Study of barrier dysfunctions of the skin and changes in the microstructure of skin tissues with age

Abstract

Background: The cell populations that perform barrier-protective functions in the skin are keratinocytes, Langerhans cells, histiocytes, lymphocytes, tissue basophils, leukocytes, melanocytes, Merkel cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells of blood and lymphatic vessels. The study of the histological characteristics of chronological aging of the epidermis and how the cellular mechanisms of its barrier-protective function change with age has always been one of the most pressing problems in dermatology. Materials and methods: A 1x1.5 cm sample was taken from the skin of the front of the neck from 30 people aged 20 to 69 years who died from injuries, a parafÏn blocks were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin according to the standard technique. The thickness, area, and perimeter of the epidermis layers in the skin preparation were determined an area of 100 μm2, and the number of cells per unit area and linear measurements were also performed (Leica computer microscope, DISKUS 3.2 Version, Germany). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using three types of antibodies: PCK, HMB45 and CK20. Results: The thickness of the epidermis is 295.90307.52 µm in the age groups 20-39 years old and 187.58-210.30 µm in the age groups 50-69 years old, and this is statistically different (p=0.0001). The epidermis area was 508191–572040 µm at the age of 30-49 years and decreased in subsequent age groups (P=0.05). Merkel cells 1-2, melanocytes 3-4 were counted per unit area of the skin tissue preparation, and they did not differ between age groups. However, the number of Langerhans cells and keratinocytes decreases with age (P=0.05-0.001). Conclusion: The thickness of the epidermis has become thinner with age, and the area and perimeter decrease. The number of Merkel cells, melanocytes and was the same in all age groups, but the number of Langerhans and keratinocytes decreased with age.