- Study demonstrates how PDK1 regulation activates autophagy in epidermal cells

- Reactivating age-impaired autophagy improves epidermal thickness and skin barrier function

Focusing on the decline in skin barrier function that comes with age, Amorepacific has scientifically demonstrated how RE.D Flavonoid^®, its proprietary reverse-aging ingredient, activates autophagy (the process by which cells break down and recycle their own components) and improves skin. The study builds on Amorepacific's joint research with KAIST, which demonstrated the potential for reversing skin aging and identified RE.D Flavonoid as a key ingredient for further investigation.

Having found that the weakened barrier function of aging skin is closely linked to impaired autophagy, Amorepacific systematically validated the underlying mechanism of action that regulates this process and its effects on improving human skin. The findings were published online in the October edition of Experimental Dermatology, an international dermatology journal. (Paper title: "Inhibition of 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Kinase 1 Improves Age-Associated Epidermal Dysfunction")

As skin ages, its capacity for autophagy, the process by which cells break down and recycle their own damaged components to stay healthy, begins to decline. Damaged components then build up inside the cells and the epidermis grows thinner, which can also weaken the skin barrier. The research team found that overactivation of PDK1, a protein involved in cell growth and inflammatory responses, is a major regulatory mechanism behind the loss of autophagy in aging skin. The team then identified the mechanism by which the main components of RE.D Flavonoid^®, Amorepacific's proprietary bioflavonoid ingredient extracted from camellia seeds using an eco-friendly process, regulate PDK1 and reactivate impaired autophagy.

The findings showed that aged epidermal cells regained their ability to proliferate and differentiate, and the expression of proteins needed to maintain skin structure increased. These results suggest that activating autophagy, an essential process for maintaining skin homeostasis, may help restore skin functions compromised by aging.

The researchers examined how autophagy activation translates into real skin improvement using multiple approaches, from cell and artificial skin models to clinical trials on human subjects. In a four-week randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study of women aged 60 and older, the researchers confirmed that after use of a formulation containing RE.D Flavonoid, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) decreased, skin hydration and the ceramide content in the outermost layer of skin increased, and epidermal thickness and other skin barrier-related indicators improved. Together with the autophagy-activating mechanism confirmed at the cellular level, the results show that RE.D Flavonoid can also improve skin barrier function and hydration.

With this research, Amorepacific has further strengthened its distinctive foundation of reverse-aging technology centered on the autophagy mechanism. The technology is currently used in key high-performance products from Sulwhasoo, LANEIGE, and AP Beauty.

Byung-Fhy Suh, CTO and Head of the Amorepacific R&I Center, said, "This study is significant in that it uses a reverse-aging ingredient we developed in-house to address the decline of autophagy in aging skin, further advancing the scientific evidence for improving skin barrier function." He added, "We will continue to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of skin aging as we develop Holistic Longevity Solutions that deliver tangible benefits to customers."