The Accelerated Aging Skin in Rhino-Like SHJHhr Mice

The research article discusses the SHJHhr mice line, which is a rhino-like mice with a Hairless (Hr) mutant. These mice show characteristics of shedding hair and wrinkled skin as they age. Through histological analysis and aging indexes detection, it was found that SHJHhr mice have thicker skin with degraded hair follicles and dermal cysts, disorganized collagen fibers, and a decreased level of Hyp. Aging markers p16 and p21 are significantly higher in SHJHhr mouse skin than ICR mouse skin of the same age. The data also shows a higher oxidative stress in SHJHhr mouse skin, and the levels of Nrf2 and its targets are significantly downregulated. This suggests that SHJHhr mice have faster aging skin due to poor antioxidative protection. The study concludes that the Hr gene plays a role in skin aging.