Analysis of the age-related composition of human skin collagen and collagens synthesized by fibroblast culture

Age-related differences in the composition and the post-translational modifications of human skin collagens were examined in the present study. The data were compared with results of collagen synthesis from in vivo-aged fibroblasts in culture. Skin extracts and newly synthesized collagen from fibroblast cultures derived from both old and young donor groups showed the same ratio of collagen III to collagen I. Furthermore, no difference was noted in the degree of prolyl and lysyl hydroxylation of collagen I and collagen III. Young and old fibroblasts synthesized a similar quantity of collagen in vitro. The data suggest that fibroblasts maintain a uniform level of collagen production, composition and modification independent of the age of the donor.