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 ␣21 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 ␣21 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.