Aging issue wrinkles

 Aging Issue: Wrinkles

Skin wrinkling is one of the most visible clinical features in aged skin, which can be exacerbated by exposure to the sun, smoke, or dehydration. The molecular mechanisms underlying skin wrinkling result from a substantial deterioration of the skin matrix molecules, i.e. diminished and disorganized collagen and reduced and distorted elastic fibers 123.

Collagen is the most abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) protein generated by dermal fibroblasts. Type I collagen accounts for about 80% of the dry weight of the dermis and other types (Il, III, IV) are also found in skin tissues.

Our results showed a dose-dependent increase in COL2A1 at the transcriptional level upon methylene blue (MB) treatment (Fig. 6D). MMPs, the

study, we found a significant inhibition of MMP9 expression upon MB treatment (Fig. 6D), suggesting an attenuation of collagen degradation in the ECM. Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a hormone secreted by dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, upregulates the expression of collagen and inhibits MMP139. The expression of IGF-1 decreases with increasing age10. In this 3D skin model, we have shown an upregulation of IGh-I transcription upon MB treatment (Fig. 6D), which further supports the idea that MB treatment increases collagen in the dermis. Elastin, the second most abundant EC.M component, is a tibrous protein that contributes to 2~4% of the dry weight of the dermis. It provides natural elasticity and strength to human skin and also plays a role in tissue repair341. We found a robust increase in elastin expression by MB, suggesting that MB treatment enhances skin elasticity and improves skin wound healing (Fig. 6A-C). Based on these results, we speculate that by regulating and orchestrating the expression of these ECM genes, MB may reduce the formation of skin wrinkles.