THE EFFECTS OF TRYPSIN ON APOPTOSIS, UTRICULI SIZE, AND SKIN ELASTICITY IN THE RHINO MOUSE

Acne vulgaris is the result of multifactorial disorders of the piloseb aceous duct. The initial lesion is believed to be hyper-keratinization of the infundibulum. The Rhino mouse has been used as an experimental acne model system for screening antikeratinizing and comedolytic agen ts. Using this system we show that trypsin could induce desquamation a nd utriculi-epidermal differentiation in the absence of irritation. Fo llowing five daily trypsin treatments, the biomechanical properties of the mouse skin improved, as demonstrated by cutometer measurements an d increased elastin expression. Extensive programmed cell death and ap optosis are demonstrated in the utriculi epithelium of the untreated a nimals. This cell death is eliminated by the trypsin treatment. We spe culate that co-administration of trypsin might increase the therapeuti c value of topical acne treatments and improve skin elasticity while r educing imitating effects.