Large, hs6st2 or st8sia1 activators for preventing and/or attenuating skin ageing and/or hydrating skin

Abstract

The invention relates to the identification and the use of compounds which activate the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, for preventing and/or attenuating ageing, and/or for hydrating skin. The invention thus relates to an in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin, and/or for hydrating the skin, including the following steps: a. bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes; b. measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, in the keratinocytes; c. selecting the compounds for which an activation of at least 1.4 fold of the expression of at least one of the genes is measured in the keratinocytes treated in a. compared with the untreated keratinocytes.

1 . In vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin, and/or for hydrating the skin, comprising the following steps:
 a. bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes;   b. measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, in said keratinocytes;   c. selecting the compounds for which an activation of at least 1.4 fold of the expression of at least one of said genes is measured in the keratinocytes treated in a. compared with the untreated keratinocytes.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said activation of the expression of at least one of said genes is at least 1.6 fold. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein step b. is performed before and after step a. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the following steps:
 a′. preparing at least two samples of keratinocytes;   a. bringing one of the samples into contact with at least one test compound ; then b. measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, in said samples; and   c. selecting the compounds for which an activation of at least 1.4 fold of the expression of at least one of said genes is measured in the keratinocytes treated in a. as compared to the untreated keratinocytes.   
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein said activation of the expression of at least one of said genes is at least 1.6 fold. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the mRNA of the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the protein encoded by the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expression of the LARGE gene is measured in step b. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the test compounds are chosen from botanical extracts. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the activation of the expression of at least one of said genes measured in step c. is of at least 2 fold as compared to untreated keratinocytes. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 , for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating photo-ageing. 
     
     
         12 . Method for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin and/or for hydrating the skin, comprising applying an effective amount of an activator of the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, which can be obtained according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . Activator of the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, which can be obtained according to the method of  claim 1 , for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin and/or for hydrating the skin. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein step b. is performed before and after step a. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the mRNA of the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the mRNA of the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the mRNA of the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the mRNA of the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the protein encoded by the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the protein encoded by the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the protein encoded by the corresponding gene. 
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is measured by quantifying the protein encoded by the corresponding gene.