Research

Elucidating the Mechanisms of Age-Related Changes through Inter-tissue Interactions

Age-related changes in epidermal stem cells have been linked to internal cellular factors like DNA damage from oxidative stress. However, the influence of the aging environment surrounding these cells was not well understood. We focused on the stiffness of the underlying dermis and discovered a mechanism where age-related changes in this mechanical environment induce the aging of epidermal stem cells (Ichijo* et al., Nat Aging. 2022)（Fig1）.

We are currently expanding our research to focus on deeper tissues, aiming to uncover new mechanisms of age-related tissue changes.

Aging Research Focused on Inter-organ Interactions

Organs in our body constantly interact to maintain homeostasis, and the disruption of these interactions leads to age-related changes. Yet, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Our research explores the possibility that the skin plays a role in controlling other organs.

Developing New Animal Models for Aging Research

The biological world is incredibly diverse, with some fish species being short-lived while others are long-lived. For example, a group at Stanford University used a short-lived fish called the killifish to discover that lifespan can be extended through genetic modification. In mice, there are long-lived animals such as the Naked mole-rat. By developing new animal models for aging research, we aim to approach the study of aging f