Repair of UVA-induced elastic fiber and collagen damage by 0.05% retinaldehyde cream in an ex vivo human skin model.
BACKGROUND
Cellular effects of UV exposure are implicated in cutaneous aging. UV radiations induce structural and cellular changes in all the compartments of skin.


OBJECTIVE
To study the antiaging efficacy of a cream containing 0.05% retinaldehyde with an ex vivo technique using human skin in order to approximate in vivo metabolic conditions.


METHODS
Human skin explants were maintained alive in organ culture for 18 days and subjected to UVA exposure, thus simulating skin photoaging. Retinaldehyde cream was then applied to the surface of the epidermis for 2 weeks and the results were compared with those of nontreated skin explants. Dermal repair was analyzed histologically with quantification of collagen and elastic fibers, and biochemically by the measure of newly synthesized collagen as shown by adding tritiated proline to the culture medium.


RESULTS
UVA exposure induced significant alterations of collagen and elastic fibers as shown by morphometric analysis. In all UVA-exposed and then retinaldehyde-treated skin specimens, collagen and elastic fibers were restored to the level of nonexposed skin. UVA exposure induced a decrease in collagen synthesis, whereas in retinaldehyde-treated UVA-exposed skin the synthesis was similar to that of unexposed skin.


CONCLUSIONS
It has been shown that retinaldehyde has many of the properties of tretinoin in its biological and beneficial effects on photoaging. We have verified some of these previous observations, especially on dermal connective tissue, by obtaining significant repair of elastic fibers and collagen alteration induced by UVA exposure.
Boisnic
S
S
Department of Pathology, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Branchet-Gumila
M C
MC
Le Charpentier
Y
Y
Segard
C
C
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D009824:Ointments; D003094:Collagen; D012172:Retinaldehyde