title: Sodium L-ascorbate enhances elastic fibers deposition by fibroblasts from normal and pathologic human skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), a known enhancer of collagen deposition, has also been identified as an inhibitor of elastogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Present studies explored whether and how the L-ascorbic acid derivative (+) sodium L-ascorbate (SA) would affect production of collagen and elastic fibers in cultures of fibroblasts derived from normal human skin and dermal fat, as well as in explants of normal human skin, stretch-marked skin and keloids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of SA on the extracellular matrix production were assessed quantitatively by PCR analyses, western blots, biochemical assay of insoluble elastin and by immuno-histochemistry. We also evaluated effects of SA on production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation of IGF-I and insulin receptors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SA, applied in 50-200 μM concentrations, stimulates production of both collagen and elastic fibers in all tested cultures. Moreover, combination of SA with a proline hydroxylase inhibitor induces a beneficial remodelling in explants of dermal scars, resulting in the inhibition of collagen deposition and induction of new elastogenesis. Importantly, we revealed that SA stimulates elastogenesis only after intracellular influx of non-oxidized ascorbate anions (facilitated by the sodium-dependent ascorbate transporter), that causes reduction of intracellular ROS, activation of c-Src tyrosine kinase and the enhancement of IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of the IGF-1 receptor that ultimately triggers elastogenic signalling pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results endorse the use of this potent stimulator of collagen and elastin production in the treatment of wrinkled and stretch-marked skin. They also encourage inclusion of SA into therapeutic combinations with collagenogenesis inhibitors to prevent formation of dermal scars and keloids.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Canada; Human Matrix Sciences, LLC, Visalia, CA, USA. Electronic address: alek.hinek@sickkids.ca.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinek
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Hyunjun J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Yanting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Human Matrix Sciences, LLC, Visalia, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Mitts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001706:Biopsy; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007627:Keloid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation; D064800:Prolyl-Hydroxylase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012038:Regeneration; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D057896:Striae Distensae / Q000188:drug therapy; D014333:Tropoelastin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064800:Prolyl-Hydroxylase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014333:Tropoelastin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Elastin; Elastogenesis; IGF-1Receptor; Skin regeneration; Sodium ascorbate