Journal article
Quantification of age-related changes in the structure and mechanical function of skin with multiscale imaging
GeroScience, Vol.46(5), pp.4869-4882
05/18/2024
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01199-9
PMCID: PMC11336155
PMID: 38761286
Abstract
The mechanical properties of skin change during aging but the relationships between structure and mechanical function remain poorly understood. Previous work has shown that young skin exhibits a substantial decrease in tissue volume, a large macro-scale Poisson's ratio, and an increase in micro-scale collagen fiber alignment during mechanical stretch. In this study, label-free multiphoton microscopy was used to quantify how the microstructure and fiber kinematics of aged mouse skin affect its mechanical function. In an unloaded state, aged skin was found to have less collagen alignment and more non-enzymatic collagen fiber crosslinks. Skin samples were then loaded in uniaxial tension and aged skin exhibited a lower mechanical stiffness compared to young skin. Aged tissue also demonstrated less volume reduction and a lower macro-scale Poisson's ratio at 10% uniaxial strain, but not at 20% strain. The magnitude of 3D fiber realignment in the direction of loading was not different between age groups, and the amount of realignment in young and aged skin was less than expected based on theoretical fiber kinematics affine to the local deformation. These findings provide key insights on how the collagen fiber microstructure changes with age, and how those changes affect the mechanical function of skin, findings which may help guide wound healing or anti-aging treatments.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Quantification of age-related changes in the structure and mechanical function of skin with multiscale imaging
- Creators
- Alan E Woessner - University of Arkansas at FayettevilleNathan J Witt - University of IowaJake D Jones - University of Arkansas at FayettevilleEdward A Sander - University of IowaKyle P Quinn - University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- GeroScience, Vol.46(5), pp.4869-4882
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11357-024-01199-9
- PMID
- 38761286
- PMCID
- PMC11336155
- NLM abbreviation
- Geroscience
- eISSN
- 2509-2723
- Grant note
- R00EB017723 / NIBIB NIH HHS 1846853 / National Science Foundation R01EB031032 / NIBIB NIH HHS R01AG056560 / NIA NIH HHS P20GM139768 / NIGMS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 05/18/2024
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984628051002771
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