The Potential of Bovine Colostrum-Derived Exosomes to Repair Aged and Damaged Skin Cells

Abstract

In this study, we examined the potentially beneficial effects of bovine colostrum-derived exosomes on UV-induced aging and damage in three major resident skin cells including keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts. The treatment with colostrum exosomes prevented the UV-induced generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species in epidermal keratinocytes. In UV-stimulated melanocytes, colostrum exosomes could also significantly reduce the production of the protective skin-darkening pigment melanin, which may help to reduce the risk of excessive melanin formation causing skin hyperpigmentation disorders. In the human dermal fibroblasts treated with colostrum exosomes, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases was suppressed, whereas increased cell proliferation was accompanied by enhanced production of collagen, a major extracellular matrix component of skin. Taken together, our findings indicate that bovine colostrum-derived exosomes having excellent structural and functional stability offer great potential as natural therapeutic agents to repair UV-irradiated skin aging and damage.

Keywords

• bovine colostrum
• exosome
• keratinocyte
• melanocyte
• fibroblast
• skin repair