Objectives: To determine if epigenetics reflects the degree to which skin has aged due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
Secondly, to determine if weekly or monthly sun-exposure leads to epigenetic drift, and whether sun-protection factor (SPF) creams can negate such drift.
Introduction: Lifestyles have a strong influence on the way we age. For example, combinations of lifestyle factors have been linked to looking 10 years younger, and influence ageing through their effect on epigenetics – these are DNA and histones modifications that control the activity of genes in our cells. As we age, however, epigenetic drift occurs, disrupting normal gene activity. In addition, the concept of an epigenetic clock is rapidly gaining popularity within ageing research, but its relevance to intrinsic and extrinsic skin ageing is unclear.
Materials / method: We carried out 3 epigenetic studies:
A) A cross-sectional biopsy study involving 24 Chinese and 24 Caucasian young and old female participants.
B) A longitudinal biopsy study involving 60 females. Subjects applied a SPF product to one arm over five months, tracked with instrumental measures, and biopsies taken from both arms at baseline and at the end of the study.
C) Ex-vivo skin study using 1-week repeat UV exposure for epigenetic drift and protection thereof by SPF products.
Methylation levels were tested on extracted DNA from biopsies and ex-vivo skin.
Results: We used the cross-sectional study along with complementary published studies to generate an intrinsic and extrinsic skin clock and show they detect differences in the rate of ageing in sun-exposed and sun-protected skin. For the longitudinal 5-month study, incidental, short-term sun-exposure led to a significant epigenetic drift and in the direction expected by chronic sun-damage; SPF product-use significantly reduced the drift. An almost identical epigenetic drift and SPF protection were detected in the ex-vivo models.
Conclusion: The degree that skin had aged was captured by both an intrinsic and extrinsic skin clock, and we are the first to demonstrate that UV-induced epigenetic drift occurs even during incidental, short-term sun-exposure. SPF products can significantly reduce the drift, reinforcing the importance of daily sun-protection.
Declaraciones
¿Ha recibido algún tipo de financiamiento para realizar su investigación sobre esta temática?
Si
Por favor especifique las entidades (individuo, empresa, sociedad): Unilever
¿Ha recibido algún pago, honorario u otra compensación por su trabajo acerca de esta investigación?
Si
Por favor especifique las entidades (individuo, empresa, sociedad): Unilever
¿Tiene vínculos financieros con alguna entidad que podría llegar a competir estrechamente con los medicamentos, materiales o instrumentos tratados en su investigación?
Si
Por favor especifique las entidades (individuo, empresa, sociedad): I'm a Unilever employee
¿Posee o ha solicitado una patente relacionada a los materiales, productos o instrumentos utilizados en su investigación?
Si
Por favor especificar la fecha...: Submitted
y el estado: 2018
Este trabajo es presentado gracias al apoyo de: Unilever
