A research group led by Ayaka Oashi, a doctoral student at Okayama University, has revealed through research on the skin of axolotls that the main source of skin collagen, which was previously thought to be produced only by fibroblasts, is actually epidermal cells (keratinocytes).
Previous research into collagen in the skin has focused entirely on dermal fibroblasts, based solely on the fact that fibroblasts have the ability to produce collagen, and huge amounts of research funding have been invested in this area. However, because mammalian skin is opaque, very little research has been done into how cells actually weave collagen fibers in the skin.
In 2022, the research group succeeded in identifying the "fibroblasts" responsible for collagen production (named Orihime cells) using axolotls, which have highly transparent skin. However, the process by which skin collagen is constructed was unknown, so this time the research focused on the development and generation process.
As a result, it was revealed that epidermal cells (keratinocytes) have reasonable characteristics as a source of dermal collagen, and are actually the collagen supplier that supplies collagen to the dermis. It was also found that fibroblasts produce collagen, but also play a role in reinforcing and repairing the collagen fibers produced by keratinocytes. It was also confirmed that there is a high possibility that epidermal cells produce collagen in the same way in fish, chickens, and mice.
Until now, the target for almost all collagen-related product and clothing development has been fibroblasts. However, this research has shown that keratinocytes are the true collagen-producing cells. This will have a major impact on many research and development efforts, encouraging them to reconsider their targets.
Paper information:[Nature Communications] Keratinocyte-driven dermal collagen formation in the axolotl skin
