Peptide Regulation of Skin Fibroblast Functions during Their Aging In Vitro

This study investigated the effects of Cartalax (tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp, or AED), a peptide bioregulator from the Khavinson school, on human skin fibroblasts during their in vitro aging (replicative senescence). Cell cultures were monitored from young to senescent passages, with peptide treatment applied at different stages of cellular aging.

The results demonstrated that Cartalax exerted multiple protective effects on aged fibroblasts:

• Inhibition of MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase 9), an enzyme that degrades collagen and elastin, the main components responsible for skin firmness and elasticity. The reduction in MMP-9 suggests preservation of extracellular matrix integrity.
• Increased Ki-67 expression, a cell proliferation marker, indicating that the peptide partially restores the proliferative capacity of aged cells.
• Elevation of CD98hc (CD98 heavy chain), a protein involved in tissue regeneration and amino acid transport, essential for protein synthesis and cell renewal.
• Suppression of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis, the main effector of programmed cell death, resulting in greater fibroblast survival.

These findings position Cartalax as a peptide with skin anti-aging potential that acts on multiple fronts: preserving the extracellular matrix, stimulating cell renewal, and reducing programmed cell death. The study reinforces the concept of peptide bioregulation, whereby short peptides can modulate gene expression in a coordinated manner to counteract the degenerative processes of aging.