ACYLATED ASCORBATE STIMULATES COLLAGEN-SYNTHESIS IN CULTURED HUMAN FORESKIN FIBROBLASTS AT LOWER DOSES THAN DOES ASCORBIC-ACID

Acylated derivatives of ascorbic acid were found to be active in a num ber of biochemical and physiological processes, In the present study w e investigated the effects of 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbate on collagen synt hesis by cultured foreskin human fibroblasts. Our observations indicat e a marked stimulatory effect on collagen synthesis by 6-O-palmitoyl a scorbate in the concentration range of 5-20 mu M, while the synthesis stimulated by ascorbic acid was maximal at concentrations of 20-100 mu M. Cells treated with 10 mu M palmitoyl ascorbate for 36 h exhibited a production of collagen threefold greater than those in the presence of 10 mu M ascorbic acid, and it was about the same as in cells treate d with 100 mu M ascorbic acid, By 48 h differences were not significan t. Acylated ascorbate impaired vitality of the treated fibroblasts at concentrations exceeding 20 mu M in media supplemented with 0.5% FCS. However, most of the cytotoxic effect was neutralized by FCS at a conc entration of 10%. The resistance of acylated ascorbate against oxidati ve degradation as well as the role of free radicals in the modulation of collagen synthesis by ascorbic acid and by its derivatives is discu ssed.