Biomol Ther.  2025 Jan;33(1):221-230. 10.4062/biomolther.2024.053.

C-Peptide Ameliorates Particulate Matter 2.5-Induced Skin Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting NADPH Oxidation

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, and Jeju Research Center for Natural Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
  • 2Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
  • 3KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Connecting peptide (C-peptide), a byproduct of insulin biosynthesis, has diverse cellular and biological functions. Particulate mat- ter 2.5 (PM2.5 ) adversely affects human skin, leading to skin thickening, wrinkle formation, skin aging, and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of C-peptide against PM2.5 -induced damage to skin cells, focusing on oxidative stress as a key mechanism. C-peptide mitigated NADPH oxidation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by PM2.5 . It also suppressed PM2.5 -induced NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity and alleviated PM2.5 -induced NOX1 and NOX4 expression. C-peptide protected against PM2.5 -induced DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. Additionally, C-peptide mitigated PM2.5 -induced apoptosis by inhibiting intracellular ROS production. In summary, our findings suggest that C-peptide mitigates PM2.5 -induced apoptosis in human HaCaT keratinocytes by inhibiting intracellular ROS production and NOX activity.

Keyword

Particulate matter 2.5; C-peptide; Reactive oxygen species; NADPH oxidase
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