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Related Concept Videos

The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

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Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
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Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

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The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
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Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption01:22

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

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As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
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Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells01:12

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The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular...
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Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

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Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
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Cells of the Epidermis01:24

Cells of the Epidermis

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The epidermis is made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body. From deep to superficial, these layers are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin
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Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin

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Skin barrier immunity and ageing.

Emma S Chambers1, Milica Vukmanovic-Stejic1

  • 1Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.

Immunology
|November 12, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Skin aging weakens immune defenses, increasing susceptibility to infections and cancer. Structural and immune cell changes in aging skin compromise its protective barrier functions.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • The skin serves as a vital barrier against pathogens and environmental stressors, maintaining homeostasis through structural and cellular components.
  • Structural cells (keratinocytes, fibroblasts, adipocytes) and resident immune cells (Langerhans cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, memory T cells) are crucial for skin immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the contributions of structural and immune cells to skin barrier immunity.
  • To examine age-related alterations in skin structure and immune composition.
  • To explain the increased susceptibility to cancer and infections in the elderly due to diminished skin immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on skin structure, cellular composition, and immune function.
Keywords:
ageingimmunosenescenceskintissue resident

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  • Analysis of age-related changes in skin histology and immunology.
  • Correlation of age-induced skin alterations with increased disease incidence.

    • Main Results:

    • Aging leads to epidermal and dermal thinning, reduced water retention, and collagen/elastin degradation.
    • Immune composition changes with aging, including fewer Langerhans cells and reduced antigen-specific immunity.
    • Increased populations of regulatory T cells (Foxp3+) are observed in aged skin.

    Conclusions:

    • Age-related structural and immunological changes compromise the skin's barrier function.
    • These alterations contribute to the increased incidence of skin cancer and infections in older individuals.
    • Understanding these changes is key to addressing age-related skin vulnerabilities.