Molecular Aspects of the Geroprotective Effect of Peptide KE in Human Skin Fibroblasts

Skin aging is an current problem of modern geriatric cosmetology. One promising method to decelerate the process of age-related skin changes is the use of cosmetics with short peptides. The goal of the work was to study the effect of peptide KE (Lys-Glu, Vilon) on the expression of aging markers of human fibroblasts in an in vitro model. The expression of collagen type 1 and sirtuin 6 was studied with immunofluorescent confocal microscopy in “young” and “old” cultures of skin fibroblasts. It has been found that the area of expression of collagen type 1 and sirtuin 6 decreases by 3.5 and 3.6 times, respectively, in skin fibroblast cultures with aging. Peptide KE increases the expression area of collagen type 1 in old skin fibroblast cultures by 83%; the expression area of sirtuin 6 in young and old cultures of skin fibroblasts increased by 1.6 and 2.6 times, respectively. Thus, peptide KE increases the functional activity of skin fibroblasts and decelerates their senescence.