Fragility of epidermis and its consequence in dermatology

The skin is the largest organ of the body, providing a protective barrier against bacteria, chemicals and physical insults while maintaining homeostasis in the internal environment. Such a barrier function the skin ensures protection against excessive water loss. The skin's immune defence consists of several facets, including immediate, non-specific mechanisms (innate immunity) and delayed, stimulus-specific responses (adaptive immunity), which contribute to fending off a wide range of potentially invasive microorganisms. This article is an overview of all known data about 'fragile skin'. Fragile skin is defined as skin with lower resistance to aggressions. Fragile skin can be classified into four categories up to its origin: physiological fragile skin (age, location), pathological fragile skin (acute and chronic), circumstantial fragile skin (due to environmental extrinsic factors or intrinsic factors such as stress) and iatrogenic fragile skin. This article includes the epidemiologic data, pathologic description of fragile skin with pathophysiological bases (mechanical and immunological role of skin barrier) and clinical description of fragile skin in atopic dermatitis, in acne, in rosacea, in psoriasis, in contact dermatitis and other dermatologic pathologies. This article includes also clinical cases and differential diagnosis of fragile skin (reactive skin) in face in adult population. In conclusion, fragile skin is very frequent worldwide and its prevalence varies between 25% and 52% in Caucasian, African and Asian population. © 2014 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Results from in vitro and ex vivo skin aging models assessing the antiglycation and anti-elastase MMP-12 potential of glycylglycine oleamide

Patrick Bogdanowicz, Marie-José Haure, Isabelle Ceruti, Sandrine Bessou-Touya, Nathalie Castex-Rizzi Department of Pharmacology, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique, Toulouse, France Background: Glycation is an aging reaction of naturally occurring sugars with dermal proteins. Type I collagen and elastin are most affected by glycation during intrinsic chronological aging. Aim: To study the in vitro and ex vivo assays in human skin cells and explants and the antiaging effects of glycylglycine oleamide (GGO). Materials and methods: The antiglycation effect of GGO was assessed in a noncellular in vitro study on collagen and, ex vivo, by immunohistochemical staining on human skin explants (elastin network glycation). The ability of GGO to contract fibroblasts was assessed in a functional assay, and its anti-elastase (MMP-12) activity was compared to that of oleic acid alone, glycylglycine (GG) alone, and oleic acid associated with GG. Results: In vitro, GGO reduced the glycation of type I collagen. Ex vivo, GGO restored the expression of fibrillin-1 inhibited by glycation. Furthermore, GGO induced a tissue retraction of almost 30%. Moreover, the MMP-12 activity was inhibited by up to 60%. Conclusion: Under the present in vitro and ex vivo conditions, GGO prevents glycation of the major structural proteins of the dermis, helping to reduce the risk of rigidification. By maintaining the elastic function of the skin, GGO may be a promising sparring partner for other topical antiaging agents. Keywords: extracellular matrix, glycylglycine oleamide, glycation, fibrillin-1, matrix metalloproteinase-12, skin agin

Acceleration of keratinocyte differentiation by transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV6) channel activation

International audienceBackground: Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of Avène Thermal Spring Water (TSW) in dermatological diseases but the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Avène TSW on the morphological and molecular features related to the more advanced status of differentiation of human keratinocytes.Material and methods: Normal human keratinocytes (NHK) were differentiated in medium powder reconstituted with Avène TSW and assessed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Calcium entry was measured by a Fura-2 AM probe. TRPV6 channel were detected by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and western blot.Results: Treatment of NHK with Avène TSW led to an enhanced constitutive calcium entry that resulted in the increased expression of involucrin and cytokeratins 1 and 10. This enhanced constitutive calcium entry in Avène TSW-treated keratinocytes was mediated by the TRPV6 calcium channel. Moreover, Avène TSW-mediated calcium entry was due to the increase in TRPV6 expression as well as the channel abundance at the cell membrane.Conclusions: An other mechanism of action of Avène TSW is described. Avène TSW treatment induced an enhanced constitutive calcium entry mediated by TRPV6 channel leading to the acceleration of human keratinocytes differentiation

A new dermocosmetic containing retinaldehyde, delta-tocopherol glucoside and glycylglycine oleamide for managing naturally aged skin: results from in vitro to clinical studies

Céline Rouvrais,1,* Daniel Bacqueville,2,* Patrick Bogdanowicz,2,* Marie-José Haure,2 Laure Duprat,2 Christine Coutanceau,3 Nathalie Castex-Rizzi,2 Hélène Duplan,2 Valérie Mengeaud,1 Sandrine Bessou-Touya2 1Clinical Skin Research Center, 2Department of Pharmacology, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique, Toulouse, 3Laboratoire Dermatologique Avène, Lavaur, France *These authors contributed equally to this work Introduction: Natural aging of skin tissues, the addition of the cumulative action of the time and radiation exposure result in skin atrophy, wrinkles and degeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The aim of the study was to investigate the beneficial effect of a combination containing retinaldehyde (RAL), delta-tocopherol glucoside (delta-TC) and glycylglycine oleamide (GGO) and of a dermocosmetic containing the combination. Materials and methods: The protective effect of the combination was assessed through in vitro gene expression of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated fibroblasts. A skin aging assay using UV light on ex vivo skin samples and a clinical study conducted in 36 women aged from 35 to 55 years with a minimum of level 4 to a maximum of level 6 on the crow’s feet photoscale assessed the antiaging effect of the dermocosmetic. Results: When added to UV-irradiated fibroblasts, the combination substantially improved the ECM in activating the elastin fiber production (fibrillin 2, fibulin 1 and 5 and lysyl ­oxidase-like 2) as well as that of proteins involved in the cellular ECM interactions (integrin β1, paxillin and actin a2). An ex vivo photodamaged human skin model showed that the dermocosmetic formulation containing the combination of the active ingredients protected the elastic network against UV-induced alterations including both elastin and fibrillin-rich fibers in the dermis. A daily application of the dermocosmetic for 2 months on naturally aged skin resulted in a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) of visible signs of aging comprising crow’s feet, wrinkles and periocular fine lines. Finally, the formulation was well tolerated. Conclusion: The dermocosmetic containing RAL, delta-TC and GGO provides a substantial benefit in the daily care of naturally aged skin in women aged 35–55 years. Keywords: glycylglycine oleamide, delta-tocopherol glucoside, retinaldehyde, preclinical aged skin model, statistics, formulatio