Modeling Aging in a Culture Dish: Towards the Development of More Sophisticated In Vitro Models of Human Skin Aging

March 2026 in “ Ageing Research Reviews ”

Stefania Briganti, Emanuela Camera, Jesús Ciriza, Estibaliz Fernandez Carro, MILICA JOVANOVIC KRIVOKUCA, Jérôme Lamartine, Sophia Letsiou, Mirjana Nacka-Aleksić, Carien M. Niessen, Nuria Oliva, Andrea Pirković, Markus Schosserer, Desmond J. Tobin, Maria Cavinato, John T. Connelly

in vitro models ex vivo models UV radiation pollutants 3D in vitro systems full-thickness human skin equivalents organoids skin aging aging biology therapeutic strategies preventive strategies age-related skin diseases 3D skin models skin organoids

TLDR Advanced lab models are needed to better study human skin aging and develop treatments.

The document discusses the decline in human skin functions with age, influenced by both intrinsic factors and extrinsic stressors like UV radiation and pollutants. It emphasizes the need for advanced in vitro and ex vivo models to study human-specific mechanisms of skin aging, given the limitations of animal models. The review highlights recent advancements in 3D in vitro systems, such as full-thickness human skin equivalents and organoids, which can better capture the complexities of skin aging. These models are crucial for understanding aging biology and developing new therapeutic and preventive strategies for age-related skin diseases.

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