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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Serum factors in older individuals change cellular clock properties
Lucia Pagani1, Karen Schmitt, Fides Meier
1Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Psychiatric University Clinics, University of Basel, CH-4012 Basel, Switzerland.
Summary
Human aging alters sleep patterns, but peripheral cell clocks remain unchanged. A circulating factor in older individuals
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Aging significantly impacts human sleep-wake behavior, including phase shifts and disrupted sleep consolidation.
- Circadian rhythms, controlled by the brain, are driven by cell-autonomous clocks present in most body cells.
- Peripheral clock properties in cells like fibroblasts mirror physiological and behavioral rhythms in individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which aging affects human circadian clocks.
- To compare circadian clock properties in fibroblasts from young and older human subjects.
- To identify potential factors contributing to age-related circadian dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Cultured fibroblasts from dermal biopsies of young and older human donors.
- Characterized fibroblast period length, amplitude, and phase.
- Assessed the effect of human serum from young and older donors on cellular circadian rhythms.
Main Results:
- Fibroblast period, amplitude, and phase were similar between young and older subjects, indicating stable peripheral clock properties with age.
- Serum from older donors shortened period length and advanced phase of cellular circadian rhythms compared to serum from younger donors.
- This effect was attributed to a thermolabile factor present in the serum of older individuals.
Conclusions:
- Basic molecular clock properties in peripheral cells do not change with aging.
- Age-related circadian dysfunction observed in vivo may stem from circulating factors, potentially hormonal.
- These findings suggest that age-related circadian disruptions might be pharmacologically treatable.
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