Ultraviolet Radiation Increases Tropoelastin mRNA Expression in the Epidermis of Human Skin In Vivo

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 116; no. 6; pp. 915 - 919
• Main Authors: Seo, Jin Young, Lee, Seong Hun, Youn, Choon Shik, Choi, Hai Ryung, Rhie, Gi-eun, Cho, Kwang Hyun, Kim, Kyu Han, Park, Kyung Chan, Eun, Hee Chul, Chung, Jin Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.06.2001; Nature Publishing; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: aging; Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Epidermis - metabolism; Epidermis - radiation effects; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics; photoaging; RNA, Messenger - analysis; solar elastosis; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Tropoelastin - genetics; Ultraviolet Rays; solar elastosis; aging; photoaging; Human; In vivo; Ultraviolet radiation; Messenger RNA; Epidermis; Skin; Tropoelastin; Biological effect; Experimental study
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2001.01358.x

Photoaged skin contains elastotic materials in the upper reticular dermis. This phenomenon is commonly known as solar elastosis. Little is known about the mechanisms leading to the accumulation of elastotic materials in photoaged skin, however. In this study, it was demonstrated that ultraviolet irradiation induced tropoelastin mRNA expression in the keratinocytes of human skin in vivo and also in cultured human keratinocytes by in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. It was also shown by northern blot analysis (n = 5) that there were increased tropoelastin mRNA levels in the forearm (sun-exposed) skin of elderly persons, compared with upper-inner arm (sun-protected) skin of the same individuals. As demonstrated by in situ hybridization compared to sun-protected skin (upper-inner arm) (n = 5), tropoelastin mRNA expression in photoaged skin was higher in keratinocytes as well as in fibroblasts. Therefore, our results suggest that keratinocytes are another source of tropoelastin production after acute and chronic ultraviolet irradiation in human skin in vivo.