Skin structures may hold keys to regeneration and age reversal, scientists say

Researchers report that rete ridges form after birth and that a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway helps build these structures; the team used pig skin as a model.

Researchers report findings about how tiny, hidden structures in skin help tissue hold together and regenerate. The work, led by Washington State University's Ryan Driskell and published in Nature, focuses on rete ridges, the ridged junction between the epidermis and dermis. The team found that rete ridges form after birth and used pig skin as a laboratory model because pig ridges resemble human ones. They identified a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway that guides formation of these structures and noted BMP activity declines with age. Key findings: - Rete ridges form postnatally rather than during embryonic development, as previously assumed. - Pig skin was used as a model because pigs have rete ridges similar to human skin and an inverse relationship between hair follicles and ridges. - Genetic mapping pointed to a BMP-driven molecular pathway that helps cells organize into rete ridges. - BMP activity tapers with age, and temporarily reactivating such pathways is reported as a possible route to restore youthful tissue or improve scar healing. - The work can inform more accurate skin organoids and laboratory models for further study. Summary: This study maps a BMP-related pathway and establishes pig skin as a closer laboratory model for human rete ridges. The findings lay a molecular foundation for further research into tissue regeneration, scar repair and lab-grown skin, and timelines or clinical applications remain undetermined at this time.