Increase in inhibin beta A/Activin-A expression in the human epidermis and the suppression of epidermal stem/progenitor cell proliferation with aging

Age-related thinning and reduced cell proliferation in the human epidermis are associated with the accumulation of senescent cells and decreases in the number and function of epidermal stem cells. This study examined the expression of INHBA/Activin-A in human epidermis and expression differences with age, and the effect of Activin-A on epidermal stem/progenitor cells. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze age-related changes in the expression of INHBA/Activin-A in the epidermal tissue of young and old subjects. Epidermal INHBA/Activin-A expression levels, epidermal morphology, and the number of epidermal stem/progenitor cells or proliferating cells were investigated using older abdominal skin samples. The effects of Activin-A on the development of a three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed epidermis and cell proliferation were also assessed. INHBA/Activin-A expression levels in the human epidermis increased with age, although they varied among individuals. In the epidermis of older abdominal skin samples, INHBA/Activin-A expression levels negatively correlated with epidermal thickness, the rete ridge depth and the interdigitation index. The proportion of epidermal stem/progenitor cells and proliferating cells decreased with increases in INHBA/Activin-A expression levels. Activin-A had no effect on the differentiation of keratinocytes in the 3D-reconstructed epidermis; however, thinning of the 3D epidermis was noted. Moreover, the addition of Activin-A inhibited the proliferation of epidermal stem/progenitor cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Age-related increased in INHBA/Activin-A expression levels were observed in the human epidermis, and may contribute to epidermal thinning and decreases in the number of epidermal stem/progenitor cells and proliferative activity. •The expression of INHBA/Activin-A in human epidermis increased with age.•Reduced epidermal stem/progenitor cells in human epidermis highly expressing INHBA.•Reduced proliferating cells in human epidermis highly expressing INHBA.•Activin-A suppresses the proliferation of epidermal stem/progenitor cells.