MMP-1 and -3 promoter variants are indicative of a common susceptibility for skin and lung aging : results from a cohort of elderly women (SALIA)

Studies have indicated that there may be a smoking-dependent association between skin wrinkling and airflow obstruction of the lung. It was suggested that this association might be because of an underlying susceptibility in genes responsible for extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Our purpose was to confirm the association between skin wrinkling and airflow obstruction and to identify genetic polymorphisms indicative of an underlying susceptibility. In 697 elderly women, we assessed skin wrinkles by SCINEXA (SCore for INtrinsic and EXtrinsic skin Aging) and airflow obstruction by spirometry, using the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced volume capacity (FVC). For association analysis, we used multiple regression and found that the FEV1/FVC ratio decreased 1.2% per 6-point increase in the wrinkle severity score after accounting for age, education, body mass index, skin type, and sun exposure. This association was significant and independent of smoking or air pollution. Most interestingly, this association occurred only in carriers of the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) 2G (rs1799750) or the MMP-3 6A (rs3025058) allele but not in homozygous carriers of the 1G or 5A allele. Thus, skin and lung aging are linked in carriers of the 2G or 6A allele. These alleles appear to be indicative of a common genetic susceptibility.