Grant: Catalyst Grant: Pilot Projects in Aging

A hot topic in the field of scientific research today is the issue of tissue regeneration-the concept of repairing damaged tissues to restore their integrity. The basic building blocks that are responsible for the regeneration of tissues are stem cells. However as we age, so do our stem cells. Aged stem cells do not have the same regenerative potential and eventually they are unable to keep up with the demands of tissue regeneration. An excellent model system to study the aging of stem cells is the skin. Normally skin undergoes a well-orchestrated differentiation process to maintain barrier function. Genetically programmed aging causes biochemical changes in the skin causing a reduction in its firmness and elasticity. The genetic program for each person is different, so the loss of skin firmness and elasticity occurs at different rates and different times in one individual as compared with another. Another important component of the skin that is diminished with age is its barrier function-causing the skin to become more permeable and susceptible to chemicals, UV light and dehydration. This aging of the skin can be attributed to chronological age or photoaging (exposure to environmental stresses such as chemicals and UV light). Despite the fact that we are aware of aging stem cells and the problem that they pose for tissue regeneration, we are rather in the dark about what molecular mechanism causes a stem cell to stay young and what genes are involved that make stem cells get old. Therefore, the global objective of the research described here is to investigate the role of genes affecting the aging of stem cells using the skin as a model.