Exploring the Role of Fibroblast Heterogeneity from Different Skin Types in Epidermal Regeneration In Vitro

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Cell Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Dermal fibroblasts are vital for skin regeneration and homeostasis.
• Fibroblast heterogeneity, particularly in skin of color, may influence in vitro skin models.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the functional differences of human adult fibroblasts from diverse skin types in epidermal morphogenesis in vitro.
• To compare autologous and mixed skin models using fibroblasts and keratinocytes from African-descent and European-descent donors.
• To elucidate how fibroblast origin impacts dermal-epidermal interactions and skin model phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Reconstruction of skin in vitro using primary papillary dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes from donors of African-descent and European-descent.
• Generation of autologous (same donor) and mixed (cross-donor) skin models.
• Analysis of collagen expression at the dermal-epidermal junction and assessment of epidermal morphogenesis and keratinocyte behavior.

Main Results:

• Papillary fibroblasts from African-descent donors exhibited reduced expression of type IV and VII collagens at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ).
• European-descent fibroblasts promoted keratinocyte differentiation in vitro.
• African-descent fibroblasts preferentially maintained basal keratinocyte proliferation in vitro.

Conclusions:

• The origin of fibroblasts significantly influences the phenotype and behavior of in vitro skin models.
• Fibroblast-keratinocyte interactions differ based on skin type, affecting epidermal regeneration and homeostasis.
• This study provides critical insights into the heterogeneity of the superficial dermal layer and its implications for cutaneous physiology across different skin types.