Affiliations: Paul Gerson Unna Research Center, Beiersdorf AG, Unnastraße 48, Hamburg, Germany | Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Germany | Clinical Department of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps‐University, Marburg, Germany
Note: [] Correspondence to: Professor Dr Udo Hoppe, Paul Gerson Unna Research Center, Beiersdorf AG, Unnastraße 48, D‐20245 Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract: The processes of aging and photoaging are associated with an increase in cellular oxidation. This may be in part due to a decline in the levels of the endogenous cellular antioxidant coenzyme Q_{10} (ubiquinone, CoQ_{10}). Therefore, we have investigated whether topical application of CoQ_{10} has the beneficial effect of preventing photoaging. We were able to demonstrate that CoQ_{10} penetrated into the viable layers of the epidermis and reduce the level of oxidation measured by weak photon emission. Furthermore, a reduction in wrinkle depth following CoQ_{10} application was also shown. CoQ_{10} was determined to be effective against UVA mediated oxidative stress in human keratinocytes in terms of thiol depletion, activation of specific phosphotyrosine kinases and prevention of oxidative DNA damage. CoQ_{10} was also able to significantly suppress the expression of collagenase in human dermal fibroblasts following UVA irradiation. These results indicate that CoQ_{10} has the efficacy to prevent many of the detrimental effects of photoaging.
Journal: Biofactors, vol. 9, no. 2-4, pp. 371-378, 1999
