ABSTRACT
In the literature, most reported differences between African and Caucasian skin properties concern pigmentation and barrier function of the stratum corneum and related photoprotective properties. However, little is known about differences in morphology and possibly related biological functions. In this study, we investigated: (i) architectural differences of Caucasian and African mammary skin biopsies using microscopy, (ii) comparative constitutive expression of cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and its inhibitors in papillary dermal fibroblast (pF) and reticular dermal fibroblast (rF) cultures in order to reveal biological features. (i) Neither epidermis thickness nor superficial dermis thickness was significantly different in African versus Caucasian subjects. However, the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) length in African skin was about threefold that in Caucasian skin. No differences were noticed as regards elastic and collagen fibre organization. (ii) In papillary fibroblast cultures, a significantly higher level of monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 (MCP-1) protein was found in cell cultures from African donors when compared with that from Caucasians. With regard to keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), the ratio of papillary to reticular fibroblast expression was found to be twofold greater in cell cultures from African donors compared with that from Caucasian donors. The same trend was found regarding MMP-1 and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase protein 1 (TIMP-1) protein expression. African skin displays a greater convolution of the DEJ and a higher papillary fibroblast activity. These findings reveal that differences between African and Caucasian skin do not only affect upper epidermis but also dermal functions and dermal-epidermal cellular interactions.