LAUSR

BACKGROUND Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is the main contributing factor for skin aging. UV irradiation induces epigenetic changes in skin. It increases the activity of histone acetylases (HATs) but decreases that of histone deacetylases (HDACs). OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate alterations in all classes of HDACs and sirtuins (SIRTs) in response to UV irradiation, and determine the HDACs regulating the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and type I procollagen. METHODS Primary human dermal fibroblasts were UV irradiated. HDAC4 was knocked-down or overexpressed to investigate its effect on the expression of MMP-1 and type I procollagen. The mRNA and protein levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. RESULTS Among 11 HDACs and 7 SIRTs, we found that the expression of HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC6, HDAC7, HDAC8, HDAC11, SIRT2, and SIRT3 were significantly and consistently reduced by UV at both mRNA and protein levels. Among these, the reduction of HDAC4 was responsible for the basal and UV-induced increase in the expression of MMP-1 and decrease in that of type I procollagen. Furthermore, the reduced HDAC4 could activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), resulting in an increase in MMP-1 and decrease in type I procollagen. CONCLUSIONS UV treatment decreases the expression of HDACs and SIRTs in dermal fibroblasts; in particular, the UV-induced reduction in the expression of HDAC4 might play an important role in regulating the expression of MMP-1 and type I procollagen.