This article is mentioned in:

Introduction

In recent years, the average human lifespan has increased due to economic growth and advancements in modern medicine. As a result, people have begun to pay more attention to skin health and beauty (1). Many research efforts have focused on the identification of strategies with which to inhibit and delay skin aging, and many cosmetic and food products related to skin anti-aging have been developed (2).

Skin aging is driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors that cause structural degradation and alterations. Intrinsic aging occurs naturally with aging, while extrinsic aging is caused by external factors, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, gravity and air pollution (3). The characteristics of intrinsic aging include reduced levels of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen and elastin, which decrease skin elasticity and tension (4). Therefore, maintaining collagen levels in the dermis is important for maintaining healthy skin. Skin is composed of various layers, including the epidermis composed of epithelial tissue and the dermis composed of connective tissue and subcutaneous layer. The epidermis protects the skin from microbial pathogens, UV light and chemical compounds. The dermis is composed of fibrous proteins, including ground substance, collagen and elastin. It is an important layer that constitutes >90% of the skin (5). A variety of substrates, including collagen and elastin in the extracellular matrix (ECM), are made by dermal fibroblasts. There are several types of collagen, which accounts for 80-90% of the dermis. Type 1 collagen constitutes approximately 85% of total collagen and provides tension, elasticity and flexibility to the skin as it is entangled in elastic fibers (6). Its structure is maintained by several enzymes; matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by fibroblasts degrade collagen, while MMP activity is inhibited by tissue inhibitor of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). During the aging process, MMP expression gradually increases and TIMP expression decreases, promoting collagen degradation and reducing skin elasticity (7,8).

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine with three isoforms, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3. TGF-β helps regulate cellular processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and the production of various ECM components, including collagen, elastin and fibronectin (9,10). TGF-β interacts with two types of receptors containing type 1 and 2 receptors (serine/threonine kinase receptors). To activate the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, the TGF-β1 ligand first binds to type 2 receptors (TGF-βRII) at the cell surface, which allows for the phosphorylation of the GS domain of TGF-βRI, activating downstream signaling. The complex then enters the nucleus from the cytoplasm, where it can regulate the expression of target genes by binding to promoters and co-factors to activate transcription (11,12).

Recent studies have found that marine algae, including red, brown and green algae, are rich in nutrients with a variety of bioactive functions. For example, Pyropia yezoensis (P. yezoensis), a red alga, is cultivated abundantly in East Asian countries, including China, Japan and Korea (13). P. yezoensis is composed of 25–40% carbohydrates and 25–50% proteins based on its dry weight, and is a good source of physiologically active substances (14). P. yezoensis has numerous biological functions, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-fatigue and anti-inflammatory activities, and has been shown to reduce blood pressure and protect against UVA-induced photo-aging (15–18). Although a number of studies are in progress to examine the biological effects of P. yezoensis, no studies have yet examined its effects against skin aging using human dermal fibroblasts, at least to the best of our knowledge. In this study, we found that the P. yezoensis peptide, PYP1-5, affected collagen synthesis in Hs27 cells. Furthermore, we determined the intracellular mechanisms responsible for PYP1-5 induced-collagen synthesis, focusing on the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and enzymes related to collagen expression.

Materials and methods

Preparation of P. yezoensis peptide PYP1-5

PYP1-5 (D-P-K-G-K-Q-Q-A-I-H-V-A-P-S-F) was prepared as described previously (19). The 15 N-terminal residues of PYP1-5 were synthesized by Peptron (Daejeon, Korea). PYP1-5 was purified using a Shimadzu Prominence high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus and the software package Class-VP version 6.14 (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan), with a C18 column (Capcell Pak; Shiseido, Tokyo, Japan) in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)/water, a gradient of 10–70% acetonitrile (0–20% acetonitrile for 2 min, 20–50% acetonitrile for 10 min, and 50–80% acetonitrile for 2 min) in 0.1% TFA, a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, and UV detection at 220 nm. The molecular mass of PYP1-5 was confirmed to be 1,622 kDa based on mass spectrometry (HP 110 Series LC/MSD).

Cell culture

The human skin fibroblast cell line Hs27, was purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA). The cells were maintained in complete Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; HyClone, Logan, UT, USA), 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 mg/ml streptomycin in a humidified 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C. The Hs27 cells were cultured to 70–80% confluence in a 100-mm diameter plate and were used between passage numbers 5 and 15.

MTS assay

Hs27 cell viability was estimated using a CellTiter 96 AQueous Nonradioactive Cell Proliferation assay (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). The cells were plated in 48-well plates at a density of 2×104 cells/well, and subsequently treated with PYP1-5 (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml) in serum-free medium (SFM) for 24 h. The cells were then incubated with 10 µl of MTS solution for 30 min at 37°C, and the absorbance was quantified spectroscopically at 490 nm using a microplate reader (Benchmark microplate reader; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). Cell viability was calculated as the ratio of absorbance of treated cells to that of untreated cells.

Procollagen type I C-peptide (PIP) EIA assay

Procollagen was measured with a PIP EIA assay kit (Takara Bio Inc., Tokyo, Japan). The cells were inoculated in 6-well plates at a density of 1×105 cells/well and incubated for 24 h in SFM containing PYP1-5 (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml). After 24 h, the supernatant was collected from each well and tested with the PIP EIA kit following the manufacturer's instructions.

Treatment with TGF-βRI inhibitor (SB431542)

The cells were incubated for 2 h with 10 µM SB431542 (Tocris, Bristol, UK) prior to treatment with PYP1-5.

Whole-cell protein lysate extraction

The Hs27 cells were seeded in 100-mm dishes and cultured to 80% confluence. The cells were treated for 24 h with PYP1-5 (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml), washed 2 times in phosphate-buffered saline, and scraped on ice in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 1% Triton X-100, 0.1% SDS, 2 mM EDTA) containing protease inhibitor (1 mg/ml aprotinin, 1 mg/ml leupeptin, 1 mg/ml pepstatin A, 200 mM Na3VO4, 500 mM NaF and 100 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride). The cell extracts were centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was collected for use in western blot analysis.

Western blot analysis

Sample proteins (30 µg) were separated with 5–15% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and then transferred onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes (Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). The membranes were blocked with 1% bovine serum albumin in TBS-T (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1% Tween-20), probed with specific primary antibodies, and then probed with the secondary antibodies. Signals were detected using SuperSignal West Pico Chemiluminescent Substrate (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Rockford, IL, USA). The following primary and secondary antibodies were used: anti-collagen I (COL-1; sc-59772, anti-mouse, 1:1,000), anti-elastin (sc-166543, anti-mouse, 1:1,000), anti-MMP-1 (sc-21731, anti-mouse, 1:1,000), anti-TIMP-1 (sc-5538, anti-rabbit, 1:2,000), anti-TIMP-2 (sc-5539, anti-rabbit, 1:2,000), anti-TGF-β1 (sc-146, anti-rabbit, 1:1,000), anti-p-Smad2 (sc-135644, anti-rabbit, 1:500), anti-Smad2 (sc-6200, anti-goat, 1:1,000), anti-p-Smad3 (sc-130218, anti-rabbit, 1:500), anti-Smad7 (sc-11392, anti-rabbit, 1:2,000) and anti-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (sc-25778, anti-rabbit, 1:2,000) (all from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc, Santa Cruz, CA, USA), anti-Smad3 (#9513, anti-rabbit, 1:1,000; Cell Signaling Technology, Danvers, MA, USA), donkey anti-goat IgG (A50-101P, 1:10,000; Bethyl Laboratories, Inc., Montgomery, TX, USA), goat anti-mouse IgG-HRP (sc-2031, 1:10,000; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc) and goat anti-rabbit IgG (#7074, 1:10,000; Cell Signaling Technology).

Quantitative PCR (qPCR)

The Hs27 cells seeded in 6-well plates were cultured to 80% confluence and incubated in SFM containing PYP1-5 (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml) for 24 h. Total RNA was isolated from the cells using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA), and the extracted RNA was used as a template for cDNA synthesis using oligo(dT) (Intron Biotechnology Inc., Seongnam, Korea). The PCR amplification mixtures (total volume, 20 µl) contained 10 µl of TOPreal qPCR 2X PreMIX SYBR-Green (Enzynomics Inc., Daejeon, Korea), 1 µl of sense primer, 1 µl of anti-sense primer, 2 µl of cDNA template, and 6 µl of RNase-free water. qPCR was performed using the Eco Real-Time PCR system (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) using the following amplification conditions: pre-incubation at 95°C for 10 min, 40 cycles of 95°C for 10 sec, annealing at 60°C for 15 sec, and elongation at 72°C for 15 sec. Gene expression levels were normalized to those of GAPDH and calculated using the comparative ΔΔCT method, as previously described (20). The oligonucleotide primers used for PCR are listed in Table I.

Table I The oligonucleotide primer sequences used in the real-time PCR.

Table I

The oligonucleotide primer sequences used in the real-time PCR.

Gene	Accession no.	Sequence (5′-3′)	Amplicon (bp)
COL1A1	NM_000088.3	F: AGGGCCAAGACGAAGACATC R: AGATCACGTCATCGCACAACA	138
COL1A2	NM_000089.3	F: TCTGGATGGATTGAAGGGACA R: CCAACACGTCCTCTCTCACC	126
Elastin	XM_011515875.1	F: ATGCACACTGGTGCAGAGAG R: TGTAAGCACACAGGCAGGTC	98
TGF-β1	NM_000660.5	F: AGCGACTCGCCAGAGTGGTTA R: GCAGTGTGTTATCCCTGCTGTCA	130
MMP-1	NM_002421.3	F: CCCAAAAGCGTGTGACAGTAAG R: CTTCCGGGTAGAAGGGATTTG	113
TIMP-1	NM_003254.2	F: TGACATCCGGTTCGTCTACA R: TGCAGTTTTCCAGCAATGAG	102
TIMP-2	NM_003255.4	F: GCGGTCAGTGAGAAGGAAGTGGA R: GAGGAGGGGGCCGTGTAGATAAAC	140
GAPDH	NM_001256799.2	F: ACCCACTCCTCCACCTTTGA R: TGGTGGTCCAGGGGTCTTAC	157

[i] COL1A1, collagen type I α1; TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-β1; MMP-1, matrix metalloproteinase-1; TIMP-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Statistical analysis

All samples were analyzed in triplicate. The results are expressed as the means ± standard deviation (SD). To determine statistical significance, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted using SPSS software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A value of p<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Effects of PYP1-5 on Hs27 cell viability

We used MTS assay to determine PYP1-5 cytotoxicity to Hs27 cells. Fig. 1 shows the effects of various concentrations (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml) of PYP1-5 on Hs27 cell viability. The PYP1-5-treated cells exhibited similar effects on viability at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml as the untreated cells and had no significant cytotoxicity.

Figure 1 Cytotoxicity of PYP1-5 to Hs27 cells. The cells were seeded in 48-well plates at a density of 2×104 cells/well with medium supplemented with 10% FBS. Following incubation, the cells were treated with PYP1-5 (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml) for 24 h. Cell viability was determined by MTS assay. The results are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. Bars labeled with the same letters indicate no statistical significance.

PYP1-5 promotes type I collagen synthesis

To determine whether PYP1-5 affects collagen synthesis, we performed a PIP EIA assay. After treating the Hs27 cells with various concentrations of PYP1-5, we measured procollagen products in the cells and found that procollagen product levels increased in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 2A). Using western blot analysis, we confirmed that the type 1 collagen protein expression levels were increased (Fig. 2B). Type 1 collagen is composed of two α1(I) chains and one α2(I) chain, which are encoded by two genes, COL1A1 and COL1A2, respectively (21). We further investigated the above-mentioned by qPCR and found that both the COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNA expression levels increased in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 2C).

Figure 2 Effect of PYP1-5 on the expression of type I collagen in Hs27 cells. (A) Procollagen expression was investigated using the PIP EIA kit assay. (B) Type I collagen protein expression was examined with a western blot analysis. (C) Collagen type I α1 (COL1A1)and COL1A2 mRNA levels were examined by qPCR. The results are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. Bars labeled with different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

PYP1-5 increases elastin expression

Elastin is an important component of connective tissue, such as collagen and is located between collagen in the dermis, providing elasticity and flexibility to the skin. With age, elastin decomposes, resulting in reduced skin elasticity and increased skin aging (22,23). In this study, to examine the effect of PYP1-5 on elastin in Hs27 cells, we performed western blot analysis and qPCR and found that the elastin protein and mRNA expression levels increased following treatment with PYP1-5 (Fig. 3).

Figure 3 Effect of PYP1-5 on elastin expression in Hs27 cells. The cells were cultured in 100-mm dishes with PYP1-5 (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/ml) for 24 h, after which cellular protein and total RNA were isolated. (A) Protein expression levels were assessed by western blot analysis. (B) mRNA expression levels were quantified by qPCR. The results are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. Bars labeled with different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

PYP1-5 decreases MMP-1 expression and increases TIMP-1 and -2 expression

To confirm the regulatory effects of PYP1-5 on ECM synthesis enzymes, we examined MMP-1 and TIMP-1 and -2 protein and mRNA expression by western blot analysis and qPCR, respectively. Following treatment of the cells with PYP1-5 for 24 h, the MMP-1 protein and mRNA expression levels decreased in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 4A and B), while the TIMP-1 and -2 protein and mRNA expression levels increased (Fig. 4A and C). These results indicate that PYP1-5 regulates collagen synthesis by reducing MMP-1 expression and inducing TIMP-1 and -2 expression.

Figure 4 Effect of PYP1-5 on matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 protein and mRNA expression levels in Hs27 cells. (A) Protein expression levels were assessed by western blot analysis. (B and C) mRNA expression levels were quantified by qPCR. The results are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. Bars labeled with different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

PYP1-5 activates the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway

We then investigated the mechanisms through which PYP1-5 promotes type 1 collagen expression in Hs27 cells. Since the TGF-β/Smad pathway is the major signaling pathway of collagen synthesis in the dermis (24), we assessed whether it is involved in PYP1-5-induced type 1 collagen expression.

To investigate the regulatory effects of PYP1-5 on the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, we measured downstream protein and mRNA expression levels in Hs27 cells using by western blot analysis and qPCR, respectively. We confirmed that PYP1-5 increased TGF-β1 ligand protein and mRNA expression levels in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 5A and B). In addition, treatment with PYP1-5 increased the TGF-βRII and p-Smad2/3 protein levels. Treatment of the Hs27 cells with PYP1-5 also decreased the Smad7 protein levels, an inhibitor of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway (Fig. 5C). These results indicate that treatment of the Hs27 cells with PYP1-5 activates the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. To further investigate the involvement of the TGF-β/Smad pathway in PYP1-5-induced collagen synthesis, we used a specific inhibitor of TGF-βRI, SB431542 (10 µM). Treatment with SB431542 downregulated the PYP1-5-induced upregulation of p-Smad2/3, a downstream target of TGF-β/Smad signaling (Fig. 6A) and attenuated the effects of PYP1-5 on the MMP-1 protein, and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA levels (Fig. 6A and B). In addition, treatment with SB431542 reduced the PYP1-5-induced COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNA levels (Fig. 6C). These data suggest that PYP1-5 regulates collagen synthesis via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

Figure 5 PYP1-5 activation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway in Hs27 cells. (A–C) Protein expression levels were assessed by western blot analysis and the mRNA expression levels were quantified by qPCR. The results are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. Bars labeled with different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

Figure 6 Effect of 10 µM SB431542 on PYP1-5-induced collagen synthesis in Hs27 cells. (A) Protein expression was assessed by western blot analysis. (B and C) mRNA expression levels were quantified by qPCR. The results are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. Bars labeled with different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

PYP1-5 increases the expression of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) transcription factor via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway

Sp1 is an essential zinc finger transcription factor of Smad- dependent positive regulation of collagen synthesis that is induced by TGF-β. The Sp1 transcription factor regulates multiple biological processes, such as tumorigenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle and angiogenesis, and induces type I procollagen synthesis in fibroblasts (25). The Smad3/4 complex induces the trans-activation of the human COL1A1 and COL1A2 promoter in normal skin fibroblasts (26,27). In this study, we confirmed the effect of PYP1-5 on Sp1 protein levels induced by the the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and found that treatment with PYP1-5 increased Sp1 protein expression (Fig. 7).

Figure 7 Effect of PYP1-5 on specificity protein 1 (Sp1) protein expression in Hs27 cells. Cells were treated with PYP1-5 for 24 h. Protein extracts were prepared and examined by western blot analysis.

Discussion

Interest in anti-aging has grown with the increase in life expectancy. In particular, many efforts have been made to prevent skin aging (28) and much research has been dedicated to skin health and beauty. Skin aging is classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic aging occurs due to a reduction in the levels of ECM components, such as collagen and elastin, with age (29). Since collagen, the predominant component of the dermis, must be maintained to prevent the skin aging process, it is important to prevent its decomposition.

Various bioactive ingredients have been identified in many marine algae species, several of which have been studied for their anti-aging effects on skin, including anti-photoaging, anti-free radical activity, moisturization, and collagen biosynthesis (30). It has been demonstrated that P. yezoensis extract exerts a protective effect against UVA radiation on skin fibroblasts (18). However, the effects of P. yezoensis on collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts remain unclear. In this study, we examined the P. yezoensis peptide, PYP1-5, for its anti-aging function by promoting collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts. First, we investigated whether PYP1-5 induced cytotoxicity in Hs27 cells. We found that the PYP1-5-treated cells had a similar viability as the untreated cells (Fig. 1), suggesting that PYP1-5 was non-toxic to Hs27 cells. In the dermis, collagen gradually decomposes due to extrinsic and intrinsic factors, which promotes wrinkle formation and skin aging (31). PYP1-5 increased procollagen synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximum increase of 35% more than the untreated cells (Fig. 2A). In addition, PYP1-5 upregulated type 1 collagen protein levels and COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNA expression (Fig. 2B and C). These results indicate that PYP1-5 promotes collagen synthesis.

Elastin is another vital component of the skin, as it is a protein that is located between collagen in the dermis that provides elasticity and flexibility to the skin (23). Following the treatment of the Hs27 cells with PYP1-5, the elastin protein and mRNA expression levels increased (Fig. 3), suggesting that PYP1-5 promotes the synthesis of other ECM products. Further research is required to elucidate its effects on other ECM components, such as hyaluronan and fibronectin. In the dermis, various MMP enzymes degrade collagen, while TIMP enzymes inhibit MMP activity (8). We confirmed that PYP1-5 suppressed the MMP-1 protein and mRNA expression levels (Fig. 4A and B), and enhanced the TIMP-1 and -2 protein and mRNA expression levels (Fig. 4A and C).

TGF-β is the major activator of the collagen synthesis process in skin fibroblasts. The process is also related to the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway (32). PYP1-5 upregulated the TGF-β1 protein and mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 5A and B). Moreover, we confirmed that PYP1-5 increased TGF-βRII, which resulted in Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation (Fig. 5C). This forms a complex with Smad4, which can translocate to the nucleus. To confirm that PYP1-5-induced collagen synthesis was caused by TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway activation, we treated the Hs27 cells with SB431542, a specific inhibitor of TGF-βRI. Treatment with SB431542 decreased TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway activation by PYP1-5 (Fig. 6A). In addition, PYP1-5-induced Smad2/3 activation was inhibited by SB431542, suggesting that the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 is mediated by PYP1-5 treatment. The effects of PYP1-5 on MMP-1 and TIMP-1 and -2 regulation were attenuated by treatment with SB431542 (Fig. 6A and B). Moreover, the PYP1-5-induced increase in COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNA expression was decreased by treatment with SB431542 (Fig. 6C), indicating that PYP1-5-induced collagen synthesis is regulated by TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway activation. The Sp1 transcription factor, which is induced by TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway activation, regulates type I procollagen expression (26). In this study, following treatment with PYP1-5, Sp1 protein expression increased (Fig. 7). This demonstrates that the treatment of Hs27 cells with PYP1-5 affects transcription.

In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that PYP1-5 promotes type 1 collagen synthesis in Hs27 cells. Moreover, the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway may be important in mediating the effects of PYP1-5 on collagen synthesis. Our results suggest that PYP1-5 may have beneficial effects on intrinsic skin aging.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (grant no. 2012R1A6A1028677).

References