Patent ID: 8187841

Claim:
A method for evaluating or selecting an agent that decreases UVB-induced photodamage of skin that is enhanced by a decrease in TIMP-1 gene or TIMP-1 protein expression in said skin, the method comprising: (A) contacting mammalian skin cells that are capable of expressing the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2-genes or proteins with a test substance; (B) measuring the expression level of the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 genes or proteins in the skin cells; (C) comparing the expression level of said TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 genes or proteins obtained in part (B), with the expression level of said TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 genes or proteins in a control group in which said skin cells have not been contacted with the test substance; and (D) based on the results of part (C), evaluating or selecting a test substance that increases the expression level of the TIMP-1 gene or TIMP-1 protein over that of the control group but does not change the expression level of TIMP-2 gene or protein, as an agent that can reduce said UVB-induced photodamage of skin that is enhanced by a decrease in TIMP-1 gene or TIMP-1 protein expression in said skin.