Photoageing is a complex process initiated by prolonged exposure to sunlight. In white Northern Europeans severe facial photoageing may result in two clinical phenotypes: ‘hypertrophic’ photoageing (HP) characterized by deep wrinkles and a leathery appearance or ‘atrophic’ photoageing (AP) characterized by telangiectasia and an unwrinkled appearance. AP individuals also have an increased propensity for developing keratinocyte cancers. Both HP and AP phenotypes are characterized by epidermal deterioration, yet the precise mechanism via which this occurs is unknown. The binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates multiple keratinocyte functions including proliferation, adhesion, migration and differentiation; however, impairment of this binding can result in cellular senescence and ageing. Moreover, cancer patients, who have been treated with EGFR inhibitors for long periods, develop phenotypically severely aged skin. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the role of EGFR in the skin of HP and AP phenotypes. Skin biopsies were collected from HP (n=15; mean age: 76.5) and AP (n=19; mean age: 78.8) donors at both photoprotected (buttock) and photoexposed (face) anatomical sites. Biopsies were cryosectioned and immunofluorescence staining for EGFR was performed. In all individuals and at both anatomical sites, EGFR was confined to the epidermis. In both the AP and HP cohorts, there was a significant decrease in the abundance of EGFR immunostaining in photoexposed face as compared to photoprotected buttock (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, an additional significant reduction in EGFR immunostaining was identified for AP facial skin as compared to HP facial skin (P<0.01) and this was more pronounced in the male AP cohort (P<0.05). This suggests that EGFR dysregulation is more apparent in individuals with the AP phenotype and may indicate a role for EGFR in age-related epidermal decline. Further studies exploring this relationship are warranted at both the transcriptional and translational level.

ESDR229 - Epidermal growth factor receptor and its role in atrophic and hypertrophic facial photoageing

The scientific meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) is held yearly, usually in September. With an international attendance of more than 1000 skin scientists from around the globe, the four-day event includes short oral presentations from peer-reviewed abstracts, keynote lectures from international experts, sponsored symposia, satellite programs, educational events as well as an important focus on posters, networking and building collaborations amongst scientists. For more information about this year’s meeting visit our website.