Molecular Mechanisms and In Vivo Mouse Models of Skin Aging Associated with Dermal Matrix Alterations / 한국실험동물학회지

Skin is the most superficial body organ and plays an important role in protecting the body from environmental damage and in forming social relations. With the increase of the aging population in our society, dermatological and cosmetic concerns of skin aging are rapidly increasing. Skin aging is a complex process combined with intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic or chronological skin aging results from the passage of time and is influenced by genetic factors. Extrinsic skin aging is mainly determined by UV irradiation, also called photoaging. These two types of aging processes are superimposed on sun-exposed skin, and have a common feature of causing dermal matrix alterations that mostly contribute to the formation of wrinkles, laxity, and fragility of aged skin. The dermal matrix contains extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans that confer the strength and resiliency of skin. Skin aging associated with dermal matrix alterations and atrophy can be caused by cellular senescence of dermal cells like fibroblasts, and decreased synthesis and accelerated degradation of dermal matrix components, especially collagen fibers. Both intrinsic aging and photoaging exert influence during each step of dermal matrix alteration via different mechanisms. Mouse models of skin aging have been extensively developed to elucidate intrinsic aging and photoaging processes, to validate in vitro biochemical data, and to test the effects of pharmacological tools for retarding skin aging because they have the advantages of being genetically similar to humans and are easily available.

A Case of Pseudoxanthoma-elasticum-like Papillary Dermal Elastolysis / 대한피부과학회지

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis is a disorder of the dermis, characterized by clinical features similar to pseudoxanthoma elasticum and the pathologic features of elastolysis limited to the papillary dermis, such as sun-protected, intrinsically-aged skin. A 64-year old woman presented with a 7 year history of a localized skin lesion on the back of her neck. Physical examination revealed skin to yellow colored, non-follicular grouped uniform papules, sized 5~8 mm, and coalescent plaques localized below the hair line. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of decrease and elastolysis of the elastic fibers in the papillary dermis confirmed the diagnosis. In this article, we report a case of pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis which presented with typical clinical and pathologic features.