The Journal of investigative dermatologySep 9, 2026

IgG Build-up with Aging May Increase Skin Inflammation

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Sep 10, 2026

Abstract

IgG accumulates in the dermis with age, promoting dermal inflammation and atrophy.

Chronic inflammation associated with aging, termed inflammaging, significantly affects skin health.
Accumulation of IgG in the skin correlates with increased inflammation and deterioration of skin structure.
Experimental introduction of IgG in young mice triggers the expression of chemokines, leading to immune cell infiltration.
Activated macrophages, stimulated by IgG, produce signals that suppress collagen production in skin cells.
IgG may play a key role in the interaction between immune cells and skin cells, contributing to the aging process.

Simplified

Aging skin is characterized by wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and impaired barrier function, largely driven by alterations in dermal fibroblasts and extracellular matrix remodeling. Chronic, age-related inflammation, called inflammaging, is a central activity underlying these changes. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) has recently been shown to accumulate in multiple organs with aging, where it activates macrophages to promote tissue inflammation. However, whether IgG contributes to skin aging remains unknown. Here, using mouse and human tissues we show that IgG accumulates in the dermis with age and promotes dermal inflammation and atrophy. Moreover, experimental IgG administration to young mice induced chemokine expression, facilitating infiltration of skin tissue by macrophages and T cells. These findings support a model whereby IgG activates macrophages to produce chemokines and interleukin-12, enhancing interferon-γ production by T cells and suppressing collagen synthesis in fibroblasts. These findings strongly suggest that IgG drives cutaneous skin inflammation and skin aging via crosstalk between immune cells and fibroblasts, and that targeting IgG accumulation or downstream signaling may delay skin aging and extend tissue healthspan.

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IgG Build-up with Aging May Increase Skin Inflammation

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