FoxO maintains a genuine muscle stem-cell quiescent state until geriatric age

Nat Cell Biol. 2020 Nov;22(11):1307-1318. doi: 10.1038/s41556-020-00593-7. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Abstract

Tissue regeneration declines with ageing but little is known about whether this arises from changes in stem-cell heterogeneity. Here, in homeostatic skeletal muscle, we identify two quiescent stem-cell states distinguished by relative CD34 expression: CD34High, with stemness properties (genuine state), and CD34Low, committed to myogenic differentiation (primed state). The genuine-quiescent state is unexpectedly preserved into later life, succumbing only in extreme old age due to the acquisition of primed-state traits. Niche-derived IGF1-dependent Akt activation debilitates the genuine stem-cell state by imposing primed-state features via FoxO inhibition. Interventions to neutralize Akt and promote FoxO activity drive a primed-to-genuine state conversion, whereas FoxO inactivation deteriorates the genuine state at a young age, causing regenerative failure of muscle, as occurs in geriatric mice. These findings reveal transcriptional determinants of stem-cell heterogeneity that resist ageing more than previously anticipated and are only lost in extreme old age, with implications for the repair of geriatric muscle.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism*
  • Cardiotoxins / toxicity
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation* / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation* / genetics
  • Cell Self Renewal* / drug effects
  • Cell Self Renewal* / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence* / drug effects
  • Cellular Senescence* / genetics
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / genetics
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / metabolism
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / genetics
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / metabolism
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, SCID
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / transplantation
  • Phenotype
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Regeneration* / drug effects
  • Regeneration* / genetics
  • Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / drug effects
  • Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / metabolism*
  • Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / pathology
  • Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / transplantation
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cell Niche

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Cardiotoxins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • FoxO3 protein, mouse
  • FoxO4 protein, mouse
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt