ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the effect of polypeptide from Chlamys farreri (PCF) on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced apoptosis and DNA damage in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts. METHODS: MTT assay was used to measure the viability of cells. Measurements of apoptosis and cytosolic free [Ca2+]i were performed with flow cytometry. The comet assay was employed to detect DNA damage in individual cell. RESULTS: PCF (0.25 %-1%) greatly enhanced the proliferative capacity of cultured fibroblasts irradiated by UVB (1.176 x 10(-4) J/cm2) and markedly reduced apoptosis and the level of DNA damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, PCF could decrease the cytosolic free [Ca2+]i (P<0.01, compared with UVB model). CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of PCF on UVB-induced photoaging is due to enhanced abating of UVB-injured DNA and UVB-induced apoptosis. Therefore, PCF can resist UV-induced aging development at the initiation stage.