Abstract
Ageing of human skin may result from both the passage of time (intrinsic ageing) and
from cumulative exposure to external influences (extrinsic ageing) such as ultraviolet
radiation (UVR) which promote wrinkle formation and loss of tissue elasticity. Whilst
both ageing processes are associated with phenotypic changes in cutaneous cells, the
major functional manifestations of ageing occur as a consequence of structural and
compositional remodeling of normally long-lived dermal extracellular matrix proteins.
This review briefly considers the effects of ageing on dermal collagens and proteoglycans
before focusing on the mechanisms, functional consequences and treatment of elastic
fibre remodeling in ageing skin.
The early stages of photoageing are characterised by the differential degradation
of elastic fibre proteins and whilst the activity of extracellular matrix proteases
is increased in photoexposed skin, the substrate specificity of these enzymes is low.
We have recently shown however, that isolated fibrillin microfibrils are susceptible
to direct degradation by physiologically attainable doses of UV-B radiation and that
elastic fibre proteins as a group are highly enriched in UV-absorbing amino acid residues.
Functionally, elastic fibre remodeling events may adversely impact on: the mechanical
properties of tissues, the recruitment and activation of immune cells, the expression
of matrix metalloproteinases and cytokine signaling (by perturbing fibrillin microfibril
sequestration of TGFβ). Finally, newly developed topical interventions appear to be
capable of regenerating elements of the elastic fibre system in ageing skin, whilst
systemic treatments may potentially prevent the pathological tissue remodeling events
which occur in response to elastic fibre degradation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 09, 2011
Accepted:
April 20,
2011
Received:
April 7,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
