METHOD OF DIAGNOSIS OF THE AESTHETIC QUALITIES OF THE SKIN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin, based on a measurement of the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2. The present invention also relates to a method for the cosmetic treatment of skin. The present invention also relates to a method for identifying a compound for reducing and/or slowing the degradation of esthetic quality of the skin, and a kit.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing a degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin, in a subject, said method comprising a step for measuring the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2, in a skin sample from said subject.

2. A method for the cosmetic treatment of a skin for which the esthetic qualities are degraded in a subject, said method comprising the following steps: a) measure the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2, in a skin sample from said subject; b) from step a), deduce whether said subject's skin displays degraded esthetic qualities; c) if the skin is identified as displaying degraded esthetic qualities in step b), treat said skin with a cosmetic composition suitable for reducing and/or slowing the degradation of the esthetic qualities of the skin.

3. A method for identifying a compound suitable for reducing and/or slowing the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin, said method comprising the following steps: a) measure the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2, in a skin sample exposed to said compound; b) compare said level of expression measured in step a) with the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in a skin sample not exposed to said compound; c) identify said candidate compound as a compound suitable for reducing and/or slowing the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin when a variation in the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in the skin sample exposed to said compound is detected, with respect to the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in the skin sample not exposed to the compound.

4. The method according to claim 3, in which said compound is identified as a compound suitable for reducing and/or slowing the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin when an increase in the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in the skin sample exposed to said compound is detected, with respect to the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in the skin sample not exposed to the compound, and in which the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin includes the appearance of a rough texture.

5. The method according to claim 3, in which said compound is identified as a compound suitable for reducing and/or slowing the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin when a reduction in the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in the skin sample exposed to said compound is detected, with respect to the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 in the skin sample not exposed to the compound, and in which the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin includes a reduction in the shine and/or an increase of the flaccidity.

6. The method according to claim 3, in which said skin sample is a skin cell culture, an epidermis culture, a reconstructed whole skin, a human skin explant, or a skin sample from a subject.

7. The method according to claim 1, in which the skin sample is taken using a D-Squame disc.

8. The method according to claim 1, in which the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 is determined by the level of expression of mRNA of said gene or by measuring the level of expression of the protein encoded by said gene, preferably by measuring the level of expression of the protein encoded by said gene.

9. A kit comprising: a) means for measuring the expression of the gene encoding FLG2, in a skin sample, and b) an instruction leaflet and c) means for taking the skin sample.

10. A method for identifying a compound suitable for reducing and/or slowing the progression of the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin, which method comprises using the kit according to claim 9.

11. A method for diagnosing a degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin, in a subject, said method comprising a step for measuring the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2, in a skin sample from said subject, in which the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin includes a reduction in the shine and/or the appearance of a rough texture and/or an increase of the flaccidity of the skin.

12. The method according to claim 4, in which said skin sample is a skin cell culture, an epidermis culture, a reconstructed whole skin, a human skin explant, or a skin sample from a subject.

13. The method according to claim 5, in which said skin sample is a skin cell culture, an epidermis culture, a reconstructed whole skin, a human skin explant, or a skin sample from a subject.

14. The method according to claim 2, in which the skin sample is taken using a D-Squame disc.

15. The method according to claim 3, in which the skin sample is taken using a D-Squame disc.

16. The method according to claim 4, in which the skin sample is taken using a D-Squame disc.

17. The method according to claim 5, in which the skin sample is taken using a D-Squame disc.

18. The method according to claim 6, in which the skin sample is taken using a D-Squame disc.

19. The method according to claim 2, in which the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 is determined by the level of expression of mRNA of said gene or by measuring the level of expression of the protein encoded by said gene, preferably by measuring the level of expression of the protein encoded by said gene.

20. The method according to claim 3, in which the level of expression of the gene encoding FLG2 is determined by the level of expression of mRNA of said gene or by measuring the level of expression of the protein encoded by said gene, preferably by measuring the level of expression of the protein encoded by said gene.

Description

EXAMPLE

[0054] The reduction in the shine, roughness and flaccidity were evaluated on the cheeks of 376 women aged 36 to 75 years. The level of protein expression of the gene encoding FLG2 was also evaluated on these women's cheeks, by means of a D-Squame sample wherein the soluble protein extract was analyzed using an ELISA test conducted on a chip.

[0055] The univariate statistical analysis of the results obtained shows a correlation between the degradation of esthetic qualities of the skin and the expression of FLG2. In particular, beyond the threshold values defined for flaccidity and for shine in Table 1, the skin is likely to evolve towards a flaccid skin or lose its shine, respectively. Below the threshold values defined for roughness in Table 1, the skin is likely to evolve towards a rough skin.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Threshold value (in Clinical sign Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity ng/ml) p-values Shine 66% 77% 53% 166 <0.001 Roughness 63% 72% 53% 144 <0.001 Flaccidity 58% 64% 51% 97