This invention relates to the application of FUNDC1 inhibitors in the preparation of drugs for preventing and treating photodamage to the
skin. Specifically, FUNDC1 inhibitors alleviate, reduce, or prevent photodamage by inhibiting or reducing FUNDC1 expression. This invention establishes a photodamage model using
mouse skin and
HaCaT cells irradiated with UVB. UVB treatment showed downregulation of FUNDC1 expression. Given that FUNDC1 overexpression exacerbates UVB-induced photodamage, this invention explores whether knocking down FUNDC1 can protect
HaCaT cells and the mouse model from UVB-induced photodamage. After FUNDC1 knockdown,
cell viability increased to 80%, and compared to the UVB group, ROS levels,
apoptosis, and γH2Ax expression were reduced. Following UVB
irradiation, FUNDC1 knockdown also alleviated mitochondrial damage, manifested as uniform mitochondrial distribution along the
cell nucleus, mitochondrial
membrane potential repolarization, and reduced mtROS accumulation. This invention proposes that intervening in FUNDC1-mediated
mitophagy, by regulating the mitochondrial
apoptosis pathway, can protect against UVB-induced mitochondrial and photodamage, providing a potential target for future mitigation of photodamage to the
skin.