Ingestion of elastin peptides alters messenger RNA expression in mice skin

Elastic fibers in the dermis play an important role in the elasticity of the skin. The desmosine crosslinking structures produced by lysyl oxidase (LOX) in the elastic fibers are partly responsible for the elasticity. The degradation of elastic fibers by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-12, also plays an important role in the maintenance of elasticity. In the present study, we investigated whether the gene expression in skin for these enzymes can be modified by ingestion of elastin peptide. Mice were given elastin peptides orally by single administration. The mRNA expression of tropoelastin, LOX and MMP-12 in mice skin was then quantified by the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Ingestion of elastin peptides caused an increase in tropoelastin and LOX, but not in MMP-12, mRNA expression. In conclusion, elastin peptides may be effective in prompting the synthesis of elastic fibers in mice.