Molecular mechanisms of photoaging in human skin in vivo and their prevention by all-trans retinoic acid.

Author: Fisher GJ; Talwar HS; Lin J; Voorhees JJ

Author affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Publication date & source: 1999.02, Photochem Photobiol, 69(2):154-7

Solar UV radiation damages human skin, affecting skin tone and resiliency and leading to premature aging (photoaging), the symptoms of which include leathery texture, wrinkles, mottled pigmentation, laxity and sallowness. We propose that photoaging results largely from UV induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) that degrade skin collagen. We find that pretreatment of human skin with all-trans retinoic acid (tRA) inhibits UV induction of MMP, suggesting that tRA can protect against UV-induced collagen destruction and may therefore be able to lessen the effects of photoaging. The tRA prevents UV-induced accumulation of c-Jun protein, which is required for MMP gene expression. Activation of c-Jun transcriptional activity requires N-terminal phosphorylation. The majority of c-Jun in human skin in vivo is N-terminal phosphorylated. Topically applied tRA does not inhibit N-terminal phosphorylation by UV-induced c-Jun kinase activity in human skin. The tRA likely acts to reduce UV induction of c-Jun protein by stimulating its breakdown through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Indexes of Skin Care Research Abstracts by Subject Category Most Recent

Back to Skin Care Research

Web SmartSkinCare.com

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Ask a Question | Resources

Copyright © 1999-2008 by Dr. G. Todorov / SmartSkinCare.com
Site Disclaimer | Copyright Certification