Characterization of aged rat vocal fold fibroblasts.

Objectives/hypothesis: To elucidate the aging physiology of the vocal folds, we examined the characters of aged vocal fold fibroblasts (VFFs) in various conditions.
Study Design: In vitro study.
Methods: VFFs from young (12-week-old) and aged (19-month-old) Sprague-Dawley rats were compared. Proliferative capacity, ratio of myofibroblast to fibroblast, myofibroblast function, and extracellular matrix production were examined in the following conditions: naïve, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) supplemented, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) supplemented.
Results: Aged VFFs demonstrated reduced proliferation by cell counting, though the ratio of Ki-67-positive cells showed no difference. Aged VFFs exhibited an increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA); however, they demonstrated no enhanced contractile ability in a gel contraction assay. Type I collagen protein was increased age dependently, accompanied with decreased Mmp1 and unchanged Col1a1 transcription. Type I collagen protein and α-SMA represented quite similar reduction patterns to bFGF or HGF administration.
Conclusions: The following possible characteristics of aged VFFs were implied: long duration of mitosis, increased myofibroblast population size with certain dysfunctions, reduced type I collagen turnover, and correlation between α-SMA expression and type I collagen metabolism. Further investigations of these features will help to clarify presbyphonia's pathology and establish treatment strategies.
Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 129:E94-E101, 2019.
(© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)