Age-dependent Increase of Cytoskeletal Components in Sensory Axons in Human Skin

Overview

Journal Front Cell Dev Biol

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2022 Nov 17

PMID 36393849

Authors

Klara Metzner

Omar Darawsha

Mengzhe Wang

Nayana Gaur

Yiming Cheng

Annekathrin Rodiger

Christiane Frahm

Otto W Witte

Fabiana Perocchi

Hubertus Axer

Julian Grosskreutz

Monika S Brill

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aging is a complex process characterized by several molecular and cellular imbalances. The composition and stability of the neuronal cytoskeleton is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis, especially in long neurites. Using human skin biopsies containing sensory axons from a cohort of healthy individuals, we investigate alterations in cytoskeletal content and sensory axon caliber during aging quantitative immunostainings. Cytoskeletal components show an increase with aging in both sexes, while elevation in axon diameter is only evident in males. Transcriptomic data from aging males illustrate various patterns in gene expression during aging. Together, the data suggest gender-specific changes during aging in peripheral sensory axons, possibly influencing cytoskeletal functionality and axonal caliber. These changes may cumulatively increase susceptibility of aged individuals to neurodegenerative diseases.

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