Nuclear envelope defects cause stem cell dysfunction in premature-aging mice.

ABSTRACT: Nuclear lamina alterations occur in physiological aging and in premature aging syndromes. Because aging is also associated with abnormal stem cell homeostasis, we hypothesize that nuclear envelope alterations could have an important impact on stem cell compartments. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined the number and functional competence of stem cells in Zmpste24-null progeroid mice, which exhibit nuclear lamina defects. We show that Zmpste24 deficiency causes an alteration in the number and proliferative capacity of epidermal stem cells. These changes are associated with an aberrant nuclear architecture of bulge cells and an increase in apoptosis of their supporting cells in the hair bulb region. These alterations are rescued in Zmpste24(-/-)Lmna(+/-) mutant mice, which do not manife

SUBMITTER: Espada J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2287278 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature