The Aqueous Extract of Polypodium leucotomos (Fernblock®) Regulates Opsin 3 and Prevents Photooxidation of Melanin Precursors on Skin Cells Exposed to Blue Light Emitted from Digital Devices.

Mikel Portillo,Azahara Rodríguez-Luna,Silvia Lorrio,Manuel Mataix,Salvador González,María Villalba,Miguel Alonso-Juarranz

doi:10.3390/antiox10030400

Abstract

The effects of sun exposure on the skin and specifically those related to pigmentation disorders are well known. It has recently been shown that blue light leads to the induction of oxidative stress and long-lasting pigmentation. The protective effect of an aqueous extract of Polypodium leucotomos (Fernblock®) is known. Our aim was to investigate the action mechanism of Fernblock® against pigmentation induced by blue light from digital devices. Human fibroblasts (HDF) and murine melanocytes (B16-F10) were exposed to artificial blue light (a 400–500 nm LED lamp). Cell viability, mitochondrial morphology, and the expression of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, known markers involved in the melanogenesis pathway, were evaluated. The activation of Opsin-3, a membrane protein sensitive to blue light that triggers the activation of the enzyme tyrosinase responsible for melanogenesis in melanocytes, was also analyzed. Our results demonstrated that pretreatment with Fernblock® prevents cell death, alteration of mitochondrial morphology, and phosphorylation of p38 in HDF exposed to blue light. In addition, Fernblock® significantly reduced the activation of Opsin-3 in melanocytes and the photo-oxidation of melanin, preventing its photodegradation. In sum, Fernblock® exerts beneficial effects against the detrimental impact of blue light from digital devices and could prevent early photoaging, while maintaining skin homeostasis.

Highlights

Skin acts as a physical barrier between internal and external factors, maintaining homeostasis [1]
Even though red light has been linked to beneficial effects due to its role in enhancing cell growth and synthesis of procollagen I, blue light in contrast has shown to be detrimental for skin homeostasis
This research aimed to investigate the protective effects of FB against significant molecular and cellular changes in normal human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and mouse melanocytes induced by exposure to artificial blue light

Summary

Introduction

Skin acts as a physical barrier between internal and external factors, maintaining homeostasis [1]. It is well known that one of the factors that accounts for most of this harmful impact is sunlight exposure [4]. Even though ultraviolet radiation (UV, 100–400 nm) is known to be accountable for most of the skin damage [5], visible light (VIS, 400–700 nm), which represents the vast majority of the terrestrial sunlight after infrared light, has been seen to cause damage by inducing production of free radicals, DNA damage, immunosuppression, and photoaging, among others [6]. Even though red light has been linked to beneficial effects due to its role in enhancing cell growth and synthesis of procollagen I, blue light in contrast has shown to be detrimental for skin homeostasis. Blue light increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory mediators, and DNA damage [8], exerts anti-proliferative effects [9], induces melanogenesis activation, decreases collagen production, and alters metalloproteinase activities [10], resulting in early photoaging and hyperpigmentation

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion