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. 2024 Aug;17(8):62-69.

Pathological and Immunohistochemical Assessment of Aging of the Abdominal Skin Treated with Carboxytherapy: A Randomized, Split-body Trial

Nooshin Bagherani  1 , Alireza Ghanadan  2 , Golshan Mirmomeni  3 , Alireza Firooz  4 , Bruce R Smoller  5 , Reza Shojaei  6 , Haniyeh Rafipour  7 , Negin Bagherani  8 , Mansoreh Abdolhosseini  9 , Gholamreza Tavoosidana  9
Affiliations

Pathological and Immunohistochemical Assessment of Aging of the Abdominal Skin Treated with Carboxytherapy: A Randomized, Split-body Trial

Nooshin Bagherani et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Skin aging as a continuous and irreversible process is mainly the result of alterations of function and structure of the dermis. Among the modalities used for treating skin aging, carboxytherapy has been introduced as a safe minimally-invasive method for rejuvenation, reparation, and reconditioning of the skin.

Objective: We assessed the efficacy of carboxytherapy for the treatment of intrinsic skin aging through pathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) investigations.

Methods: Our study was a split-body, randomized clinical trial on 15 female patients with intrinsic skin aging of the abdomen. Carboxytherapy was performed on one side of the abdomen, weekly for 10 sessions, while the other side was left untreated. Two weeks after the last session, skin biopsies were taken from both sides of the abdomen. Staining with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson-trichrome, and Orcein Giemsa was performed for the assessment of epidermal and dermal thickness, collagen, and elastin organization, respectively. IHC examination was performed for investigation of TGF-β1 and VEGF.

Results: Pathological examination showed a significant increase in epidermal and dermal thickness and re-organization of collagens and elastic fibers with carboxytherapy. IHC examinations revealed a significantly increased expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF with carboxytherapy.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the effectiveness of carboxytherapy in treating and reversing intrinsic aging skin through pathological and IHC studies.

Keywords: carboxytherapy; immunohistochemistry; pathology; skin aging.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirement of PhD of molecular medicine. Nik Fannavaran Plasma Co., supported through renting the carboxytherapy machine and accepting machine service-related fees.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
The effectiveness of carboxytherapy in decreasing aging-related characteristics in a subject who has gotten carboxytherapy in the left side of the abdomen; the left figure showing before the treatment and the right one showing the result after 10 sessions of therapy
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Comparison of epidermal and dermal thickness between the case (B) and control groups (A) in assessment of hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
The comparison of mean and standard deviation of the epidermal thickness in the pathological investigation *Significant difference at p<0.001
FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 4.
The comparison of mean and standard deviation of the dermal thickness in the pathological investigation *Significant difference at p<0.001
FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 5.
Comparison of collagen status between the case (right figure) and control groups (left one) in assessment of Masson-trichrome-stained slides
FIGURE 6.
FIGURE 6.
Comparison of percent of different grades acquired for collagen's status in the interventional and control groups in pathological study
FIGURE 7.
FIGURE 7.
Comparison of elastin status between the case (right figure) and control groups (left one) in assessment of Orcein Giemsa-stained slides
FIGURE 8.
FIGURE 8.
Comparison of percent of different grades acquired for elastin’s status in the interventional and control groups in pathological study
FIGURE 9.
FIGURE 9.
Comparison of percent of different grades acquired for epidermal TGF-β1’s status in the interventional and control groups in IHC study
FIGURE 10.
FIGURE 10.
Comparison of epidermal and lymphocytic TGF-β1 status between the case (right figure) and control groups (left one) through IHC study
FIGURE 11.
FIGURE 11.
Comparison of percent of different grades acquired for lymphocytic TGF-β1’s status in the interventional and control groups in IHC study
FIGURE 12.
FIGURE 12.
Comparison of VEGF status between the case (right figure) and control groups (left one) through IHC study
FIGURE 13.
FIGURE 13.
Comparison of percent of different grades acquired for VEGF’s status in the interventional and control groups in IHC study
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