Abstract
There are various factors that alter physiological characteristics in skin. Elucidating the underlying mechanism of transcriptional alterations by intrinsic and extrinsic factors may lead us to understand the aging process of skin. To identify the transcriptomic changes of the aging skin, we analyzed publicly available RNA sequencing data from Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. GTEx provided RNA sequencing data of suprapubic (n=228) and lower leg (n=349) skins, which are photo-protected and photo–damaged. Using differentially expressed gene analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we characterized transcriptomic changes due to UV exposure and aging. Genes involved in skin development such as epidermal differentiation complex component (SPRR and LCE families), vasculature development (TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, KDR, FGF2, and VEGFC), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2, MMP3, MMP8, MMP10, and MMP13) were up-regulated by UV exposure. Also, down-regulated lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis were observed in photo-damaged skin. Moreover, wound healing process was universally down-regulated in suprapubic and lower leg with aging and further down-regulation of lipid metabolism and up-regulation of vasculature development were found as photo-aging signatures. In this study, dynamic transcriptomic alterations were observed in aged skin. Hence, our findings may help to discover a potential therapeutic target for skin rejuvenation.
Highlights
Skin is the largest organ of human body and its physiological changes are affected by intrinsic or extrinsic factors [1, 2]
Genes involved in skin development such as epidermal differentiation complex component (SPRR and late cornified envelope (LCE) families), vasculature development (TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, KDR, FGF2, and VEGFC), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2, MMP3, MMP8, MMP10, and MMP13) were up-regulated by UV exposure
Down-regulated lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis were observed in photodamaged skin
Summary
Skin is the largest organ of human body and its physiological changes are affected by intrinsic or extrinsic factors [1, 2]. There are a few previous studies regarding the agingrelated gene expression changes in skin. Glass et al examined the gene expression changes with age in various human tissues including skin [3]. They only suggested that a significant proportion of aging-related changes in gene expression profile are tissue specific. In their study, skin did not show the aging-related changes. Kaisers et al reported that the aging-related gene expression changes were not displayed in skin [5]. Increased cytokine production and immune responses with aging were described
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
