Bases for Treating Skin Aging With Artificial Mitochondrial Transfer/Transplant (AMT/T)

Abstract

The perception of mitochondria as only the powerhouse of the cell has dramatically changed in the last decade. It is now accepted that in addition to being essential intracellularly, mitochondria can promote cellular repair when transferred from healthy to damaged cells. The artificial mitochondria transfer/transplant (AMT/T) group of techniques emulate this naturally occurring process and have been used to develop therapies to treat a range of diseases including cardiac and neurodegenerative. Mitochondria accumulate damage with time, resulting in cellular senescence. Skin cells and its mitochondria are profoundly affected by ultraviolet radiation and other factors that induce premature and accelerated aging. In this article, we propose the basis to use AMT/T to treat skin aging by transferring healthy mitochondria to senescent cells, possibly revitalizing them. We provide insightful information about how skin structure, components, and cells could age rapidly depending on the amount of damage received. Arguments are shown in favor of the use of AMT/T to treat aging skin and its cells, among them the possibility to stop free radical production, add new genetic material, and provide an energetic boost to help cells prolong their viability over time. This article intends to present one of the many aspects in which mitochondria could be used as a universal treatment for cell and tissue damage and aging.

Targeting Hydroxybenzoic Acids to Mitochondria as a Strategy to Delay Skin Ageing: An In Vitro Approach

“…Considering that increased OS contributes to skin senescence [ 3 , 43 ], it is expected that skin anti-ageing products containing antioxidants would reduce the harmful effects of free radicals and minimize the consequences of skin aging. However, limitations exist for most conventional antioxidants [ 21 ]. Moreover, if antioxidants do not directly target mitochondria, their protective efficacy in that organelle is compromised [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…However, limitations exist for most conventional antioxidants [ 21 ]. Moreover, if antioxidants do not directly target mitochondria, their protective efficacy in that organelle is compromised [ 20 , 21 ]. For this reason, targeting mitochondria with antioxidants can be looked as a rational strategy to delay skin ageing.…”

“…Several types of exogenous antioxidants of different chemical classes (e.g., Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, Phenolic acids), as well as their derivatives (e.g: Tocopheryl acetate, γ-Tocotrienol, Ascorbyl-6-palmitate), can be incorporated in anti-skin ageing products to reduce the harmful effects of oxidative damage and to delay skin ageing [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. However, as these antioxidants do not directly target mitochondria, their effects in this organelle are reduced [ 20 , 21 ]. This is a drawback related to their inherent low bioavailability, which limits their capacity to reach the mitochondrial matrix [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Molecular basis of skin photoaging and therapeutic interventions by plant-derived natural product ingredients: A comprehensive review

“…Because of reduced energy production, there are interrelated steps of Caspase activation, membrane depolarization, and cytochrome C release from mitochondria. These processes affect various cellular processes such as cell migration and cell division, also lead to increased mitochondrial oxidative stress levels because of a many-fold increase in ROS production at mitochondrial complexes [ 117 , 118 ]. Enzyme Endogenous antioxidant system of mitochondria, including glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, thioredoxin reductase, glutathione–S-transferases, and peroxidase, is their best defense system against increased levels of ROS.…”

Insights on the role of l-lactate as a signaling molecule in skin aging

“…Furthermore, during aging mitochondria DNA mutations cumulate and respiratory function declines (Wei et al 2009 ). Mitochondria functionality is so crucial for skin health during aging that some authors suggested very recently an artificial mitochondria transfer/transplant (AMT/T) to promote renewal of senescent skin cells, even revitalizing them (Balcázar et al 2020 ).…”