Comparison Between Injectable Platelet‐rich Fibrin and Platelet‐rich Plasma in Ameliorating UVA‐induced Photoaging in Human Dermal Fibroblasts via the Activation of TGF‐β/Smad Signaling Pathway

ABSTRACT Early‐stage photoaging is characterized by skin laxity and wrinkling, which are mainly attributable to the ultraviolet (UV) irradiation‐mediated imbalance between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production and collagen degradation. Injectable platelet‐rich fibrin (i‐PRF) is a novel blood concentrate with potential effects on photoaging. Over the past few decades, platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has been widely researched and used in different clinical fields as a first‐generation platelet concentrate. The aim of this study was to compare the antiphotoaging effects of i‐PRF in UVA‐irradiated human dermal fibroblasts with those of PRP by examining cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis, ROS generation, MMP‐1 and collagen I levels. The activation of the TGF‐β/Smad signaling pathway by i‐PRF and PRP was also investigated using western blotting. The results showed that i‐PRF was more effective than PRP in promoting cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, i‐PRF reduced ROS generation and cell apoptosis more effectively than PRP. With respect to the mechanism of collagen I upregulation, stronger stimulation of the TGF‐β/Smad signaling pathway and greater suppression of MMP‐1 expression were achieved by i‐PRF than by PRP. Our results suggest that i‐PRF can be a promising substitute for PRP in alleviating UVA‐induced photoaging and should be explored further for its anti‐photoaging properties. In comparison to PRP, i‐PRF has a stronger antiphotoaging effect on UVA‐irradiated HDFs through its promotion of cell proliferation and cell migration, reduction in ROS generation and cell apoptosis, alleviation of collagen degradation and stimulation of collagen synthesis. In addition, compared to PRP, i‐PRF was found to more potently activate the TGF‐β/Smad pathway. Therefore, i‐PRF may be a promising new therapeutic candidate for photoaging.