Impact of intense pulse light irradiation on BALB/c mouse skin-in vivo study on collagens, matrix metalloproteinases and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Our aim was to investigate the effects of intense pulsed light (IPL) on collagen expression in BALB/c mouse skin and confirm its relative molecular mechanisms. The dorsal skin of BALB/c mice was irradiated by IPL. Before treatment and from 1 day to 8 weeks (1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks) after treatment, the irradiated skin specimens were examined. The histology showed dermis thickening, accompanied with increased collagen and better organization. After IPL irradiation from 2 W up to 8 W, the staining of collagen types I and III in the IPL-treated groups was stronger than in the sham groups (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression levels of the procollagen types I and III had also increased (P < 0.05). The up-regulation effects of IPL irradiation were time-dependent. The mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-2 decreased progressively after IPL irradiation at 2 W up to 8 W (P < 0.05), and this down-regulation effect of IPL was also time-dependent. However, the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) had shown no obvious change by the end of the experiment (P > 0.05). Taking these factors together, we can conclude that IPL irradiation can not only enhance new collagen production, but also decrease collagen degradation in photo-rejuvenation mechanisms in mouse skin.