ANDREA CAVAGNINO, ANAïS BOBIER, MARTIN BARAIBAR*
*Corresponding author
OxiProteomics, Paris, France

Abstract

Exposure to environmental stressors (pollution, UV and HEVL irradiation) inflicts oxidative damage and premature skin aging.
The impact of stress on the skin proteome is of special interest since proteins are key players to assure skin function and homeostasis. One of the most detrimental consequences of skin oxidation is protein carbonylation. Their accumulation leads to impaired skin function as decreased hydration and skin barrier disruption. However, the nature of these modifications and the identity of those targeted proteins remain elusive. By using state-of-the art targeted proteomics approaches we have evidenced that urban pollutants and irradiation induce oxidative damage of our skin proteins in keratinocytes, fibroblasts and melanocytes. Ex vivo studies in human skin explants showed that different environmental stressors target distinct skin anatomical compartments. Interestingly, oxidative damage targets only a restricted set of proteins upon the whole proteome, which we defined as the skin “Oxi-proteome”.
Further studies should underline the benefits from increased protection against carbonylation of such specific proteins and/or the stimulation of their elimination.

INTRODUCTION

Compelling evidence indicate that exposure to environmental insults (indoor or outdoor pollution, UV or high energy visible light (HEVL) irradiation) is a major global concern for public health (1). The skin maintains a major interface between the body and the environment offering a functional biological barrier against external aggressions. Nevertheless, environmental stressors may overcome the skin protective potential. This imbalance can modify the skin structure, resulting in skin diseases, as well as premature aging (2).

As an early event, environmental stressors catalyse the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and they in turn will impact and damage skin macromolecules (proteins, lipids and nucleic acids) leading to oxidative stress and impaired skin cellular functions, resulting in accelerated skin aging and disease (3). Although ROS are generated physiologically in our skin contributing to chronological aging, in the case of exposition to xenobiotic and pollutants, ROS are also generated from the surface of particulate matter (PM) where polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and benzo(a)pyrene(s) are adsorbed, other t ...