Extracellular matrix modulating effects of amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells on aging skin wounds in α-Klotho...

Wounds in the elderly are frequently recalcitrant and chronic as a result of the effects of skin aging and associated complications. The objective of this study is to utilize an α-Klotho knockout (KO) mice wound model to assess the capacity of amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) to facilitate wound healing in aging skin.

AMSCs were applied topically to the wound after extraction and gelatinization of the conditioned medium (CM). Animal experiments were performed with two distinct mouse strains: α-Klotho KO mice and wild-type mice. Full-thickness skin defect models with a diameter of 8 mm were created by incising the skin on the left and right sides of the dorsum. On day 8 after wound creation, the mice were sacrificed, and wound tissue was collected for analysis through histological and immunohistochemical evaluations, as well as through quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

The topical application of CM gel to wounds of α-Klotho KO mice demonstrated that wound healing was significantly higher than that observed in control, reaching the wound closure rate of wild-type mice on day 8. Additionally, gene expression analysis of wound tissue indicated that AMSC-CM may regulate extracellular matrix formation and fibrosis. Moreover, histological analysis indicated that AMSC-CM may facilitate wound contraction of aging skin wounds of α-Klotho KO mice by inducing myofibroblast differentiation and promoting granulation and collagen formation, which are the primary components of the extracellular matrix.

AMSC-CM may facilitate wound healing in aging skin of α-Klotho KO mice by regulating the extracellular matrix. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 701-708.