Project

Elucidating the Mechanisms of Skin Stem Cell Aging

Summary

Aging is a gradual decline in physiological functions over a course of time. It still remains largely unknown what are the crucial drivers for aging at cellular and molecular levels. A theory of “stem cell aging” suggests that aging is caused by misregulation or dysfunction of stem cells in aged tissues.

 

The evaluation of an individual’s aging currently relies on visual examination and statistical data, and treatment criteria for aging that reflect organ function have not been established. Our research aims to understand the cellular and molecular basis of stem cell aging in skin, with implications for future treatments of age-related disorders including cancer.

 

A cell surface is modified with carbohydrates, called glycans, which play important roles in various physiological and pathological conditions. Differences in glycans are widely employed as biomarkers of blood type, tumorigenesis and stem cell quality etc.

 

In this research, we combine our knowledge and tools in stem cell biology (See Nat Cell Biol 2016, University of Tsukuba press release) with glycan profiling technology, in order to identify a potential biomarker of aging along with its functional implications. Using comprehensive glycome analysis of skin stem cells, we found that aged stem cells showed dramatic alterations in their cell surface glycans. We will study the biological significance as well as regulatory mechanisms of glycosylation occurring in the aged stem cells, by identifying target proteins that alter glycosylation with age and analyzing mice that lack the enzymes responsible for glycosylation.

 

The glycan alterations in stem cells may serve as a new molecular marker for aging, and further functional studies will lead to a better understanding and potential interventions of skin aging. In future, our research will lead to the establishment of new therapeutic strategies, drug discovery targets and diagnostic markers targeting aged stem cells, which we expect to be of ground-breaking significance in both basic science and applications.

 

*University of Tsukuba (press release)
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/attention-research/p201606170000.html

Company

Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics

Main member