Beneficial regulation of type I collagen and matrixmetalloproteinase-1 expression by estrogen, progesterone, and its combination in skin fibroblasts.

There is impaired wound healing and loss of type I collagen in skin aging, which can be improved by topical estrogen in vivo. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of estrogen, and progesterone and a combination of estrogen and progesterone as well, on the proliferation and the expression of type I collagen and matrixmetalloprotienase-1 (MMP-1, degrades collagen) in dermal fibroblasts (cells that synthesize collagen and MMP-1) in-vitro. Estrogen, progesterone, and its combination similarly and significantly inhibited cell proliferation and MMP-1 protein levels, and simultaneously stimulated type I collagen expression in the fibroblasts, indicating beneficial modulation.