Ultraviolet (UV) triggers induction of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and also induces the rapid appearance of p53 protein in the epidermis and dermal fibroblasts. However, little is known about the role of p53 on MMP-1 expression in human skin. Here, we investigated the effects of p53 on basal and UV-induced MMP-1 in human dermal fibroblasts. To verify the role of p53 on MMP-1 expression, adenoviral p53 (Ad-p53) gene was infected to human dermal fibroblasts. Our results showed that basal and UV-induced MMP-1 expression was prevented by Ad-p53. In contrast, p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-alpha augmented the UV-induced MMP-1 expression. On the other hand, p53 activator, etoposide, decreased the MMP-1 expression in both normal and p53-overexpressed cells. In addition, MMP-1 expression was not changed by etoposide and/or pifithrin-alpha in HaCaT cells, which have mutation of p53. Taken together, we suggest that p53 inhibits basal and UV-induced MMP-1 expression in human dermal fibroblasts.