Segregation of age-related skin microbiome characteristics by functionality

Hye-Jin Kim,Susun An,Woo Jun Sul,Hanbyul Kim,Jin Ju Kim,Ilyoung Kwack,Dooa Kim,Taeyune Kim,Taehun Park,Nu Ri Myeong,Sue Im Jang,Jae Ho Yeon

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-53266-3

Hye-Jin Kim, Susun An + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53266-3

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Abstract

Although physiological changes are the most evident indicators of skin aging by alteration of the skin’s structure and function, we question whether skin aging is also affected by the structure and assembly process of the skin microbiome. We analysed the skin microbiomes of 73 healthy Chinese women in two age groups (25–35 years old and 56–63 years old) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing; the overall microbiome structure was significantly different between the two age groups. An analysis using ecological theory to evaluate the process of microbial community assembly processes revealed that the microbiomes of the older group were formed under a greater influence of the niche-based process, with the network of microbes being more collapsed than that of the younger group. Inferred metagenomic functional pathways associated with replication and repair were relatively more predominant in the younger group whereas, among the various metabolism-related pathways, those associated with biodegradation were more predominant in the older group. Interestingly, we found two segregated sub-typing patterns in the younger group which were also observed in the skin microbiomes of young Chinese women living in four other cities in China. The results of our study highlights candidate microbes and functional pathways that are important for future research into preventing skin aging and which could lead to a comprehensive understanding of age-related skin microbiome characteristics.

Highlights

Physiological changes are the most evident indicators of skin aging by alteration of the skin’s structure and function, we question whether skin aging is affected by the structure and assembly process of the skin microbiome
We investigated the age-related characteristics of the microbial community and functional pathways of the skin microbiomes of healthy Chinese women in two age groups to assess whether the microbiome plays a key role in the mechanisms of skin aging
Shibagaki et al.[17] reported that the skin microbiome was different between a group aged 21–37 years old and one aged 60–76 years old. They suggested that microbial changes in adult skin were largely influenced by the chronological and physiological skin aging associated with oral bacteria

Summary

Introduction

Physiological changes are the most evident indicators of skin aging by alteration of the skin’s structure and function, we question whether skin aging is affected by the structure and assembly process of the skin microbiome. Recent studies have suggested that aside from the gastrointestinal tract, skin harbours the most microbes in the human body[8,9] This implies that the composition of the skin microbiota can influence an individual’s skin health and condition. We investigated the age-related characteristics of the microbial community and functional pathways of the skin microbiomes of healthy Chinese women in two age groups (younger women aged 25–35 years old and older women aged 56–63 years old) to assess whether the microbiome plays a key role in the mechanisms of skin aging. Our objective was to examine differences in the microbial distribution of the skin microbiomes and their functional pathways between younger and older women living in the same area to determine the relationship between the skin microbiome and age

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Conclusion