Novel Recombinant Tropoelastin Implants Restore Skin Extracellular Matrix
December 2020 | Volume 19 | Issue 12 | Original Article | 1166 | Copyright © December 2020
Published online November 28, 2020
Michal Graff Mitzmacher MSca*, Suzanne M. Mithieux PhDb,c, Anthony S. Weiss PhDb,c,d, Christopher K. Hee PhDe, Robert Daniels PhDa*
aElastagen Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia
bCharles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
cSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
dBosch Institute, University of Sydney, Australia
eAllergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, Tissue Material Sciences, Irvine, CA
*Affiliation at the time the studies were conducted.
Objective: To analyze coaccumulation of elastin and collagen and gene expression of biomarkers associated with elastin production, examine the ex vivo effects of recombinant human TE (rhTE) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on epidermal and dermal structures, and evaluate the in vivo response following intradermal injections of rhTE and HA.
Methods: Human dermal fibroblasts and 3-D skin patch models were cultured for in vitro analysis. Ex vivo analysis was performed using skin explants. In vivo studies were done in 6-week-old male CD Hairless rats. Different formulations of rhTE, soluble or crosslinked using derivatized HA (dHA), were tested and analyzed.
Results: rhTE in monomeric form was utilized as a substrate by dermal fibroblasts during the production of branched elastin and fibrous collagen networks in vitro. Formulations of rhTE crosslinked with dHA demonstrated increased expression of hyaluronic acid synthase 1 and ex vivo results revealed increased moisture content and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) deposition versus dermal filler control. Intradermal rhTE‒dHA injection produced colocalized human‒rat elastin fibers in vivo.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the novel rhTE‒dHA matrix is an attractive material to support skin tissue repair.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(12):1166-1172. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5375