2. Academic Validation
  3. Cysteinamide Enhances Fibroblast Survival and Wound Healing by Preventing Serum Deterioration in High-Glucose Conditions

Cysteinamide Enhances Fibroblast Survival and Wound Healing by Preventing Serum Deterioration in High-Glucose Conditions

  • Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2026 Mar 12:1-16. doi: 10.1159/000551460.
Joon Yong Choi 1 2,  Nam Gyoung Ha 3 4 5,  Weon-Ju Lee 6 7 8,  Yong Chool Boo 9 10 11 12
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 3 Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 4 Bio-Medical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 5 Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 6 Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
  • 7 Bio-Medical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
  • 8 Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
  • 9 Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
  • 10 BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
  • 11 Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
  • 12 Cell and Matrix Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea, [email protected].
PMID: 41818405 DOI: 10.1159/000551460
Abstract

Introduction: In patients with diabetes, persistent hyperglycemia causes chemical changes in serum components, increasing the incidence of various complications such as skin wounds. To better understand glucose-associated chemical stress on serum components, this study explores small-molecule nutrients to protect human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) from glucose-rich, chemically deteriorated culture conditions.

Methods: Various Cell Culture media with different concentrations of glucose and various test compounds were subjected to heat treatment as a chemically accelerated model of serum deterioration. The heat-treated and non-heat-treated media were compared to each Other in terms of the content of glycation products and their effects on cell viability and wound healing in vitro.

Results: There was no difference in the content of glycation products or their effects on cell viability between the non-heat-treated low-glucose (LG, 5.5 m<sc>m</sc>) and high-glucose (HG, 50 m<sc>m</sc>) media that were not heat treated. However, the heat-treated HG media had a higher content of glycation products and decreased cell viability compared to the heat-treated LG media. Of the 20 free Amino acids, 20 amidated Amino acids and various Antioxidants derived from cysteine (Cys) or ascorbic acid (AA) added to the media, followed by heat treatment, only cysteinamide (C-NH2) enhanced the viability and wound healing of HDFs cultured in the heat-treated HG media. C-NH2 reduced glycation of serum proteins while forming its own glycation products, suggesting a competitive interaction with glucose-derived reactions.

Conclusion: These findings provide proof-of-concept evidence that C-NH2 can protect serum components and improve fibroblast-associated wound closure under chemically stressed, glucose-rich conditions. Further studies using physiologically relevant models are required to evaluate its biological and translational significance.

Keywords

Advanced glycation end products; Cysteinamide; Diabetes mellitus; Glycation; High glucose; Human dermal fibroblasts; Hyperglycemia; N-acetyl cysteinamide; Wound healing.

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