Aging has been regarded as a biological process resulting from the accumulation of stressed or damaged cells, so-called senescent cells. However, interestingly, we found that the number of fully senescent cells was not increased significantly in normal tissues of the elderly compared to the young individual. Instead, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells which are neither proliferative nor fully senescent, were commonly observed in the elderly’s tissue; we called them‘mid-old' status cells. The characteristics of mid-old cells are upregulation of inflammation-related genes and downregulation of anti-inflammation related genes. Furthermore, we revealed mid-old cells develops an inflammatory microenvironment in the stroma via upregulation of MMP9 expression which decreases the stability of epithelial cells lying on the basement membrane, resulting in decrease of epithelial cell’s function. Strikingly, the microenvironmental change and the functional decline of mid-old cells can be rejuvenated by a young cell-originated protein. In sum, our data provided a new concept about rejuvenation; it can be achieved by the functional reverse of mid-old cells rather than the elimination of senescent cells themselves.

Authors:
Tae Jun Park, Ajou University, South Korea
Hong Seok Kim, Inha University, South Korea
Young Hwa Kim, Ajou University, South Korea
Young-Kyoung Lee, Ajou University, South Korea

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Tae Jun Park is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Ajou University in South Korea

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