Bioenergetic characterization of epidermal and dermal white adipose tissue progenitors in calorically-restricted mice: dissecting the role of mitochondrial metabolism in stem cell commitment and terminal differentiation

• Grant number: 16/22298-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: January 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Alicia Juliana Kowaltowski
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Pereira de Araújo Demonte Forni
• Supervisor: Valerie Horsley
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Yale University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 15/25776-7 - Mitochondrial Partitioning in Mammalian Cells., BP.PD

Abstract

Understanding how mitochondrial metabolism impacts stem cell fate and homeostasis is a new field with promising results for both basic biology and cell therapy. In previous work, we described significant phenotypical alterations in the skin of calorically-restricted mice, especially in the epidermal and dermal adipose tissue, highly dynamic tissues maintained by stem cell pools. These alterations maybe related to alterations in mitochondrial metabolism and morphology, since we recently demonstrated that these bioenergetic changes are essential for progenitor commitment to differentiation. Nonetheless, the coordinated mechanisms through which caloric restriction impacts both adipocytes and epidermal precursors are widely unknown. In this project, we intend to evaluate the role of mitochondria and associated metabolism in the physiological coordination of the effects of calorie restriction in both the epidermal stem cell and dermal adipocyte compartments, in order to clarify the timely coordinated phenotypic alterations previously observed by our group in the skin of calorically restricted mice. This would lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which caloric restriction increases healthspan by impacting stemness. This would also deeply impact on the knowledge of skin tissue homeostasis and stem cell biology, with potential future translations for wound healing and cell therapy.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ASSIS-RIBAS, THAIS; FORNI, MARIA FERNANDA; BROCHADO WINNISCHOFER, SHEILA MARIA; SOGAYAR, MARI CLEIDE; TROMBETTA-LIMA, MARINA. Extracellular matrix dynamics during mesenchymal stem cells differentiation. Developmental Biology, v. 437, n. 2, p. 63-74, MAY 15 2018. (15/26328-8, 16/05311-2, 16/22298-0, 16/18277-7, 15/25776-7)