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Age-dependent energy metabolism and transcriptome changes in urine-derived stem cells
Elisabete Ferreiro1, Mariana Monteiro2, Francisco Pereira3
1CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, UC Biotech, Cantanhede, Portugal; Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal.
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|January 24, 2024
Summary
Elderly women
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Regenerative Medicine
- Cellular Bioenergetics
- Non-invasive Biomarkers
Background:
- The global population aged over 60 is rapidly increasing, necessitating research into healthy aging and age-related disorders.
- Non-invasive methods for assessing age-related changes are crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Urine-derived stem cells (UDSCs) present a promising, easily accessible cell source for aging research, but their bioenergetic profiles across different age groups remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bioenergetic characteristics and transcriptional profiles of urine-derived stem cells (UDSCs) from young and elderly women.
- To determine if UDSCs can serve as a non-invasive model for studying age-related cellular changes.
- To identify potential age-related biomarkers within UDSCs.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and culture of UDSCs from young (22-35 years) and elderly (70-94 years) adult women.
- Assessment of cellular bioenergetics using oxygen consumption rate (OCR) to determine maximal oxygen consumption and bioenergetic health index.
- RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to analyze age-related transcriptional differences in UDSCs.
- Application of exploratory data analysis for feature selection and UDSC classification.
Main Results:
- UDSCs from elderly women exhibited significantly higher maximal oxygen consumption and bioenergetic health index compared to those from younger women.
- Transcriptional analysis revealed a downregulation of genes involved in glucuronidation and estrogen metabolism, alongside an upregulation of inflammation-related genes in UDSCs from elderly donors.
- Unexpectedly, improved cellular bioenergetics in elderly UDSCs coincided with an aged-like transcriptome signature.
Conclusions:
- UDSCs display distinct bioenergetic and transcriptomic profiles that differ between young and elderly individuals.
- Elderly UDSCs show enhanced bioenergetic capacity but possess an aged transcriptome, suggesting complex age-related adaptations.
- UDSCs provide a valuable non-invasive model for advancing aging research and exploring potential therapeutic strategies for age-related conditions.
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