrichment analysis of ROL-treated fibroblasts revealed enrichment for processes related to human skin aging such as extracellular matrix organization. In addition, ROL Complex helped induce ELN gene expression and type I pro-collagen protein production. Concomitantly, ROL Complex also caused epigenetic changes by reducing the expression of multiple miRNAs known to inhibit collagen and elastin genes expression.Thus, ROL complex may also exert its rejuvenating skin benefits through epigenetic regulation of both collagen and elastin that supports increases of extracellular matrix proteins. In conclusion, ROL complex may exert anti-aging skin benefits through a pleiotropic mode of action, uncovering epigenetics as an additional mechanism to explain and enhance its benefits.