Cyclooxygenase-2 May Contribute to Skin Aging and Photoaging

COX-2 expression was greater in chronically aged and photoaged skin than in control skin, with expression strongest in the photoaged skin.

Chronic sun exposure causes photoaging of the skin and cutaneous malignancies. Considerable evidence shows that skin cancer is associated with elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), but there is little information on the relationship between COX-2 expression and photoaging of the skin. Investigators from Egypt conducted a study to determine whether COX-2 is upregulated in chronological aging and photoaging of skin. Skin biopsies were taken from 60 participants with Fitzpatrick skin phototype III or IV: 20 young, non–skin-aged controls, 20 whose skin exhibited chronological aging, and 20 with photoaged skin.

Specimens of chronologically aged or photoaged skin had significantly greater COX-2 expression in the epidermis than control s…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)