Biology subjects

Rodriguez-Paredes, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Rodriguez-Paredes, M..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2019

Single-cell transcriptomes of the aging human skin reveal loss of fibroblast priming

Fibroblasts are the main dermal cell type and are essential for the architecture and function of human skin. Important differences have been described between fibroblasts localized in distinct dermal layers, and these cells are also known to perform varied functions. However, this phenomenon has not been analyzed comprehensively yet. Here we have used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze >15,000 cells from a sun-protected area in young and old donors. Our results define four main fibroblast subpopulations that can be spatially localized and functionally distinguished. Importantly, intrinsic aging reduces this fibroblast priming, generates distinct expression patterns of skin aging-associated genes, and substantially reduces the interactions of dermal fibroblasts with other skin cell types. Our work thus provides comprehensive evidence for a functional specialization of human dermal fibroblasts and suggests that the age-related loss of fibroblast priming contributes to human skin aging.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Epigenetic deregulation of lamina-associated domains in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is a progeroid disease characterized by the early onset of some classically age-related phenotypes including arthritis, loss of body fat and hair and atherosclerosis. Cells from affected individuals express a mutant version of the nuclear envelope protein Lamin A (termed Progerin) and have previously been shown to exhibit prominent chromatin changes. Here, we identify epigenetic deregulation of lamina-associated domains (LADs) as a central feature in the molecular pathology of HGPS. Using ATAC-see/-seq and Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip-mediated DNA methylation profiling, we demonstrate that dermal fibroblasts from HGPS patients exhibit both chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation changes that are enriched in LADs. Importantly, we further show that these epigenetic alterations are associated with HGPS-specific gene expression changes. Together, our results establish a central involvement of LADs in the epigenetic deregulation of HGPS and provide novel insight into the molecular changes associated with the disease.

cell biology↗