Effect of smoking on skin elastic fibres: morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis
- 1 January 2007
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in British Journal of Dermatology
- Vol. 156 (1), 85-91
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07575.x
Abstract
It has been established during recent years that smoking is an independent risk factor for the development of premature facial wrinkling. The underlying mechanism is not well known, but elastic fibres of the dermis seem to be the major target of smoke components.To determine quantitative and qualitative changes of the dermal elastic tissue of non-sun-exposed skin induced by smoking, as well as the possible mechanisms responsible for them.Sixty-nine patients were recruited (20 nonsmokers, 19 former smokers and 30 smokers). Using static morphometry and immunohistochemistry and lectin staining we analysed elastic fibres of the dermis and their major components, elastin and microfibrillar component.Significantly higher values for the number of elastic fibres mm(-2) and the percentage of the area filled by them in the reticular dermis were found in smokers. Cumulative tobacco dose showed statistically significant correlations with both morphological parameters (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the two main components of elastic fibres were altered in smokers. Plasma protease inhibitors and lectin staining were negative in all the samples.Smoking is an independent risk factor for the increase of elastic fibres in the reticular dermis of nonexposed skin, and it acts on their two main structural components, elastin and microfibrillar component. This increase in the area of elastic fibres in smokers is not due to newly synthesized elastic material, but to their degradation, as occurs in solar elastosis and which acts in an additive manner.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Relationships between lung function, smoking and morphology of dermal elastic fibresExperimental Dermatology, 2005
- Tobacco smoke is phototoxicBritish Journal of Dermatology, 2004
- The Influence of Painful Sunburns and Lifetime Sun Exposure on the Risk of Actinic Keratoses, Seborrheic Warts, Melanocytic Nevi, Atypical Nevi, and Skin CancerJournal of Investigative Dermatology, 2003
- Is skin ageing in the elderly caused by sun exposure or smoking?British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
- Cigarette smoking–associated elastotic changes in the skinJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1999
- Tobacco smoking contributes little to facial wrinklingJournal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1999
- SMOKING AND THE SKINInternational Journal of Dermatology, 1992
- Changes in the elastic tissue of the non-sun-exposed skin of cigarette smokersBritish Journal of Dermatology, 1991
- Elastic fibres in normal and sun-damaged skin: an immunohistochemical studyBritish Journal of Dermatology, 1987
- Smoker's wrinkles?JAMA, 1973