Correlation between ageing and collagen gel contractility of human fibroblasts

To investigate the influence of ageing on wound healing, we cultured fibroblasts derived from human dermis in type I collagen gel, and evaluated the relationship between gel contractility and ageing. Cells were obtained from children (0-15 years old, Group A), early adulthood (16-40 years old, Group B), mid-adulthood (41-60 years old, Group C), and the elderly (61 or older, Group D). Gel contractility was determined by measuring the diameter on the second day after gel preparation. Within the tenth passage, gel contraction was the most marked in Group A, but did not differ among the other groups. Gel contraction at passages 30-40 did not differ from those within the tenth passage in Groups B, C and D, but it decreased markedly in Group A to a value similar to that in the other groups. These results show that fibroblasts in childhood are more contractile than those in adulthood and are more readily affected by passages (in vitro ageing).