| abstract |
The present invention describes a method for treating and/or evaluating photodamage and/or photoaging of skin caused by exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The method employs a unique set of marker genes whose expression was newly found to be altered following exposure of skin to UV radiation. The invention provides an advantageous system of identifying and assessing substances that are capable of modulating, e.g., via attenuation, UV radiation induced alteration or change in the expression of at least one of the newly provided marker genes in skin relative to the gene expression level in skin not exposed to UV radiation. Also provided are compositions comprising materials that upon application to skin can modulate the gene expression of at least one gene of the marker gene set after exposure of skin to UV radiation, thereby affording protective and therapeutic effects and treatments for photodamage and photoaging. The potential benefit of, e.g., skincare, hair care, cosmetic, and personal care agents, and nutritional supplements, as materials having antiphotodamage and/or antiphotoaging properties can be assessed using the present method. |