Abstract:
Fibroblasts are essential cells in the dermis that play a crucial role in the synthesis of collagen and other connective tissue components. Aging is associated with a decline in fibroblast proliferative capacity and cellular energy production, leading to skin deterioration and impaired tissue repair. D-ribose is a naturally occurring pentose sugar that plays an important role in the biosynthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source of cells. Therefore, D-ribose has the potential to promote the growth and function of fibroblasts. This study aimed to investigate the influence of D-ribose on fibroblast proliferation.
Primary Human Dermal Fibroblasts, Adult (HDFa), were cultured in Dulbeccos Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM) and treated with D-ribose at five different concentrations: 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/mL for 72 hours. The experimental groups were compared with a negative control group (0.1% FBS) and a positive control group (10% FBS). Cell morphology was observed microscopically, and cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) followed by Dunnetts test.
The results showed that fibroblasts treated with low concentrations of D-ribose (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL) maintained their normal spindle-shaped morphology and attachment characteristics, with cell viability comparable to that of the negative control group. However, increasing the D-ribose concentration to 10 and 20 mg/mL resulted in a reduction in cell viability. At 20 mg/mL, cell viability decreased markedly to 41.78 ± 0.46%, which was significantly lower than the negative control group (p < 0.001). In addition, cells exhibited shrinkage and loss of their normal fibroblast morphology.
In conclusion, a high concentration of D-ribose, particularly 20 mg/mL, significantly reduced the viability of human dermal fibroblasts under the conditions employed in this study, whereas low to moderate concentrations (1.255 mg/mL) did not adversely affect cell viability. These findings provide fundamental information for determining an appropriate concentration range of D-ribose for applications in anti-aging medicine and cosmetic products, with consideration for long-term skin cell safety.