Esculetin Prevents the Induction of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 by Hydrogen Peroxide in Skin Keratinocytes

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in various cellular diseases. Excessive ROS can cause intracellular oxidative stress, resulting in a calcium imbalance and even aging. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of esculetin on oxidative stress-induced aging in human HaCaT keratinocytes. METHODS: Human keratinocytes were pretreated with esculetin for 30 minutes and treated with H(2)O(2). Then, the protective effects on oxidative stress-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 were detected by Flou-4-AM staining, reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, and quantitative fluorescence assay. RESULTS: Esculetin prevented H(2)O(2)-induced aging by inhibiting MMP-1 mRNA, protein, and activity levels. In addition, esculetin decreased abnormal levels of phospho-MEK1, phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-SEK1, phospho-JNK1/2, c-Fos, and phospho-c-Jun and inhibited activator protein 1 binding activity. CONCLUSIONS: Esculetin prevented excessive levels of intracellular calcium and reduced the expression levels of aging-related proteins.