Sirtuins in Skin and Skin Cancers

Abstract

The sirtuins are a family of proteins that comprise class III of the histone deacetylases. These NAD+-dependent proteins have been found to be intricately involved in a variety of important and skin-relevant cellular functions and processes, including aging, UV damage response, oxidative stress, and wound repair. In addition, recent research is unraveling the role of sirtuins in a variety of skin diseases, including melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. In this review, we provide a discussion on the potential roles and implications of different sirtuins in skin-specific cellular processes, which may have relevance to skin health and skin diseases. Based on the available literature, the sirtuins appear to be important targets in the management of a variety of skin diseases from cosmetic (e.g., skin aging) to fatal conditions (e.g., melanoma).

Keywords: Histone deacetylases; Sirtuins; Skin.

Figure 1. Sirtuin Function and Localization

A visual representation of the seven mammalian sirtuins. Relative size and non-deacetylation activities are shown, as well as subcellular location. SIRTs 1 and 2 function in both the nuclear and cytoplasm, with SIRT1 showing more nuclear functions and SIRT2 more cytoplasmic. SIRT 6 is found in the nucleus and SIRT7 is associated with the nucleolus, while SIRTs 3–5 are primarily mitochondrial. Dark blue bands represent the conserved core catalytic domains while surrounding bands indicate the N- and C-terminal regions of each sirtuin. References for the non-deacetylation activities are as follows: (1) [87]; (2) [88]; (3) [89]; (4) [90]; (5) [91]; (6) [92]; (7) [93]; (8) [94]; (9) [95]; (10) [96].