Adult Sox2+ stem cell exhaustion in mice results in cellular senescence and premature aging |
| |
| Authors: | Jéssica M. Vilas Carmen Carneiro Sabela Da Silva‐Álvarez Alba Ferreirós Patricia González María Gómez Sagrario Ortega Manuel Serrano Tomás García‐Caballero Miguel González‐Barcia Anxo Vidal Manuel Collado |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratorio de Células Madre en Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Xerencia de Xestión Integrada de Santiago (XXIS/SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain;2. Departamento de Fisioloxía and Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular (CIMUS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain;3. Histopathology Core Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain;4. Trasgenic Mice Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain;5. Tumor Suppression Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain;6. Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain;7. Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain;8. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, USC, Xerencia de Xestión Integrada de Santiago (XXIS/SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain;9. Servicio de Farmacia, Xerencia de Xestión Integrada de Santiago (XXIS/SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain |
| |
| Abstract: | Aging is characterized by a gradual functional decline of tissues with age. Adult stem and progenitor cells are responsible for tissue maintenance, repair, and regeneration, but during aging, this population of cells is decreased or its activity is reduced, compromising tissue integrity and causing pathologies that increase vulnerability, and ultimately lead to death. The causes of stem cell exhaustion during aging are not clear, and whether a reduction in stem cell function is a cause or a consequence of aging remains unresolved. Here, we took advantage of a mouse model of induced adult Sox2+ stem cell depletion to address whether accelerated stem cell depletion can promote premature aging. After a short period of partial repetitive depletion of this adult stem cell population in mice, we observed increased kyphosis and hair graying, and reduced fat mass, all of them signs of premature aging. It is interesting that cellular senescence was identified in kidney after this partial repetitive Sox2+ cell depletion. To confirm these observations, we performed a prolonged protocol of partial repetitive depletion of Sox2+ cells, forcing regeneration from the remaining Sox2+ cells, thereby causing their exhaustion. Senescence specific staining and the analysis of the expression of genetic markers clearly corroborated that adult stem cell exhaustion can lead to cellular senescence induction and premature aging. |
| |
| Keywords: | Sox2 aging adult stem cells stem cell exhaustion |
|
|
