Multipotent anti-aging recombinant human elastin: Counteracting zebrafish caudal fin shrinkage and D-galactose-induced intrinsic skin aging in mice

The degradation of elastin in aged skin results in the loss of elasticity, the formation of wrinkles, and even a reduced ability for wound healing after injury. However, previous studies about elastin material have been limited by high immunogenicity of animal-derived elastin, the use of single elastin peptide sequences, and residual crosslinking agents. In this study, we designed a multipotent anti-aging recombinant human elastin (rElastin) and utilized it to counteract caudal fin shrinkage in zebrafish and D-galactose-induced intrinsic skin aging in mice. The rElastin demonstrated thermoresponsive reversible phase-transition closely resembling that of natural elastin. In vitro , cell experiments demonstrated that rElastin effectively promoted the proliferation, adhesion, and spreading of HFF-1 cells. In a D-galactose-induced intrinsic aging mouse model, rElastin significantly restored dermal density, skin hydration, and TEWL to levels approaching those of healthy skin. Histological analysis further confirmed that rElastin facilitated the deposition of collagen and regeneration of elastic fibers, thereby promoting structural and functional repair of aging skin. Additionally, rElastin obviously inhibited the tail fin shrinkage after UV radiation. rElastin effectively targets skin symptoms associated with intrinsic aging, providing fresh insights into anti-aging therapies and showcasing strong potential for applications in regenerative medicine and cosmetic dermatology.