# Skin Barrier-Improving and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Exosomes Derived from the Fructobacillus fructosus NSH-1 Strain Isolated from the Campsis grandiflora Flower

## TL;DR

Exosomes from a bacteria found in Campsis grandiflora flowers show anti-inflammatory and skin barrier-improving effects in cell studies.

## Contribution

The study identifies exosomes from Fructobacillus fructosus NSH-1 as novel bioactive agents for skin health.

## Key findings

- NSH-1 exosomes inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators like TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE2 in a concentration-dependent manner.
- Treatment with NSH-1 exosomes enhances skin barrier function by increasing hyaluronan, collagen, and wound healing.
- Exosomes reduce iNOS and COX-2 expression while upregulating filaggrin, involucrin, and loricrin proteins.

## Abstract

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and skin barrier-improving activities of Fructobacillus fructosus strain NSH-1-derived exosomes in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and HaCaT cells. Nanoparticle tracking and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirmed the concentration, purity, and morphology of NSH-1 exosomes. The exosomes showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations of 1.5 × 107, 3.0 × 107, and 6.0 × 107 particles/ml, but demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production. Furthermore, NSH-1 exosomes significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and PGE2. In HaCaT cells, treatment with NSH-1 exosomes enhanced skin barrier function by increasing the production of hyaluronan and collagen in a concentration-dependent manner and promoting wound-healing activity. Western blot analysis revealed that treatment with NSH-1 exosomes reduced the expression levels of inflammatory proteins iNOS and COX-2, while increasing the expression of skin barrier-related proteins such as filaggrin, involucrin, and loricrin. Overall, these findings indicate that NSH-1 exosomes exert strong anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines iNOS and COX-2, while simultaneously enhancing skin barrier integrity by upregulating filaggrin, involucrin, and loricrin. Thus, exosomes derived from F. fructosus NSH-1, isolated from Campsis grandiflora flowers, demonstrate promise as natural bioactive agents for anti-inflammatory and skin barrier-improving applications.