The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging

The skin, as the body’s largest organ, functions as a vital barrier against environmental insults. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation significantly contributes to premature aging, or photoaging, which leads to DNA damage and disrupts repair mechanisms. Exosomes, which are small extracell...

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Main Authors: Kunjie Li, Songfa Lin, Pengjun Zhou, Yanni Guo, Shu Lin, Chao Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1538197/full
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author Kunjie Li
Songfa Lin
Pengjun Zhou
Yanni Guo
Shu Lin
Shu Lin
Chao Ji
author_facet Kunjie Li
Songfa Lin
Pengjun Zhou
Yanni Guo
Shu Lin
Shu Lin
Chao Ji
author_sort Kunjie Li
collection DOAJ
description The skin, as the body’s largest organ, functions as a vital barrier against environmental insults. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation significantly contributes to premature aging, or photoaging, which leads to DNA damage and disrupts repair mechanisms. Exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles, play a key role in cell-to-cell communication and might help mitigate the effects of photoaging by transporting bioactive molecules to skin cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles in the photoaging process, influencing stress responses and DNA repair; however, their involvement in exosomes in the context of skin aging is not yet well understood. In this study, we developed a photoaging model using SD rats subjected to UVA and UVB irradiation, which led to significant changes in the dermis such as increased dryness, wrinkles, pigmentation, and vascular alterations. Histological evaluations showed uneven thickening of the epidermis, degradation of collagen and elastic fibers, and cellular infiltration. Exosomes isolated from the dermal tissues exposed to UV radiation displayed altered size distributions. Transcriptomic analyses of the UV-treated rats identified 2,332 lncRNAs and 5,906 mRNAs that were differentially expressed, revealing significant involvement in pathways related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cellular stress responses. A cis-regulatory analysis identified 1,327 essential interactions between lncRNAs and mRNAs, highlighting their role in controlling inflammation and apoptosis. Importantly, both IL-1B and GADD45B levels were significantly increased in the exosomes and UV-challenged HaCaT cells, indicating their crucial roles in responding to UV-induced stress. This study highlights the significant role of exosomal lncRNAs in managing cellular reactions to UV-induced stress, impacting regulatory pathways associated with apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. These insights pave the way for the development of lncRNA-focused therapeutic approaches to address UV-induced skin damage.
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spelling doaj-art-c081fadee8df4e4e9cfd43e48c01b43c2025-08-20T02:11:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-04-011310.3389/fcell.2025.15381971538197The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoagingKunjie Li0Songfa Lin1Pengjun Zhou2Yanni Guo3Shu Lin4Shu Lin5Chao Ji6Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, ChinaCentre of Neurological and Metabolic Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, ChinaGroup of Neuroendocrinology, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaThe skin, as the body’s largest organ, functions as a vital barrier against environmental insults. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation significantly contributes to premature aging, or photoaging, which leads to DNA damage and disrupts repair mechanisms. Exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles, play a key role in cell-to-cell communication and might help mitigate the effects of photoaging by transporting bioactive molecules to skin cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles in the photoaging process, influencing stress responses and DNA repair; however, their involvement in exosomes in the context of skin aging is not yet well understood. In this study, we developed a photoaging model using SD rats subjected to UVA and UVB irradiation, which led to significant changes in the dermis such as increased dryness, wrinkles, pigmentation, and vascular alterations. Histological evaluations showed uneven thickening of the epidermis, degradation of collagen and elastic fibers, and cellular infiltration. Exosomes isolated from the dermal tissues exposed to UV radiation displayed altered size distributions. Transcriptomic analyses of the UV-treated rats identified 2,332 lncRNAs and 5,906 mRNAs that were differentially expressed, revealing significant involvement in pathways related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cellular stress responses. A cis-regulatory analysis identified 1,327 essential interactions between lncRNAs and mRNAs, highlighting their role in controlling inflammation and apoptosis. Importantly, both IL-1B and GADD45B levels were significantly increased in the exosomes and UV-challenged HaCaT cells, indicating their crucial roles in responding to UV-induced stress. This study highlights the significant role of exosomal lncRNAs in managing cellular reactions to UV-induced stress, impacting regulatory pathways associated with apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. These insights pave the way for the development of lncRNA-focused therapeutic approaches to address UV-induced skin damage.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1538197/fullskin photoagingexosomelncRNAratcis-regulatory
spellingShingle Kunjie Li
Songfa Lin
Pengjun Zhou
Yanni Guo
Shu Lin
Shu Lin
Chao Ji
The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
skin photoaging
exosome
lncRNA
rat
cis-regulatory
title The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging
title_full The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging
title_fullStr The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging
title_full_unstemmed The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging
title_short The role of exosomal lncRNAs in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in UV-induced skin photoaging
title_sort role of exosomal lncrnas in mediating apoptosis and inflammation in uv induced skin photoaging
topic skin photoaging
exosome
lncRNA
rat
cis-regulatory
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1538197/full
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