Loss of identity

Scientists have explained why the skin ages

Alexey Yevglevsky, Naked Science

Biologists from the Institute of Biomedical Research in Barcelona (Spain) conducted a study of skin cells of mice of different ages and found that in the process of aging, dermal fibroblasts "lose their identity", which is why skin properties deteriorate. The work was published in the journal Cell (Salzer et al., Identity Noise and Adipogenic Traits Characterize Dermal Fibroblast Aging).

Drawings from an article in Cell.

The head of the study is Salvador Aznar Benitah shared the details:

"Elderly people have a lot of problems with the skin, because it is incapable of normal regeneration and does not serve as a barrier that would protect the body from various kinds of infections. Before us, no one considered the loss of cellular identity as the cause of these problems, but this hypothesis sounds very interesting."

Collagen and elastin are two proteins that provide connective tissue with strength and elasticity. Their secretion depends on dermal fibroblasts – cells synthesizing extracellular matrix. The team from the Institute of Biomedical Research used DNA microchips, RNA sequencing technology, electron microscopes to obtain high-resolution images and many other methods to understand the difference between young and old connective tissue cells.

The thickness of the skin layer, subcutaneous and hypodermic in mice at different time periods.

They found that with age, fibroblasts acquire some characteristics of adipocytes (the cells that make up adipose tissue), which in turn leads to a "loss of cellular identity" and the cessation of collagen production. According to experts, the conformation of old fibroblasts is less distinct and "resembles the indeterminate cell states observed in unborn animals." They note that this information will help lead to more effective wound healing and anti-aging skin therapy in the future.

The year before last, American scientists developed a new material, which is a silicone polymer that temporarily tightens the skin and returns it to youth for about 24 hours.

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