Rutin Protects Fibroblasts from UVA Radiation through Stimulation of Nrf2 Pathway
Elisabetta Tabolacci,
Giuseppe Tringali,
Veronica Nobile,
Sara Duca,
Michela Pizzoferrato,
Patrizia Bottoni,
Maria Elisabetta Clementi
Affiliations
Elisabetta Tabolacci
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Scienze della Vita, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Tringali
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Veronica Nobile
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Scienze della Vita, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Patrizia Bottoni
Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
Maria Elisabetta Clementi
Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” SCITEC-CNR, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
This study explores the photoprotective effects of rutin, a bioflavonoid found in some vegetables and fruits, against UVA-induced damage in human skin fibroblasts. Our results show that rutin increases cell viability and reduces the high levels of ROS generated by photo-oxidative stress (1 and 2 h of UVA exposure). These effects are related to rutin’s ability to modulate the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway. Interestingly, activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway results in an increase in reduced glutathione and Bcl2/Bax ratio, and the subsequent protection of mitochondrial respiratory capacity. These results demonstrate how rutin may play a potentially cytoprotective role against UVA-induced skin damage through a purely antiapoptotic mechanism.
