BACKGROUND: Intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including ultraviolet irradiation, lead to visible signs of skin aging. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated molecular changes occurring in photoexposed and photoprotected skin of white women 20 to 74 years of age, some of whom appeared substantially younger than their chronologic age. METHODS: Histologic and transcriptomics profiling were conducted on skin biopsy samples of photoexposed (face and dorsal forearm) or photoprotected (buttocks) body sites from 158 women. 23andMe genotyping determined genetic ancestry. RESULTS: Gene expression and ontologic analysis revealed progressive changes from the 20s to the 70s in pathways related to oxidative stress, energy metabolism, senescence, and epidermal barrier; these changes were accelerated in the 60s and 70s. The gene expression patterns from the subset of women who were younger-appearing were similar to those in women who were actually younger. LIMITATIONS: Broader application of these findings (eg, across races and Fitzpatrick skin types) will require further studies. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a wide range of molecular processes in skin affected by aging, providing relevant targets for improving the condition of aging skin at different life stages and defining a molecular pattern of epidermal gene expression in women who appear younger than their chronologic age.
BACKGROUND: Intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including ultraviolet irradiation, lead to visible signs of skin aging. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated molecular changes occurring in photoexposed and photoprotected skin of white women 20 to 74 years of age, some of whom appeared substantially younger than their chronologic age. METHODS: Histologic and transcriptomics profiling were conducted on skin biopsy samples of photoexposed (face and dorsal forearm) or photoprotected (buttocks) body sites from 158 women. 23andMe genotyping determined genetic ancestry. RESULTS: Gene expression and ontologic analysis revealed progressive changes from the 20s to the 70s in pathways related to oxidative stress, energy metabolism, senescence, and epidermal barrier; these changes were accelerated in the 60s and 70s. The gene expression patterns from the subset of women who were younger-appearing were similar to those in women who were actually younger. LIMITATIONS: Broader application of these findings (eg, across races and Fitzpatrick skin types) will require further studies. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a wide range of molecular processes in skin affected by aging, providing relevant targets for improving the condition of aging skin at different life stages and defining a molecular pattern of epidermal gene expression in women who appear younger than their chronologic age.
Authors: Gang Wu; Marc D Ruben; Robert E Schmidt; Lauren J Francey; David F Smith; Ron C Anafi; Jacob J Hughey; Ryan Tasseff; Joseph D Sherrill; John E Oblong; Kevin J Mills; John B Hogenesch Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2018-10-30 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Naomi A Carne; Steven Bell; Adrian P Brown; Arto Määttä; Michael J Flagler; Adam M Benham Journal: Mol Cell Proteomics Date: 2019-03-19 Impact factor: 5.911
Authors: Gang Wu; Marc D Ruben; Lauren J Francey; David F Smith; Joseph D Sherrill; John E Oblong; Kevin J Mills; John B Hogenesch Journal: Genome Med Date: 2020-08-21 Impact factor: 11.117
Authors: John E Oblong; Amy Bowman; Holly A Rovito; Bradley B Jarrold; Joseph D Sherrill; Markaisa R Black; Glyn Nelson; Alexa B Kimball; Mark A Birch-Machin Journal: Aging Cell Date: 2020-09-29 Impact factor: 9.304
Authors: Michael J Flagler; Makio Tamura; Tim Laughlin; Scott Hartman; Julie Ashe; Rachel Adams; Kim Kozak; Kellen Cresswell; Lisa Mullins; Bradley B Jarrold; Robert J Isfort; Joseph D Sherrill Journal: Int J Cosmet Sci Date: 2021-08-25 Impact factor: 2.416