Stimulatory effects of collagen production induced by coenzyme Q10 in cultured skin fibroblasts

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a well-known antioxidant and serves as an essential carrier for electron transport and proton translocation in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. CoQ10 has been widely commercially available in Japan as a dietary and health supplement since 2001 and it is used for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases induced by aging. Recently, it was stated that for Japan, which is facing an aging society, CoQ10 has been used in many skincare products. However, the physiological actions of CoQ10 in skin fibroblasts are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of CoQ10 on cultured human skin fibroblast. In this study, CoQ10 treatment increased intracellular CoQ10 level and promoted proliferation of fibroblasts. In addition, CoQ10 increased mRNA expression of type I, IV, VII collagen, elastin, and HSP47, whereas CoQ10 has little effect on mRNA of type II and VIII MMP. These results suggested that CoQ10 has the efficacy that it increases collagen production in skin, thereby there is possible of the anti-aging by CoQ10 in Japan which reached an aging society, so that it might be based on new physiological function by CoQ10