title: Could tight junctions regulate the barrier function of the aged skin?
abstract: The skin is known to be the largest organ in human organism creating interface with outer environment. The skin provides protective barrier against pathogens, physical and chemical insults, and against uncontrolled loss of water. The barrier function was primarily attributed to the stratum corneum (SC) but recent studies confirmed that epidermal tight junctions (TJs) also play important role in maintaining barrier properties of the skin. Independent observations indicate that barrier function and its recovery is impaired in aged skin. However, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) values remains rather unchanged in elderly population. UV radiation as major factor of photoageing impairs TJ proteins, but TJs have great self-regenerative potential. Since it may be possible that TJs can compensate TEWL in elderly due to its regenerative and compensatory capabilities, important question remains to be answered: how are TJs regulated during skin ageing? This review provides an insight into TJs functioning as epidermal barrier and summarizes current knowledge about the impact of ageing on the barrier function of the skin and epidermal TJs.
authors.affiliation: University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, Pardubice, Czech Republic; Department of Research and Development, Contipro Biotech s.r.o., Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic. Electronic address: marek.svoboda@upce.cz.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svoboda
authors.affiliation: University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, Pardubice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bílková
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Contipro Biotech s.r.o., Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muthný
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D010539:Permeability; D012869:Skin Absorption; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000528:radiation effects; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible
keywords: Barrier function; Epidermis; Skin ageing; TEWL; Tight junction; UV exposure