A team of researchers has successfully recreated the structure of wrinkles found in biological tissues in a lab setting, providing insights into how these wrinkles form.
A group of researchers made up of Professor Dong Sung Kim, Professor Anna Lee, and Dr. Jaeseung Youn from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at POSTECH has managed to reproduce the wrinkle structures seen in biological tissues in vitro, revealing the mechanisms that lead to their formation. Their results were published on August 19 in the esteemed journal Nature Communications.
While many people think of wrinkles as a sign of aging skin, various organs and tissues like the brain, stomach, and intestines also exhibit specific wrinkle patterns. These patterns are essential for regulating how cells behave and develop, which in turn supports the overall functions of each organ. Grasping how biological tissues create folds and wrinkles is important for appreciating the complexities of living organisms, extending beyond just cosmetic concerns. This understanding could play a pivotal role in advancing research in areas such as skin aging, regenerative medicine, and embryonic development.
Even though the study of biological wrinkles is important, much of the existing research has used animal models like fruit flies, mice, and chickens, mainly because replicating wrinkle formation in a lab environment has proven challenging. Consequently, the intricate processes involved in wrinkle formation in living tissues have largely remained a mystery.
To overcome this challenge, Professor Dong Sung Kim’s team created an epithelial tissue model completely made from human epithelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). By using this model in conjunction with a device that applies exact compressive forces, they succeeded in recreating and observing wrinkle patterns in vitro that are usually found in the gut, skin, and other tissues in vivo. This milestone enabled them to replicate for the first time both the complex deformation of a deep wrinkle generated by strong compressive forces and the creation of numerous small wrinkles under lighter pressures.
The team’s research also revealed that factors like the porous nature of the underlying ECM, dehydration, and the amount of compressive force applied to the epithelial layer are vital to how wrinkles form. Their studies indicated that when compressive forces act on the epithelial cell layer, they induce mechanical instability in the ECM layer, leading to the development of wrinkles. Furthermore, they discovered that the drying out of the ECM layer is a crucial element in the wrinkle creation process. These findings closely resemble the changes observed in aging skin, where a lack of moisture in the underlying tissue contributes to the appearance of wrinkles, offering a mechanobiological framework for comprehending wrinkle formation.
Professor Dong Sung Kim emphasized the importance of their research, stating, “We have created a platform that can simulate various wrinkle structures found in living tissue without needing to use animal models.” He further mentioned, “This platform allows for real-time imaging and thorough observation of cellular and tissue-level wrinkle formation, which is challenging to achieve with traditional animal studies. It has extensive applications in sectors like embryology, biomedical engineering, and cosmetics, among others.”
The research received backing from the Mid-Career Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Alchemist Project from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
