Stimulatory effects of collagen production induced by coenzyme Q(10) in cultured skin fibroblasts

Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) is a well-known antioxidant and serves as an essential carrier for electron transport and proton translocation in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. CoQ(10) has been widely commercially available in Japan as a dietary and health supple­ment since 2001 and it is used for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases induced by aging. Recently, it was stated that for Japan, which is facing an aging society, CoQ(10) has been used in many skincare products. However, the physiological actions of CoQ(10) in skin fibroblasts are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of CoQ(10) on cultured human skin fibroblast. In this study, CoQ(10) treatment increased intracellular CoQ(10) level and promoted proliferation of fibroblasts. In addition, CoQ(10) increased mRNA expression of type I, IV, VII collagen, elastin, and HSP47, whereas CoQ(10) has little effect on mRNA of type II and VIII MMP. These results suggested that CoQ(10) has the efficacy that it increases collagen production in skin, thereby there is possible of the anti-aging by CoQ(10) in Japan which reached an aging society, so that it might be based on new physiological function by CoQ(10).