Ginsenoside Rg1 protects human fibroblasts against psoralen- and UVA-induced premature senescence through a telomeric mechanism

Arch Dermatol Res. 2012 Apr;304(3):223-8. doi: 10.1007/s00403-012-1221-9. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on 8-methoxypsoralen(8-MOP)/Ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced premature senescence in human fibroblasts, and the underlying mechanism. We established a stress-induced premature senescence model by 8-MOP/UVA irradiation. The aging condition was determined by histochemical staining of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal). Relative telomere length was calculated by the ratio of the amount of telomere DNA versus single copy DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels of p-P53, p21(WAF-1) and p16(INK-4a) were estimated by Western blotting. Compared with the 8-MOP/UVA treatment group, we found that the irradiated fibroblasts pretreated with ginsenoside Rg1 demonstrated a decrease in the expression of SA-β-gal, a downregulation in the level of senescence-associated proteins, and a deceleration in telomere shortening. Taken together, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 significantly antagonizes premature senescence induced by 8-MOP/UVA in fibroblasts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging, Premature / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects*
  • Cytoprotection*
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects*
  • Ginsenosides / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • PUVA Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Telomere / drug effects*
  • Telomere Shortening / drug effects
  • beta-Galactosidase / analysis

Substances

  • Ginsenosides
  • GLB1 protein, human
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • ginsenoside Rg1