ATX-S10(Na)-PDT shows more potent effect on collagen metabolism of human normal and scleroderma dermal fibroblasts than ALA-PDT.

Recent study revealed that photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a novel photosensitizer (ATX-S10(Na)) shows more potent effects for various skin diseases than ALA-PDT. The effect of ATX-S10(Na)-PDT on dermal fibroblasts is still unknown. Using dermal fibroblasts derived from normal and scleroderma patients, and mouse skin in vivo, we compared the effects of ATX-S10(Na)-PDT and ALA-PDT. Fibroblasts from normal, scleroderma patients or mice skin were treated with ATX-S10(Na)-PDT or ALA-PDT. After the PDT treatments, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and collagen synthesis was assayed using ELISA and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 was slightly decreased and collagen I mRNA was significantly increased in scleroderma fibroblasts compared with normal fibroblasts. Both ATX-S10(Na)-PDT and ALA-PDT increased the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in protein and mRNA levels in both normal and scleroderma fibroblasts with more potent effect by ATX-S10(N)-PDT. Collagen I synthesis was markedly decreased by ATX-S10(Na)-PDT and by ALA-PDT again with more potent effect by ATX-S10(Na)-PDT in both normal and scleroderma fibroblasts. In mice skin the effect of PDT for MMPs and collagen I was also detected and the effect was more potent in ATX-S10(Na)-PDT. In contrast, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and collagen III expression was not affected by the ATX-S10(Na)-PDT or ALA-PDT treatment. ATX-S10(Na)-PDT is more potent modulator for dermal matrix components than ALA-PDT and might be useful for scleroderma patients.