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Acta Physiologica 2010; Volume 200, Supplement 681
Abstracts of the 61st National Congress of the Italian Physiological Society
9/15/2010-9/17/2010
Varese, Italy
AGE-RELATED EFFECTS ON APOPTOSIS AND DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN SATELLITE CELLS
Abstract number: O12
MANCINELLI1 R, SANCILIO2 S, DI FILIPPO1 ES, DI PIETRO2 R, PIETRANGELO1 T, FULLE1 S
1Neuroscience and Imaging Dept, Ce.S.I. Center for Research on Ageing, IIM Institute Interuniversitary of Myology, G. dAnnunzio Univ., Chieti-Pescara, Italy
2Biomorphology Dept, G. dAnnunzio Univ., Chieti-Pescara, Italy
Human satellite cells (SC) are small mononuclear stem cells, quiescent in undamaged skeletal muscle, but in response to muscle damage are activated to proliferate as skeletal myoblasts and to fuse in myotubes(1). During the ageing process SC display a reduced capability to undergo the differentiation process, probably due to increase of oxidative damage and decrease of scavenger activity(2). This evidence was confirmed with microarrays analysis showing an age-related altered expression of some genes involved in antioxidant and repair activity (Polimerase K, SHC1 and FOXO1A)(3). We hypothesized that apoptosis may be one of the possible mechanism responsible for the impaired differentiation ability of these SC in the elderly population. Cells were obtained from Vastus Lateralis of 9 young (27.3+2.0 years old) and 9 old (71.1±1.8 years old) subjects and cultured in complete or serum-free medium to be collected at 4-24-48 and 72 h. Apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V/PI staining revealing a time-dependent and significantly higher percentage of apoptotic SC from elderly. Further RT-PCR analysis performed using TaqMan Low Density Array demonstrated an alteration of differentiation and apoptotic processes. These results suggest that ageing impairs the SC response to differentiation due to also increased susceptibility to apoptosis.
1. Fulle Exp Gerontol 2005, 40:189
2. Beccafico Ann N Y Acad Sci 2007, 1100:345
3. Pietrangelo Exp Gerontol 2009, 44(8):523
To cite this abstract, please use the following information:
Acta Physiologica 2010; Volume 200, Supplement 681 :O12