Protective effects of avocado and soya bean lipidic non‐saponifiables on proliferation of fibroblasts cultured in altered conditions

Abstract

Synopsis Non-saponifiables lipidic fraction of avocado and soya bean (PIAS) induces, when administered percutaneously, a stimulation of specific metabolism of fibroblasts (synthesis of soluble collagen, increase of the ratio soluble collagen/insoluble collagen). In investigating the mechanism through which unsaponifiables affect the fibroblast metabolism we studied their direct effect on proliferation and survival of human fibroblasts cultured in optimal and altered conditions. PIAS (10 mug/ml) induced a protective effect against cytotoxicity of dimethylformamide; proliferation of survival cells appeared after 2 days. Non-saponifiables decreased the proliferation of fibroblasts cultivated in optimal conditions (10% FCS, 37 degrees C). On the contrary, they had no effect when FCS was lower than 10% and they increased proliferation with incubation at 30 degrees C. When fibroblasts were grown in a contractile matrice of collagen, non-saponifiables decreased cell death and induced a proliferation in presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Our experiments demonstrate that PIAS have a protective effect on fibroblasts cultivated in abnormal conditions. These results explain activity of non-saponifiables in some skin disfunctions or pathological states induced by disorders of conjunctive tissue.