Effects of Ascorbic Acid on Keratinocyte and Epidermalization of Skin

Park, Kyoung Chan; Choi, Hye Ryung; Cho, Hyun Joo; Kim, Soon Kyum; Kwon, Sun Bang; Kim, Dong Seok; Cho, Young Joon; Yoon, Sang Woong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
There are different models of skin substitutes, but no skin substitutes have the characteristics of native skin. It was reported that the incubation of skin substitutes in medium containing ascorbic acid extends cellular viability and promotes formation of an epidermal barrier in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of ascorbic acid on the proliferation of keratinocytes and on the reconstruction of epidermis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated and used for culturing living skin equivalent (LSE).
RESULTS
When ascorbic acid was added, the expression of p63 and a6 integrin was definitely increased compared to control models. In addition, ascorbic acid increased the proliferation of normal human keratinocytes at a dose dependent manner. Especially, ascorbic acid induced the phosphorylation of ERK and up-regulation of EGF-R
CONCLUSION
Results suggest that ascorbic acid is essential in the control of keratinocyte proliferation and basement membrane formation. Ascorbic acid-related keratinocytes proliferation is seemed to be mediated by ERK phosphorylation and EGF-R up-regulation.