Burcu Demirbağ, Ayça Kara
Van Medical Journal - 2026;33(2):166-173
Introduction: In vitro studies indicate that Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes photoaging in the skin through oxidative stress, collagen destruction, DNA damage, and chronic inflammation. These models play a critical role in the development of anti-aging therapies. The study aimed to investigate the anti-photoaging effects of the combination therapy of vanillin and colostrum-derived exosomes on UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblast cells. Materials and Methods: Ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed human dermal fibroblast cell line (HDF-1) were treated with vanillin (30 µM) and colostrum exosomes (0.1 mg/mL) to assess cell viability and total antioxidant capacity. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and procollagen type-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and cell nucleus morphology was examined by 4?,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Results: Cell viability increased in UVB-irradiated HDF-1 cells in the vanillin and vanillin+exosomes groups. Following UVB exposure, a decrease in procollagen type 1 and antioxidant levels and increased MMP-1 levels were observed in HDF-1 cells. Vanillin+exosome treatment was associated with decreased MMP-1 expression in HDF-1 cells and increased collagen production. Increased antioxidant activity, which UVB suppressed, was observed in the vanillin+exosome group (p<0.05). Furthermore, irregular nuclear shapes (signs of apoptosis) were observed in UVB-damaged cells, while near-normal nuclear morphology and a decrease in nuclear fragmentation were observed after vanillin+exosome treatment. Conclusion: The combination of vanillin and colostrum-derived exosomes showed synergistic effects on skin damage and anti-photoaging by triggering antioxidant activity and increasing collagen synthesis.
