Integrative analysis of RNA-sequencing and microarray for the identification of adverse effects of UVB exposure on human skin.

Background: Ultraviolet B (UVB) from sunlight represents a major environmental factor that causes toxic effects resulting in structural and functional cutaneous abnormalities in most living organisms. Although numerous studies have indicated the biological mechanisms linking UVB exposure and cutaneous manifestations, they have typically originated from a single study performed under limited conditions. Methods: We accessed all publicly accessible expression data of various skin cell types exposed to UVB, including skin biopsies, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. We performed biological network analysis to identify the molecular mechanisms and identify genetic biomarkers. Results: We interpreted the inflammatory response and carcinogenesis as major UVB-induced signaling alternations and identified three candidate biomarkers (IL1B, CCL2, and LIF). Moreover, we confirmed that these three biomarkers contribute to the survival probability of patients with cutaneous melanoma, the most aggressive and lethal form of skin cancer. Conclusion: Our findings will aid the understanding of UVB-induced cutaneous toxicity and the accompanying molecular mechanisms. In addition, the three candidate biomarkers that change molecular signals due to UVB exposure of skin might be related to the survival rate of patients with cutaneous melanoma.

The development of anin vitrohuman hair follicle organoid with a complexity similar to thatin vivo.

In vitrohair follicle (HF) models are currently limited toex vivoHF organ cultures (HFOCs) or 2D models that are of low availability and do not reproduce the architecture or behavior of the hair, leading to poor screening systems. To resolve this issue, we developed a technology for the construction of a humanin vitrohair construct based on the assemblage of different types of cells present in the hair organ. First, we demonstrated that epithelial cells, when isolatedin vitro, have similar genetic signatures regardless of their dissection site, and their trichogenic potential is dependent on the culture conditions. Then, using cell aggregation techniques, 3D spheres of dermal papilla (DP) were constructed, and subsequently, epithelial cells were added, enabling the production and organization of keratins in hair, similar to what is seenin vivo. These reconstructed tissues resulted in the following hair compartments: K71 (inner root-sheath), K85 (matrix region), K75 (companion layer), and vimentin (DP). Furthermore, the new hair model was able to elongate similarly toex vivoHFOC, resulting in a shaft-like shape several hundred micrometers in length. As expected, when the model was exposed to hair growth enhancers, such as ginseng extract, or inhibitors, such as TGF-B-1, significant effects similar to thosein vivowere observed. Moreover, when transplanted into skin biopsies, the new constructs showed signs of integration and hair bud generation. Owing to its simplicity and scalability, this model fully enables high throughput screening of molecules, which allows understanding of the mechanism by which new actives treat hair loss, finding optimal concentrations, and determining the synergy and antagonism among different raw materials. Therefore, this model could be a starting point for applying regenerative medicine approaches to treat hair loss.

Transcriptome-wide analysis reveals GYG2 as a mitochondria-related aging biomarker in human subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), a vital energy reservoir and endocrine organ for maintaining systemic glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis, undergoes significant changes with age. However, among the existing aging-related markers, only few genes are associated with SAT aging. In this study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used on a transcriptome of SAT obtained from the Genotype-Tissue Expression portal to identify biologically relevant, SAT-specific, and age-related marker genes. We found modules that exhibited significant changes with age and identified GYG2 as a novel key aging associated gene. The link between GYG2 and mitochondrial function as well as brown/beige adipocytes was supported using additional bioinformatics and experimental analyses. Additionally, we identified PPARG as the transcription factor of GYG2 expression. The newly discovered GYG2 marker can be used to not only determine the age of SAT but also uncover new mechanisms underlying SAT aging.

ß-endorphin suppresses ultraviolet B irradiation-induced epidermal barrier damage by regulating inflammation-dependent mTORC1 signaling.

Solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation triggers excessive inflammation, disrupting the epidermal barrier, and can eventually cause skin cancer. A previous study reported that under UVB irradiation, epidermal keratinocytes synthesize the proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide ß-endorphin, which is known for its analgesic effect. However, little is known about the role of ß-endorphin in UVB-exposed skin. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to explore the protective role of ß-endorphin against UVB irradiation-induced damage to the skin barrier in normal human keratinocytes (NHKs) and on a human skin equivalent model. Treatment with ß-endorphin reduced inflammatory responses in UVB-irradiated NHKs by inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, we found that ß-endorphin treatment reversed UVB-induced abnormal epidermal proliferation and differentiation in NHKs and, thus, repaired the skin barrier in UVB-treated skin equivalents. The observed effects of ß-endorphin on UVB-irradiated NHKs were mediated via blockade of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These results reveal that ß-endorphin might be useful against UVB-induced skin injury, including the disruption of the skin barrier function.

A novel optical coherence tomography-based in vitro method of anti-aging skin analysis using 3D skin wrinkle mimics.

BACKGROUND: Wrinkles represent a characteristic symptom of skin aging. In recent years, various studies have focused on their prevention and/or cure. However, clinical tests are still the only method available to directly detect and evaluate the anti-wrinkle efficacy of various substances. Moreover, no in vitro strategy for such anti-aging skin analysis has been reported. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop a novel technology to overcome these limitations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Full-thickness (FT) skin wrinkle mimics with various widths and depths were fabricated using a collagen stamping method. These were analyzed and compared using 2D and 3D Swept Source-Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) imaging technologies. RESULTS: SS-OCT demonstrated superficial and cross-sectional images of the wrinkle mimics, and the size of the wrinkles was validated using image analysis. Retinoic acid treatment significantly decreased both the depth and width of wrinkles formed in the FT skin wrinkle mimics. CONCLUSIONS: Using 3D tissue engineering and SS-OCT imaging technologies, we developed a novel in vitro technique that can directly detect skin wrinkles. This significantly efficient method could lead to an alternative strategy for animal experiments and preclinical anti-aging research on the skin.

Ginsenoside Re prevents 3-methyladenine-induced catagen phase acceleration by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in human dermal papilla cells.

Background: The human hair follicle undergoes cyclic phases-anagen, catagen, and telogen-throughout its lifetime. This cyclic transition has been studied as a target for treating hair loss. Recently, correlation between the inhibition of autophagy and acceleration of the catagen phase in human hair follicles was investigated. However, the role of autophagy in human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), which is involved in the development and growth of hair follicles, is not known. We hypothesized that acceleration of hair catagen phase upon inhibition of autophagy is due to the downregulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in hDPCs, and that components of Panax ginseng extract can increase the autophagic flux in hDPCs. Methods: We generated an autophagy-inhibited condition using 3-methyladenine (3-MA), a specific autophagy inhibitor, and investigated the regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling using the luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis. In addition, cells were cotreated with ginsenoside Re and 3-MA and their roles in inhibiting autophagosome formation were investigated. Results: We found that the unstimulated anagen phase dermal papilla region expressed the autophagy marker, LC3. Transcription of Wnt-related genes and nuclear translocation of ß-catenin were reduced after treatment of hDPCs with 3-MA. In addition, treatment with the combination of ginsenoside Re and 3-MA changed the Wnt activity and hair cycle by restoring autophagy. Conclusions: Our results suggest that autophagy inhibition in hDPCs accelerates the catagen phase by downregulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Furthermore, ginsenoside Re, which increased autophagy in hDPCs, could be useful for reducing hair loss caused by abnormal inhibition of autophagy.

Transcriptome Analysis of Particulate Matter 2.5-Induced Abnormal Effects on Human Sebocytes.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), an atmospheric pollutant with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 µm, can cause serious human health problems, including skin damage. Since sebocytes are involved in the regulation of skin homeostasis, it is necessary to study the effects of PM2.5 on sebocytes. We examined the role of PM2.5 via the identification of differentially expressed genes, functional enrichment and canonical pathway analysis, upstream regulator analysis, and disease and biological function analysis through mRNA sequencing. Xenobiotic and lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell barrier damage-related pathways were enriched; additionally, PM2.5 altered steroid hormone biosynthesis and retinol metabolism-related pathways. Consequently, PM2.5 increased lipid synthesis, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory cytokine expression, and oxidative stress and altered the lipid composition and expression of factors that affect cell barriers. Furthermore, PM2.5 altered the activity of sterol regulatory element binding proteins, mitogen-activated protein kinases, transforming growth factor beta-SMAD, and forkhead box O3-mediated pathways. We also suggest that the alterations in retinol and estrogen metabolism by PM2.5 are related to the damage. These results were validated using the HairSkin® model. Thus, our results provide evidence of the harmful effects of PM2.5 on sebocytes as well as new targets for alleviating the skin damage it causes.

Integrative analysis to explore the biological association between environmental skin diseases and ambient particulate matter.

Although numerous experimental studies have suggested a significant association between ambient particulate matter (PM) and respiratory damage, the etiological relationship between ambient PM and environmental skin diseases is not clearly understood. Here, we aimed to explore the association between PM and skin diseases through biological big data analysis. Differential gene expression profiles associated with PM and environmental skin diseases were retrieved from public genome databases. The co-expression among them was analyzed using a text-mining-based network analysis software. Activation/inhibition patterns from RNA-sequencing data performed with PM2.5-treated normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) were overlapped to select key regulators of the analyzed pathways. We explored the adverse effects of PM on the skin and attempted to elucidate their relationships using public genome data. We found that changes in upstream regulators and inflammatory signaling networks mediated by MMP-1, MMP-9, PLAU, S100A9, IL-6, and S100A8 were predicted as the key pathways underlying PM-induced skin diseases. Our integrative approach using a literature-based co-expression analysis and experimental validation not only improves the reliability of prediction but also provides assistance to clarify underlying mechanisms of ambient PM-induced dermal toxicity that can be applied to screen the relationship between other chemicals and adverse effects.

3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamate thymol ester inhibits melanogenesis in normal human melanocytes and 3D human epidermal equivalents via the PGC-1α-independent PPARγ partial agonism.

BACKGROUND: 3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamate thymol ester (TCTE), an anti-melanogenic cosmetic agent prescribed currently, promotes adiponectin synthesis during adipogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). Adiponectin inhibits melanin biosynthesis and its biosynthesis is directly regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ. In this regard, TCTE may potentially affect PPARγ activity. However, contradicting effects of PPARγ agonists with different chemical structures on human melanogenesis have been reported. OBJECTIVE: A molecular target of TCTE was investigated to elucidate the association of both adiponectin and PPARγ with anti-melanogenic activity. METHODS: The adiponectin secretion-promoting activity of TCTE was tested in an adipogenesis model of hBM-MSCs. A molecular target of TCTE for adiponectin secretion was evaluated via time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based receptor binding and transactivation of PPARs. RESULTS: TCTE significantly promoted adiponectin secretion (EC50, 27.9 µM) during adipogenesis in hBM-MSCs and directly bound to PPARγ (Ki, 13.2 µM). The TCTE-bound PPARγ increased the recruitment of SRC-1, SRC-3, and TRAP220/DRIP-1 coactivator peptides without affecting PGC-1α coactivation. In the docking analysis, the optimal ligand binding mode of TCTE exhibited typical ligand-receptor interactions of PPARγ partial agonists. The PPARγ partial agonism of TCTE was established experimentally and the anti-melanogenic activity of TCTE was decreased by treatment with a PPARγ antagonist in cultured normal human melanocytes and a 3D model of human epidermis. CONCLUSION: The anti-melanogenic activity of TCTE was associated with a PGC-1α-independent PPARγ partial agonism.

Primary Ciliogenesis by 2-Isopropylmalic Acid Prevents PM2.5-Induced Inflammatory Response and MMP-1 Activation in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and a 3-D-Skin Model.

Particulate matters (PMs) increase oxidative stress and inflammatory response in different tissues. PMs disrupt the formation of primary cilia in various skin cells, including keratinocytes and melanocytes. In this study, we found that 2-isopropylmalic acid (2-IPMA) promoted primary ciliogenesis and restored the PM2.5-induced dysgenesis of primary cilia in dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, 2-IPMA inhibited the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species and the activation of stress kinase in PM2.5-treated dermal fibroblasts. Further, 2-IPMA inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α, which were upregulated by PM2.5. However, the inhibition of primary ciliogenesis by IFT88 depletion reversed the downregulated cytokines by 2-IPMA. Moreover, we found that PM2.5 treatment increased the MMP-1 expression in dermal fibroblasts and a human 3-D-skin model. The reduced MMP-1 expression by 2-IPMA was further reversed by IFT88 depletion in PM2.5-treated dermal fibroblasts. These findings suggest that 2-IPMA ameliorates PM2.5-induced inflammation by promoting primary ciliogenesis in dermal fibroblasts.

Genomic Approach to the Assessment of Adverse Effects of Particulate Matters on Skin Cancer and Other Disorders and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

Air pollutants are in the spotlight because the human body can easily be exposed to them. Among air pollutants, the particulate matter (PM) represents one of the most serious toxicants that can enter the human body through various exposure routes. PMs have various adverse effects and classified as severe carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer. Their physical and chemical characteristics are distinguished by their size. In this review, we summarized the published information on the physicochemical characteristics and adverse effects of PMs on the skin, including carcinogenicity. Through comparisons of biological networks constructed from relationships discussed in the previous scientific publications, we show it is possible to predict skin cancers and other disorders from particle-size-specific signaling alterations of PM-responsive genes. Our review not only helps to grasp the biological association between ambient PMs and skin diseases including cancer, but also provides new approaches to interpret chemical-gene-disease associations regarding the adverse effects of these heterogeneous particles.

Molecule-Resolved Visualization of Particulate Matter on Human Skin Using Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Imaging.

Precise measurement of particulate matter (PM) on skin is important for managing and preventing PM-related skin diseases. This study aims to directly visualize the deposition and penetration of PM into human skin using a multimodal nonlinear optical (MNLO) imaging system. We successfully obtained PM particle signals by merging two different sources, C-C vibrational frequency and autofluorescence, while simultaneously visualizing the anatomical features of the skin via keratin, collagen, and elastin. As a result, we found morphologically dependent PM deposition, as well as increased deposition following disruption of the skin barrier via tape-stripping. Furthermore, PM penetrated more and deeper into the skin with an increase in the number of tape-strippings, causing a significant increase in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our results suggest that MNLO imaging could be a useful technique for visualizing and quantifying the spatial distribution of PM in ex vivo human skin tissues.

A novel mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone improves skin barrier function impaired by endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids.

Excess glucocorticoids (GCs) with either endogenous or exogenous origins deteriorate skin barrier function. GCs bind to mineralocorticoid and GC receptors (MRs and GRs) in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Inappropriate MR activation by GCs mediates various GC-induced cutaneous adverse events. We examined whether MR antagonists can ameliorate GC-mediated skin barrier dysfunction in NHEKs, reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), and subjects under psychological stress (PS). In a preliminary clinical investigation, topical MR antagonists improved skin barrier function in topical GC-treated subjects. In NHEKs, cortisol induced nuclear translocation of GR and MR, and GR and MR antagonists inhibited cortisol-induced reductions of keratinocyte differentiation. We identified 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (7,3',4'-THIF) as a novel compound that inhibits MR transcriptional activity by screening 30 cosmetic compounds. 7,3',4'-THIF ameliorated the cortisol effect which decreases keratinocyte differentiation in NHEKs and RHE. In a clinical study on PS subjects, 7,3',4'-THIF (0.1%)-containing cream improved skin barrier function, including skin surface pH, barrier recovery rate, and stratum corneum lipids. In conclusion, skin barrier dysfunction owing to excess GC is mediated by MR and GR; thus, it could be prevented by treatment with MR antagonists. Therefore, topical MR antagonists are a promising therapeutic option for skin barrier dysfunction after topical GC treatment or PS.

Equivalence of in vitro and in vivo methods for assessing the effectiveness of anti-particulate matter pollution products.

BACKGROUND: The in vivo evaluation of antipollution products has attracted attention due to increasing global pollution levels; however, it is expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous because of the harmful nature of fine dust. Therefore, this paper proposes an alternative in vitro assessment method and compares the fine dust blocking effectiveness of both methods for different antipollution products. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initially, tests were conducted by spraying fine dust on human forearms and artificial leather without pretreatment for in vivo and in vitro samples, respectively. However, the same results were not obtained for both the methods. Therefore, we evaluated different leather conditions (color, drying time, and temperature) to determine the optimal artificial material for testing antipollution products before adopting beige artificial leather dried at 32°C for 30 minutes for further tests. RESULTS: The initial tests exhibited a significant difference (P < .05) between the two methods; however, the revised tests exhibited no significant difference (P > .05) between the two methods for either beige leather dried at room temperature (20°C-25°C) for 60 minutes or at 32°C for 30-60 minutes or white leather dried at 32°C for 60 min. Therefore, the in vitro method was deemed equivalent to the in vivo method. The effectiveness of fine dust blocking (P < .05) and the equivalence between the evaluation methods (P > .05) were confirmed for each antipollution product. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is economical, efficient, and safe, making it a novel and valid alternative for the evaluation of antipollution products.

Isolindleyin exerts anti-melanogenic effects in human epidermal melanocytes via direct binding to tyrosinase.

To overcome dermatological concerns causing abnormally excessive melanin synthesis, highly effective and safe skin depigmentation compounds have been identified in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Among several methods used to achieve skin depigmentation, inhibition of tyrosinase is one of the most effective, since tyrosinase is a crucial enzyme in melanogenesis. Herein, isolindleyin, a novel inhibitor of human tyrosinase, was introduced and evaluated for its anti-melanogenic effects in human epidermal melanocytes. The results revealed that isolindleyin was directly bound to tyrosinase and it suppressed melanin synthesis. The binding mode between isolindleyin and the active sites of human tyrosinase was investigated using computational molecular docking at the atomic level. Isolindleyin binding was found to be stabilized by hydrophobic interactions between His 367 and Val 377 and by hydrogen bonds between Ser 380 and Asn 364. The results of this study revealed the anti-melanogenic effects of isolindleyin that could contribute toward overcoming dermatological concerns that cause abnormally excessive melanin synthesis.

Melasolv induces melanosome autophagy to inhibit pigmentation in B16F1 cells.

The melanosome is a specialized membrane-bound organelle that is involved in melanin synthesis, storage, and transportation. In contrast to melanosome biogenesis, the processes underlying melanosome degradation remain largely unknown. Autophagy is a process that promotes degradation of intracellular components' cooperative process between autophagosomes and lysosomes, and its role for process of melanosome degradation remains unclear. Here, we assessed the regulation of autophagy and its contributions to depigmentation associated with Melasolv (3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate thymol ester). B16F1 cells-treated with Melasolv suppressed the α-MSH-stimulated increase of melanin content and resulted in the activation of autophagy. However, introduction of bafilomycin A1 strongly suppressed melanosome degradation in Melasolv-treated cells. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy by ATG5 resulted in significant suppression of Melasolv-mediated depigmentation in α-MSH-treated cells. Taken together, our results suggest that treatment with Melasolv inhibits skin pigmentation by promoting melanosome degradation via autophagy activation.

Tyrosinase-Targeting Gallacetophenone Inhibits Melanogenesis in Melanocytes and Human Skin-Equivalents.

Demands for safe depigmentation compounds are constantly increasing in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, since the numerous relevant compounds reported to date have shown undesirable side effects or low anti-melanogenic effects. In this study, we reported three novel inhibitors of tyrosinase, which is the key enzyme in melanogenesis, identified using docking-based high throughput virtual screening of an in-house natural compound library followed by mushroom tyrosinase inhibition assay. Of the three compounds, gallacetophenone showed high anti-melanogenic effect in both human epidermal melanocytes and a 3D human skin model, MelanoDerm. The inhibitory effect of gallacetophenone on tyrosinase was elucidated by computational molecular modeling at the atomic level. Binding of gallacetophenone to the active site of tyrosinase was found to be stabilized by hydrophobic interactions with His367, Ile368, and Val377; hydrogen bonding with Ser380 and a water molecule bridging the copper ions. Thus, our results strongly suggested gallacetophenone as an anti-melanogenic ingredient that inhibits tyrosinase.

Glucose Exerts an Anti-Melanogenic Effect by Indirect Inactivation of Tyrosinase in Melanocytes and a Human Skin Equivalent.

Sugars are ubiquitous in organisms and well-known cosmetic ingredients for moisturizing skin with minimal side-effects. Glucose, a simple sugar used as an energy source by living cells, is often used in skin care products. Several reports have demonstrated that sugar and sugar-related compounds have anti-melanogenic effects on melanocytes. However, the underlying molecular mechanism by which glucose inhibits melanin synthesis is unknown, even though glucose is used as a whitening as well as moisturizing ingredient in cosmetics. Herein, we found that glucose significantly reduced the melanin content of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)-stimulated B16 cells and darkly pigmented normal human melanocytes with no signs of cytotoxicity. Furthermore, topical treatment of glucose clearly demonstrated its whitening efficacy through photography, Fontana-Masson (F&M) staining, and multi-photon microscopy in a pigmented 3D human skin model, MelanoDerm. However, glucose did not alter the gene expression or protein levels of major melanogenic proteins in melanocytes. While glucose potently decreased intracellular tyrosinase activity in melanocytes, it did not reduce mushroom tyrosinase activity in a cell-free experimental system. However, glucose was metabolized into lactic acid, which can powerfully suppress tyrosinase activity. Thus, we concluded that glucose indirectly inhibits tyrosinase activity through conversion into lactic acid, explaining its anti-melanogenic effects in melanocytes.

UVB-dependent inhibition of lipin-1 protects against proinflammatory responses in human keratinocytes.

Lipin-1 is an Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP1) that catalyzes a critical step in the synthesis of glycerophospholipids and is also a cotranscriptional regulator. The role of lipin-1 in the regulation of inflammatory responses has been extensively studied in various cell types but not in skin cells. In the present study, the function of lipin-1 in UVB-induced proinflammatory responses was assessed in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). UVB radiation downregulated lipin-1 expression. Lipin-1 inhibition was mediated by UVB-dependent sterol-response element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) inhibition. The UVB-dependent inhibition of lipin-1 and SREBP-1 was mediated by AMPK activation. UVB-induced activation of JNK was dependent on AMPK activation and mediated lipin-1 inhibition. Prevention of UVB-mediated lipin-1 repression by introducing a lipin-1 expression vector stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production, suggesting that lipin-1 inhibition attenuates UVB-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production. The downregulation of lipin-1 ameliorated UVB-induced NF-ĸB phosphorylation, which might be attributed to the suppression of UVB-induced accumulation of free fatty acids (FFAs). Pharmacological inhibition of PAP1 with propranolol suppressed UVB-induced production of IL-6 and IL-8 in NHEKs and reconstituted human skin models. Taken together, lipin-1 is downregulated by exposure to UVB radiation, which confers protection against UVB-induced proinflammatory responses; therefore, the inhibition of lipin-1 is a potential strategy for photoaging.

3-Methyladenine Inhibits Procollagen-1 and Fibronectin Expression in Dermal Fibroblasts Independent of Autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is deeply associated with aging, but little is known about its association with the extracellular matrix (ECM). 3-methyladenine (3-MA) is a commonly used autophagy inhibitor. OBJECTIVE: We used this compound to investigate the role of autophagy in dermal ECM protein synthesis. METHODS: Normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) were treated with 3-MA for 24 h, and mRNA encoding several ECM proteins was analyzed in addition to the protein expression of procollagen-1 and fibronectin. Several phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, an additional autophagy inhibitor, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting autophagy-related genes were additionally used to confirm the role of autophagy in ECM synthesis. RESULTS: Only 3-MA, but not other chemical compounds or autophagy-related genetargeting siRNA, inhibited the transcription of procollagen-1 and fibronectin-encoding genes. Further, 3-MA did not affect the activation of regulatory Smads, but inhibited the interaction between Smad3 with p300. Moreover, 3-MA treatment increased the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB); however, CREB knock-down did not recover 3-MA-induced procollagen-1 and fibronectin downregulation. CONCLUSION: We revealed that 3-MA might inhibit procollagen-1 and fibronectin synthesis in an autophagy-independent manner by interfering with the binding between Smad3 and p300. Therefore, 3-MA could be a candidate for the treatment of diseases associated with the accumulation of ECM proteins.