Abstract

Tremella fuciformis extract (TFE) is used in dermocosmetic formulations due to its moisturising, antioxidant, and skin-supportive properties. The present study compared the effects of commercial TFE and hyaluronic acid (HA) on selected functions of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). The cells were treated with TFE at concentrations of either 200 µg/mL or 500 µg/mL, or with HA at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. The following parameters were the focus of the study: cell viability, DNA and collagen biosynthesis, prolidase activity, scratch-wound closure, and immunofluorescence of selected signalling- and extracellular matrix-related markers. The findings of this study demonstrate that neither TFE nor HA had any effect on HDF viability. TFE led to a significant increase in DNA biosynthesis at both concentrations, while HA had no significant effect. The synthesis of collagen was found to be considerably elevated by both HA and TFE500, with no such effect observed in the presence of TFE200. Prolidase activity was observed to be highest in the HA group and also elevated in the TFE500 group; however, these results should be regarded as descriptive due to the nature of the pooled-sample data. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) fluorescence in images treated with TFE, while phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) remained close to the control level. Higher levels of β1-integrin, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor (IGF-1R), prolidase, and phosphorylated Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases (p-ERK1/2) fluorescence were also observed in selected groups. The mean scratch-wound closure was found to be highest for TFE500. Overall, TFE was found to be associated with DNA biosynthesis, whereas HA and TFE500 were found to enhance collagen biosynthesis. Further studies are required to confirm biological reproducibility and the mechanism.

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