Aged human skin accumulates mast cells with altered functionality that localize to macrophages and vasoactive intestinal peptide-positive nerve fibres.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Skin health declines with age and this is partially attributed to immunosenescence. Mast cells (MCs) are innate immune cells that coordinate tissue immune responses integral to skin homeostasis and disease.

Objectives

To understand how MCs contribute to human skin ageing, we investigated how intrinsic ageing impacts MC phenotype and MC relationships with other immune cells and skin structures.

Methods

In photoprotected skin biopsies from young (≤ 30 years) and aged (≥ 75 years) individuals, immunostaining and spatial morphometry were performed to identify changes in MC phenotype, number, distribution and interaction with the vasculature and nerve fibres. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure changes in gene expression related to immune

SUBMITTER: Pilkington SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6619242 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature