KGF-2 ameliorates UVB-triggered skin photodamage in mice by attenuating DNA damage and inflammatory response and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Background: Long-term exposure to UVB induces DNA damage, inflammatory response, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis in skin cells, thus causing skin photodamage. Research has demonstrated the noteworthy antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, DNA repair, and mitochondrial protective properties of keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2).

Methods: To examine the impact of KGF-2 on UVB-triggered skin photodamage in mice, hair-removed mice were initially exposed under UVB radiation and subsequently treated with KGF-2 hydrogel and repeated for 6 days. On day 7, the assessment of histopathological alterations, inflammation, DNA damage, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis in mouse skin was assessed.

Results: It was found that KGF-2 could effectively relieve cutaneous photodamage symptoms and inhibit epidermal proliferation in mice. Meanwhile, KGF-2 was found to significantly reduce DNA damage, attenuate the inflammatory response, and inhibit the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway in the UVB-exposed mouse skin photodamage model.

Conclusion: To summarize, our results indicated that KGF-2 reduces the severity of mouse skin photodamage caused by UVB rays by attenuating DNA damage and the inflammatory response, besides inhibiting the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway.