The Role of Elastases Secreted by Fibroblasts in Wrinkle Formation: Implication Through Selective Inhibition of Elastase Activity ¶

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that decreases in skin elasticity, accompanied by increases in the tortuosity of elastic fibers, are important early events in wrinkle formation. In order to study the role of elastases in the degeneration of elastic fibers during wrinkle formation we examined the effects of an inhibitor of skin fibroblast elastase, N-phenethylphosphonyl-l-leucyl-l-tryptophane (NPLT), on wrinkle formation in hairless mice skin following UV irradiation. Dorsal skins of hairless mice were exposed daily to UV light for 18 weeks at doses of 65–95 mJ/cm2 and treated topically with 100 μL of 1 mM NPLT immediately after each UV irradiation. Wrinkles on dorsal skins were evaluated from week 6 through week 18. The daily exposure of mouse skin to UV light with less than 1 minimal erythemal dose significantly enhanced the activity of elastase in the exposed skin by week 4, and the elevated levels of elastase activity were significantly reduced by the in vitro incubation with NPLT in a dose-de...