Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation damages skin and produces symptoms of photoaging, such as thickening, rough texture, wrinkles, and pigmentation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying photoaging induced by chronic UV irradiation are not yet fully understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been reported to be involved in the response to UV irradiation. In this study, we examined the effects of the sunscreen agent Octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC) on photoaging of the skin induced by chronic UV exposure in hairless albino Crl:SKH1-Hrhr (SKH-1) mice. We demonstrated that the expression of MMPs was elevated by UV irradiation, whereas the topical application of OMC inhibited the upregulation of MMPs. Furthermore, UV-induced wrinkle formation was decreased by OMC treatment. These results suggest that OMC is a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of skin photoaging.