2025-10-29 08:45:56
Presenters: DiNatale L,1,2 Emmetsberger J,1,2 Wu Y,3 Deng B,3 Cao JR3
Affiliations: 1La Mer Max Huber Research Laboratories, Melville, NY; 2Estée Lauder Companies, Melville, NY; 3Estée Lauder Companies Innovation R&D (China) Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
Objective: Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging,1 characterized by reduced ATP production, decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, and altered mitochondrial fusion–fission dynamics.2 This study investigated whether a ferment of Macrocystis pyrifera (MPF) could improve mitochondrial performance in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and protect against age- and UVB-associated dysfunction.
Methods: HDFs were treated with MPF for 24 hours, followed by quantification of NAD+ and NADH levels. MitoTracker Green and tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) staining were used to assess mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm).3 To evaluate the effect of MPF on mitochondrial morphology, live-cell imaging was performed on HDFs from donors of different ages and on cells 6 hours post-UVB exposure, with or without MPF treatment. Morphological parameters, including mitochondrial length and width/length ratio, were analyzed.
Results: MPF significantly increased NAD+, NADH, and ΔΨm in a dose-dependent manner. Aged and UVB-exposed HDFs displayed marked mitochondrial fragmentation, while MPF-treated cells from both groups exhibited elongated mitochondria, with increased length and decreased width/length ratio, indicating improved mitochondrial network morphology.
Conclusion: MPF enhances mitochondrial bioenergetics by increasing NAD+, NADH, and ΔΨm, while also protecting against UV-induced and age-associated mitochondrial fragmentation. These findings suggest MPF as a promising agent for mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction associated with skin aging and environmental stress.
Disclosures: The authors declare that all authors are employees of The Estée Lauder Companies and have no other conflicts of interest to disclose.
References:
1 Adlimoghaddam A, et al., Aging Dis. 2025 Jul 31;16(5):2495-2497.
2 Aon MA, et al. Clin Sci (Lond). 2016 Aug 1;130(15):1285-305.
3 Chazotte B, et al. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2011 Aug 1;2011(8):990-2.
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