The skin photoprotective effect of trilinolein: Induction of cellular autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway

Trilinolein (TL) is an active substance contained in traditional Chinese herbs; modern studies have shown that trilinolein has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the body. This study delves into the photoprotective effect of trilinolein on UVB-irradiated Human Skin Fibroblast (HSF) cells and the underlying mechanisms. Our findings reveal that trilinolein had a photoprotective effect on HSF cells: trilinolein enhanced cellular autophagy, restored UVB-inhibited cell proliferative viability, and curbing UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. Intriguingly, after inhibition of TL-induced autophagy via wortmannin, diminished trilinolein's photoprotective effects. Meanwhile, trilinolein was shown to modulate the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway, thus enhance cellular autophagy in HSF cells, and this tendency was suppressed after the administration of compound C (AMPK inhibitor). In a mouse model of skin photodamage, trilinolein significantly mitigated photodamage extent through morphological and histopathological analyses. This study illuminates trilinolein could inhibit the photodamaging effects of UVB irradiation by regulating cellular autophagy through the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway, suggesting its promising application in combating UV-induced skin disorders. [Display omitted] •After inhibiting cellular autophagy, trilinolein photoprotection disappeared.•Inhibition of AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway, trilinolein pro-autophagy effect disappeared.•In the mouse model of photodamage, the application of trilinolein has good effect.