Collagen peptides derived from sea bass scales (Lateolabrax maculatus) relieve photoaging through MAPK, NF-κB and TGF-β signaling pathways and modulating gut microbiota composition

  • Food Res Int. 2025 Dec;221(Pt 4):117521. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117521.
Dongcheng Liu  1 ,  Yongxin Ren  1 ,  Ye Peng  2 ,  Saiyi Zhong  3 ,  Baojun Xu  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Food Science and Technology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, Zhuhai 519087, China.
  • 2. Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China.
  • 3. Shenzhen Research Institute, Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
  • 4. Food Science and Technology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, Zhuhai 519087, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41185279 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117521
Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Collagen peptides (CPs) derived from sea bass scales on UV-induced photoaging in nude mice. After UV exposure, mice treated with CPs demonstrated remarkable improvements compared to the model group, including an increase in skin hydration from 8.7 ± 2.16 to 24.11 ± 3.76 A.U., a boost in skin elasticity from 51.25 ± 3.06 to 131.25 ± 17.08, a restoration of Collagen volume fraction from 32.53 ± 2.54 % to 59.54 ± 7.61 %, and a reduction in epidermal thickness from 90.64 ± 5.88 μm to 37.92 ± 2.61 μm. Mechanistically, CPs inhibited MAPK and NF-κB pathways, decreasing MMP-1 levels from 16.27 ± 4.34 μg/g to 4.38 ± 0.59 μg/g and activating TGF-β pathway. Additionally, CPs modulated gut microbiota composition, normalizing Muribaculaceae and Lactobacillaceae abundance. LEfSe analysis identified biomarkers including Muribaculum and Parabacteroides, indicating potential in mitigating photoaging and enhancing gut health through the gut-skin axis.

Keywords
Collagen peptides; Gut microbiota; Photoaging; Skin health; UV irradiation.
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