Effects of recombinant human collagen VI from <i>Escherichia coli</i> on UVA-irradiated human skin fibroblasts cells

Abstract

In this study, we reported the cloning and over expression of a gene coding for human collagen peptide (CP6) in Escherichia coli and investigated the protective effects of CP6 on UVA-irradiated human skin fibroblasts cells. The collagen peptide (CP6) was highly soluble and the expression level was approximately 10% of the total bacteria proteins. Also, we performed assays with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidine iodide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) methods to investigate the cytoprotective effects of CP6 on the proliferation of UVA-damaged human skin fibroblasts cells. Radiation dosages (5 J/cm²) significantly decreased the proliferation activities of human skin fibroblasts cells (HSF). Compared with UVA irradiated group, in the given concentration, CP6 could improve the activities of cell’s proliferation (P<0.05) and decrease the apoptosis rate of cell significantly (P<0.01). UVA could damage the human skin fibroblasts cell in vitro. The CP6 had protective effects on HSF irradiated by UVA, and the mechanism of this effect might be associated with its anti-oxidative effect and enhancing cell’s proliferation.

Key words: Protein expression, Collagen peptide, Human skin fibroblasts cells, UVA.