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Induction and Validation of Cellular Senescence in Primary Human Cells
Published on: June 20, 2018
Epidermal cell proliferation in calorie-restricted aging rats.
Tapan Kumar Bhattacharyya1, Paula Jackson, Minu Kumar Patel
1Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Eye & Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Il 60612, USA. tbhatt@uic.edu
Current Aging Science
|August 13, 2011
Summary
Calorie restriction (CR) in aging rats reduced epidermal cell proliferation and altered skin thickness. These findings suggest CR may inhibit cell growth, potentially impacting aging and cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Calorie restriction (CR) is known for beneficial health effects, including anti-cancer properties linked to reduced cell proliferation.
- Epidermal changes occur with aging, and the impact of CR on these changes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of CR on epidermal cell proliferation and thickness in aging Fischer 344 rats.
- To compare the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index with epidermal morphometrics in relation to age and diet.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect PCNA in the dorsal skin and footpad epidermis of ad libitum-fed (AL) and CR rats.
- Epidermal thickness was measured morphometrically.
- Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA to assess effects of age, diet, and their interaction.
Main Results:
- CR depressed dorsal skin epidermal thickness in younger rats.
- Epidermal thickness in the footpad showed a curvilinear trend, with lowest values in old rats, more pronounced in CR animals.
- PCNA index generally decreased with age, with lower values observed in CR groups, particularly in the footpad.
Conclusions:
- CR inhibits epidermal cell proliferation in aging rats, consistent with findings in other organs.
- Observed effects may be mediated by physiological or endocrine mechanisms influencing the epithelium.
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