P01 Remodelling of the dermoepidermal junction occurs in intrinsically aged Far East Asian skin without significant epidermal atrophy

Abstract

Abstract Introduction and aims Ageing is characterized by a gradual decline in physiological function and is influenced by both intrinsic genetic and extrinsic lifestyle and environmental factors. However, much of our knowledge of cutaneous ageing comes from the study of White populations. We have previously shown that the organization of young healthy skin is ethnicity-dependent and that altered epidermal morphology in White volunteers correlates with loss of biomechanical function in the skin. In this study, we used epidermal morphometry to determine whether parameters associated with intrinsic skin ageing in White skin are also observed in Far East Asian skin. Methods Archival skin samples were obtained from the Asian Skin Biobank [young (3–21 years), N = 38, 37 male samples (Chinese, n = 16; Malay, n = 16; other Far East, n = 6); aged (61–86 years), N = 7, one male sample (Chinese, n = 6; Malay, n = 1)] and stained with haematoxylin and eosin prior to image analysis for dermoepidermal junction (DEJ) convolution and measurement of epidermal thickness. Weigert’s resorcin-fuchsin stain was used to ensure samples were photoprotected. Results Weigert’s resorcin-fuchsin stain revealed that all samples were photoprotected, with no evidence of solar elastosis. We next compared whether geographic ancestry of our local Far East Asian population impacted epidermal morphology in young skin; neither DEJ convolution nor epidermal thickness were impacted by geographic ancestry. However, a significant flattening of the DEJ was observed between young and aged samples (P < 0.01). Interestingly, no significant difference in epidermal thickness was observed as a function of age. Conclusions While intrinsically aged Asian skin undergoes the same flattening of the DEJ that is seen in White populations, epidermal thickness does not significantly alter; this is in stark contrast to intrinsically aged White skin, where epidermal atrophy is observed. Hence, the trajectory of intrinsic cutaneous ageing may be ethnicity-dependent, providing further evidence that studies of skin from different ethnicities are necessary.