[Quantification of type I and III collagen content in normal human skin in different age groups].
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the content of type I, III collagen and their ratio in normal human skin of different age, and to explore the regulation of changes.


METHODS
The normal human skin specimens were obtained from 6 spontaneously aborted fetus and 56 burn patients of different ages, including infants (newborn -3 years), pre-school group ( > 3, < or =7 years), adolescent group ( >7, < or = 18 years), youth and middle age group ( > 18, < or = 50 years), and elderly group ( > 50 years), were studied. The total collagen content were determined by hydroxyproline method. The contents of type I, Ill collagen and their ratio were examined by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The total collagen content decreased along with increase in age, and it was highest in fetus [(543 +/- 13) microg/g]. The ratio between type I and Ill collagen increased along with increase in age. The content of type III collagen was highest in fetus [(278 +/- 7) microg/g], and it decreased along with increase in age. The content of type I collagen content was [(265 +/- 7) microg/g] in fetus, and it was increased slightly in infant and pre-school groups, then decreased along with advance in age.


CONCLUSIONS
Decomposition of type III collagen in normal human skin may exceed its synthesis after birth immediately, leading to its reduction. Synthesis of type I collagen in normal human skin is dominant before 8 years old, and it shows an opposite tendency afterwards.
Department of Burns, JiShuiTan Hospital, Beijing 100035, PR China.
Yan-Hua
YH
Rong
Gun-An
GA
Zhang
Cheng
C
Wang
Fang-Gang
FG
Ning
D037881:Aborted Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III