Transdermal Delivery of Hyaluronate-Conjugated Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 Agonistic Peptide Ameliorates Bleomycin-Induced Skin Fibrosis

TL;DR

A new noninvasive treatment for skin fibrosis uses a hyaluronic acid-conjugated peptide to reduce inflammation and tissue hardening in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis.

Contribution

A transdermal delivery system for an FPR2 agonist peptide is developed, enabling noninvasive treatment of skin fibrosis.

Findings

HA-Wm conjugate showed enhanced skin permeation and reduced dermal thickness and collagen accumulation in fibrotic lesions.

HA-Wm decreased myofibroblasts and macrophages in fibrotic skin and inhibited macrophage migration in vitro.

Therapeutic effects of HA-Wm were FPR2-dependent, as they were abolished in Fpr2-deficient mice.

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is a severe autoimmune disorder defined by progressive tissue hardening and inflammatory infiltration that affects the skin and major internal organs. The formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonist, WKYMVm (Wm), shows promise for alleviating dermal fibrosis; however, its clinical translation is impeded by the need for invasive subcutaneous injection to bypass the skin barrier. To overcome this limitation, we developed a noninvasive topical delivery system by conjugating Wm to hyaluronic acid (HA), a biopolymer known for its transdermal delivery properties. In a bleomycin (BLM)-induced murine model of fibrosis, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the HA-Wm conjugate and its capacity to penetrate the skin barrier. Topical application of the HA-Wm conjugate exhibited enhanced skin permeation relative to free Wm, resulting in marked reductions in both dermal layer thickness and collagen accumulation within the fibrotic lesions. Mechanistically, HA-Wm treatment markedly decreased the numbers of α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts and CD68-positive macrophages in the fibrotic skin. The HA-Wm treatment inhibited macrophage migration in vitro and reduced the serum concentrations of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in BLM-treated mice. Importantly, the therapeutic effects of HA-Wm were abolished in Fpr2-deficient mice, confirming an FPR2-dependent mechanism of action. Collectively, these results demonstrate that topical treatment of HA-Wm alleviates skin fibrosis and inflammation via an FPR2-dependent pathway, representing a promising noninvasive therapeutic avenue for fibrotic skin disorders such as systemic sclerosis.

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