Disentangling the effects of circulating IGF-1, glucose, and cortisol on features of perceived age.

Kelly Van Drielen,David A Gunn,Diana Van Heemst,Christopher E M Griffiths,Rudi G J Westendorp,Raymond Noordam,Anton J M De Craen

doi:10.1007/s11357-015-9771-3

Abstract

Circulatory levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), glucose, and cortisol have been previously associated with facial aging. However, as these serum measures are related, it is unclear whether their associations with skin aging occur independently from each other. We aimed to investigate whether the associations between serum IGF-1, glucose, and cortisol levels and perceived age/wrinkle grade occur independently of each other and whether these are mediated via skin wrinkling or via other skin aging features. Perceived age and skin wrinkling grade were assessed in a random sample from the Leiden Longevity Study with non-fasted (N = 579) and fasted blood sampling (N = 219). In our study population, a higher non-fasted IGF-1 level was associated with a lower skin wrinkling grade (p value = 0.014) and tended to associate with a lower perceived age (p value = 0.067), which was mediated for approximately 100 % by skin wrinkling. A higher non-fasted glucose level was associated with a higher perceived age (p value = 0.017), which was mediated for 51 % by skin wrinkling grade (p value = 0.112). A higher fasted cortisol level tended to associate with a higher perceived age (p value = 0.116), which was mediated for 29 % by skin wrinkling. Results remained similar when the serum measures were statistically adjusted for each other. Thus, the previously reported serum measures associate independently from each other with skin aging. IGF-1 is predominantly associated with perceived age by skin wrinkling, whereas cortisol and glucose also by other skin aging features.

Highlights

Facial appearance, or perceived age, is composed of different facial features, including skin wrinkling, lip height, pigmented spots, and the nasolabial fold (Gunn et al 2009; Nkengne et al 2008)
The group of nonfasted subjects did not differ from the group of fasted subjects regarding their chronological age, perceived age, wrinkle grade, and non-fasted levels of the IGF-1/ insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) molar ratio and glucose, body mass index, and current smoking habits
The beta estimates for non-fasted IGF-1/IGFBP3 and glucose and perceived age did not materially differ when both serum measures were included in one statistical model

Summary

Introduction

Perceived age, is composed of different facial features, including skin wrinkling, lip height, pigmented spots, and the nasolabial fold (Gunn et al 2009; Nkengne et al 2008). We reported that high levels of glucose and cortisol and low levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) were associated with a higher perceived age (Noordam et al 2012, 2013a, b). Prolonged exposure to elevated glucose levels, as seen in diabetic patients, promotes premature cellular senescence in dermal fibroblasts and collagen cross-linking (Blazer et al 2002; Dekker et al 2009; Paul and Bailey 1996). Both affect the integrity of the collagen matrix. As a result of the elevated cortisol levels, changes in various structures of the extracellular matrix may occur, such as suppression of hyaluronan synthase and a reduction in collagen mass (Autio et al 1994; Averbeck et al 2010)

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