Age-related changes in mast cells and eosinophils of human dermis

In this study, quantitative analysis of inflammatory effectors—mast cells and eosinophils—in derma of people of different ages is performed. The study shows that mast cell quantity in derma increases with age. Eosinophils are rarely observed in human dermis. There are no age-correlated changes of dermal eosinophils quantity observed. Age-correlated dermal fibroblast quantity is established. PCNA+ (proliferating cells nuclear antigen) fibroblast percentage demonstrating their proliferative pool also reliably decreases with age. Results of correlation analysis show that age-correlated increase in mast cells’ quantity is reliably (p < 0.05) correlated with decrease in total number and percentage of PCNA+ fibroblasts in derma. Consequently, age-correlated increase in dermal mast cell may be proposed to be one of the inflammatory and aging mechanisms. Mast cells, whose number increases with aging, may influence dermal fibroblast number with aging.