Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation from the sun adversely impacts skin health through complex, multiple molecular pathways. Premature skin aging (photoaging) is among the most widely appreciated harmful effects of chronic exposure to solar UV irradiation. Extensive damage to the dermal connective tissue is a hallmark of photoaged skin. Disruption of the normal architecture of skin connective tissue impairs skin function and causes it to look aged. UV irradiation induces expression of certain members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, which degrade collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that comprise the dermal connective tissue. Although the critical role of MMPs in photoaging process is undeniable, important questions remain. This article summarizes our current understanding regarding the role of MMPs in the photoaging process and presents new data that 1) describe expression and regulation by UV irradiation of all members of the MMP family in human skin in vivo, and 2) quantify the relative contributions of the epidermis and dermis to expression of UV irradiation-induced MMPs in human skin in vivo.

Aged human skin is fragile because of fragmentation and loss of type I collagen fibrils, which confer strength and resiliency. We report here that dermal fibroblasts express increased levels of collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) in aged (>80 years old) compared with young (21 to 30 years old) human skin in vivo. Transcription factor AP-1 and ␣2␤1 integrin, which are key regulators of MMP-1 expression, are also elevated in fibroblasts in aged human skin in vivo. MMP-1 treatment of young skin in organ culture causes fragmentation of collagen fibrils and reduces fibroblast stretch, consistent with reduced mechanical tension , as observed in aged human skin. Limited fragmentation of three-dimensional collagen lattices with exogenous MMP-1 also reduces fibroblast stretch and mechanical tension. Furthermore, fibroblasts cultured in fragmented collagen lattices express elevated levels of MMP-1, AP-1, and ␣2␤1 integrin. Importantly, culture in fragmented collagen raises intracellular oxidant levels and treatment with antioxidant MitoQ 10 significantly reduces MMP-1 expression. These data identify positive feedback regulation that couples age-dependent MMP-1-catalyzed collagen fragmentation and oxidative stress. We propose that this self perpetuating cycle promotes human skin aging. These data extend the current understanding of the oxidative theory of aging beyond a cellular-centric view to include extracellular matrix and the critical role that connective tissue microenvironment plays in the biology of aging. Skin connective tissue (dermis) provides structural support for the skin's vasculature, appendages, and epidermis, which are vital to the function of skin. Structural integrity and function of the dermis are primarily dependent on its extracellular matrix, which is primarily composed of type I collagen fibrils. Type I collagen is the most abundant structural protein in skin, 1 and fragmented collagen fibrils are prominent, characteristic features of aged human skin in vivo.2-4 This fragmentation seriously impairs both the mechanical properties of skin, and the functions of cells that reside within the dermis. Clinically, this impairment manifests as delayed wound healing, reduced vascularization, propensity to bruise, and thin skin. Failure of normal functional interactions among dermal cells and their extracellular matrix microenvironment underlie these age-dependent phenotypic alterations. 6Damage to the collagenous extracellular matrix of the dermis can be observed at both the histological and ultrastructural level. 5,[7][8][9] In young dermis, intact, tightly packed, well-organized, long collagen fibrils are abundant. In contrast, in aged dermis, collagen fibrils are fragmented, disorganized, and sparse, resulting in the appearance of amorphous open space. Quantitative biochemical analysis reveals that the amount of fragmented collagen is 4.3-fold greater in aged (Ͼ80 years old) compared with young (21 to 30 years old) human dermis in vivo.

Simulating biological synapses with electronic devices is a re-emerging field of research. It is widely recognized as the first step in hardware building brain-like computers and artificial intelligent systems. Thus far, different types of electronic devices have been proposed to mimic synaptic functions. Among them, transistor-based artificial synapses have the advantages of good stability, relatively controllable testing parameters, clear operation mechanism, and can be constructed from a variety of materials. In addition, they can perform concurrent learning, in which synaptic weight update can be performed without interrupting the signal transmission process. Synergistic control of one device can also be implemented in a transistor-based artificial synapse, which opens up the possibility of developing robust neuron networks with significantly fewer neural elements. These unique features of transistor-based artificial synapses make them more suitable for emulating synaptic functions than other types of devices. However, the development of transistor-based artificial synapses is still in its very early stages. Herein, this article presents a review of recent advances in transistor-based artificial synapses in order to give a guideline for future implementation of synaptic functions with transistors. The main challenges and research directions of transistor-based artificial synapses are also presented.In the nerve system, a synapse is a specialized structure that allows a neuron to pass chemical or electrical signals to another Figure 2. a) Schematic illustration (top) and microscopy image (bottom) of flexible synaptic transistors based on a random matrix of semiconducting CNTs. b) Case 1: the amplitudes of V LTP and V LTP are greater than other cases; thus, NL is the highest and ΔG is the largest. c) Case 2: the amplitudes of V LTP and V LTP are smaller than in case 1; thus, NL and ΔG are lower. d) Case 3: if the CNT transistor without the Au floating gate is used for the synaptic transistor, NL and ΔG are considerably smaller than in the other cases due to the limited charge storage space. Reproduced with permission. [87]

Type I and type III procollagen are reduced in photodamaged human skin. This reduction could result from increased degradation by metalloproteinases and/or from reduced procollagen synthesis. In the present study, we investigated type I procollagen production in photodamaged and sun-protected human skin. Skin samples from severely sun-damaged forearm skin and matched sun-protected hip skin from the same individuals were assessed for type I procollagen gene expression by in situ hybridization and for type I procollagen protein by immunostaining. Both mRNA and protein were reduced (ϳ65 and 57%, respectively) in photodamaged forearm skin compared to sun-protected hip skin. We next investigated whether reduced type I procollagen production was because of inherently reduced capacity of skin fibroblasts in severely photodamaged forearm skin to synthesize procollagen, or whether contextual influences within photodamaged skin act to down-regulate type I procollagen synthesis. For these studies, fibroblasts from photodamaged skin and matched sunprotected skin were established in culture. Equivalent numbers of fibroblasts were isolated from the two skin sites. Fibroblasts from the two sites had similar growth capacities and produced virtually identical amounts of type I procollagen protein. These findings indicate that the lack of type I procollagen synthesis in sun-damaged skin is not because of irreversible damage to fibroblast collagen-synthetic capacity. It follows, therefore, that factors within the severely photodamaged skin may act in some manner to inhibit procollagen production by cells that are inherently capable of doing so. Interactions between fibroblasts and the collagenous extracellular matrix regulate type I procollagen synthesis. In sun-protected skin, collagen fibrils exist as a highly organized matrix. Fibroblasts are found within the matrix, in close apposition with collagen fibers. In photodamaged skin, collagen fibrils are shortened, thinned, and disorganized. The level of partially degraded collagen is ϳ3.6-fold greater in photodamaged skin than in sun-protected skin, and some fibroblasts are surrounded by debris. To model this situation, skin fibroblasts were cultured in vitro on intact collagen or on collagen that had been partially degraded by exposure to collagenolytic enzymes. Collagen that had been partially degraded by exposure to collagenolytic enzymes from either bacteria or human skin underwent contraction in the presence of dermal fibroblasts, whereas intact collagen did not. Fibroblasts cultured on collagen that had been exposed to either source of collagenolytic enzyme demonstrated reduced proliferative capacity (22 and 17% reduction on collagen degraded by bacterial collagenase or human skin collagenase, respectively) and synthesized less type I procollagen (36 and 88% reduction, respectively, on a per cell basis). Taken together, these findings indicate that 1) fibroblasts from photoaged and sun-protected skin are similar in their capacities for growth and type I procollagen productio...

Reduced production of type I procollagen is a prominent feature of chronologically-aged human skin. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), a downstream target of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway, is highly expressed in numerous fibrotic disorders, where it is believed to stimulate excessive collagen production. CTGF is constitutively expressed in normal human dermis in vivo, suggesting that CTGF is a physiological regulator of collagen expression. We report here that the TGF-β/Smad/CTGF axis is significantly reduced in dermal fibroblasts, the major collagen-producing cells, in aged (80+ years) human skin in vivo. In primary human skin fibroblasts, neutralization of endogenous TGF-β or knockdown of CTGF substantially reduced expression of type I procollagen mRNA, protein, and promoter activity. In contrast, overexpression of CTGF stimulated type I procollagen expression, and increased promoter activity. Inhibition of TGF-β receptor kinase, knockdown of Smad4, or overexpression of inhibitory Smad7 abolished CTGF stimulation of type I procollagen expression. However, CTGF did not stimulate Smad3 phosphorylation or Smad3-dependent transcriptional activity. These data indicate that in human skin fibroblasts, type I procollagen expression is dependent on endogenous production of both TGF-β and CTGF, which act through interdependent yet distinct mechanisms. Down regulation of the TGF-β/Smad/CTGF axis likely mediates reduced type I procollagen expression, in aged human skin in vivo.