Newcastle University
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A study, published online in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, has found that the activity of mitochondrial complex II significantly decreases in older skin.
This discovery brings experts a step closer to developing
powerful anti-ageing treatments and cosmetic products which may be tailored to
counteract the decline in the enzyme's activity levels.
Findings may also lead to a greater understanding of how other
organs in the body age, which could pave the way for drug developments in a
number of age-related diseases, including cancer.
Mark Birch-Machin, Professor of Molecular Dermatology at Newcastle University, led the pioneering study with Dr Amy Bowman from his research group.
Professor Birch-Machin said: "As our bodies age we see that
the batteries in our cells run down, known as decreased bio-energy, and harmful
free radicals increase.
"This process is easily seen in our skin as increased fine
lines, wrinkles and sagging appears. You know the story, or at least your
mirror does first thing in the morning!
"Our study shows, for the first time, in human skin that
with increasing age there is a specific decrease in the activity of a key
metabolic enzyme found in the batteries of the skin cells.
"This enzyme is the hinge between the two important ways of
making energy in our cells and a decrease in its activity contributes to
decreased bio-energy in ageing skin.
"Our research means that we now have a specific biomarker,
or a target, for developing and screening anti-ageing treatments and cosmetic
creams that may counter this decline in bio-energy.
"There is now a possibility of finding anti-ageing
treatments which can be tailored to differently aged and differently pigmented
skin, and with the additional possibility to address the ageing process
elsewhere in our bodies."
Complex II activity was measured in 27 donors, from aged six to
72 years. Samples were taken from a sun-protected area of skin to determine if
there was a difference in activity with increasing age.
Techniques were used to measure the activities of the key
enzymes within mitochondria that are involved in producing the skin cell's
energy, a type of mitochondrial gym or skin physical. This was applied to cells
derived from the upper (epidermis) and lower (dermis) levels of skin.
It was found that complex II activity significantly declined
with age, per unit of mitochondria, in the cells derived from the lower rather
than the upper levels, an observation not previously reported for human skin.
The scientists found that the reason for this is the amount of
enzyme protein was decreased and furthermore this decrease was only observed in
those cells that had stopped proliferating.
Further studies will now be required to fully understand the functional
consequences in skin and other tissues, and to establish methods to assess
anti-ageing strategies in human skin.
Dr Bowman, Research Associate at Newcastle University's
Institute of Cellular Medicine, said: "Newcastle University is pioneering
research into ageing as it has long been thought that mitochondria play an
important role in the ageing process, however the exact role has remained
unclear.
"Our work brings us one step closer to understanding how
these vital cell structures may be contributing to human ageing, with the hope
of eventually specifically targeting areas of the mitochondria in an attempt to
counteract the signs of ageing."
A recent study carried out in mice showed that complex II
activity is lower in the skin of naturally aged older mice compared to younger
mice.