Vasculature atrophy causes a stiffened microenvironment that augments epidermal stem cell differentiation in aged skin

Stem cell loss causes tissue deterioration associated with aging. The accumulation of genomic and oxidative stress-induced DNA damage is an intrinsic cue for stem cell loss(1,2); however, whether there is an external microenvironmental cue that triggers stem cell loss remains unclear. Here we report that the involution of skin vasculature causes dermal stiffening that augments the differentiation and hemidesmosome fragility of interfollicular epidermal stem cells (IFESCs) in aged mouse skin. Aging-related IFESC dysregulation occurs in plantar and tail skin, and is correlated with prolonged calcium influx, which is contributed by the mechanoresponsive ion channel Piezo1 (ref. (3)). Epidermal deletion of Piezo1 ameliorated IFESC dysregulation in aged skin, whereas Piezo1 activation augmented IFESC differentiation and hemidesmosome fragility in young mice. The dermis stiffened with age, which was accompanied by dermal vasculature atrophy. Conversely, induction of the dermal vasculature softened the dermis and ameliorated IFESC dysregulation in aged skin. Single-cell RNA sequencing of dermal fibroblasts identified an aging-associated anti-angiogenetic secretory molecule, pentraxin 3 (ref. (4)), which caused dermal sclerotization and IFESC dysregulation in aged skin. Our findings show that the vasculature softens the microenvironment for stem cell maintenance and provide a potential mechanobiology-based therapeutic strategy against skin disorders in aging.

Automated summary

Stem cell loss due to tissue deterioration associated with aging is a complex process involving genomic and oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. This study reveals that the involution of skin vasculature leads to dermal stiffening, which affects the differentiation and fragility of interfollicular epidermal stem cells (IFESCs) in aged mouse skin. The dysregulation of IFESCs in aged skin is correlated with prolonged calcium influx mediated by the mechanoresponsive ion channel Piezo1. The findings suggest that the vasculature plays a crucial role in maintaining the stem cell microenvironment and provide a potential mechanobiology-based therapeutic strategy against skin disorders in aging.