In a groundbreaking study, scientists have identified the critical role of the IL-17 protein in skin aging. Researchers have found that some immune cells in the skin display high levels of IL-17 during the aging process, which contributes to inflammatory conditions. By inhibiting IL-17, they observed symptoms of delayed aging, such as poor hair follicle growth, transcutaneous water loss, slow wound healing, and genetic markers of aging.
The scientific collaboration found that the IL-17 protein plays a key role in skin aging, with its temporary inhibition leading to delayed aging symptoms. Future studies will investigate the role of IL-17 in the aging process of other tissues and organs.
A research team from IRB Barcelona and CNAG have identified the IL-17 protein as a determinant of skin aging. Blocking IL-17 function reduces the pro-inflammatory status and delays the appearance of age-related features in the skin. Published in a journal natural agingThe work opens new avenues in developing therapies to improve the health of aging skin.
A team of scientists from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) in collaboration with the National Center for Genetic Analysis (CNAG) has found that the IL-17 protein plays an important role in skin aging. The study led by Dr Guiomar Solanas, Dr Salvador Aznar Benitah, both at IRB Barcelona, and Dr Holger Heyn, at CNAG, shed light on the IL-17-mediated aging process to inflammatory states.
Skin aging is characterized by a series of structural and functional changes that gradually contribute to age-related damage and fragility. Aged skin’s ability to regenerate is reduced, its ability to heal is impaired, and its protective barrier function is reduced. Published in a journal natural agingThis work describes the changes that different cell types undergo with age and identifies how certain immune cells in the skin express high levels of IL-17.
Immunofluorescence staining for IL-17 (white) in aged mouse skin. Credit: IRB Barcelona
“Our results show that IL-17 is involved in multiple functions related to aging. We have observed that blocking the function of this protein slows down the onset of many deficiencies associated with skin aging. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating certain symptoms or facilitating skin recovery after surgery, for example, As explained by Dr Aznar Benyetah, ICREA Researcher and Head of the Cancer and Stem Cell Laboratory at IRB Barcelona.
“Sequencing single cells allowed us to delve deeper into the complexity of the cell types and states that make up skin and how this changes over life. We found not only differences in the composition of aging skin, but also changes in cells.” state of activity Immune cells in particular show age-specific characteristics.” , which we can determine by analyzing thousands of individual cells simultaneously, says Dr. Holger Heine, head of the Single Cell Genomics Laboratory at CNAG.
Immune cells, inflammation and aging
In addition to various epithelial cells, hair follicle cells, and other components, the skin is also home to immune cells that play an important role in preventing infection and protecting against various damages.
The study explains how the presence of some of these immune cells during aging, such as gamma delta T cells, innate lymphocytes, and CD4+ T cells, increases markedly in the skin. These same cells also begin to express very high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17.
Explains Dr. Paloma Sola, first author of the research paper, along with Dr. Mereu, is now a researcher at the Josep Carreras Institute for Leukemia Research.
Reversing the signs of aging on the skin
Previous studies have suggested that IL-17 is associated with certain autoimmune skin diseases, such as psoriasis, and that there are treatments that block this protein. The research team studied the response of various aspects to blocking IL-17 activity, including hair follicle growth, transcutaneous water loss, wound healing, and genetic markers of aging. These four parameters showed improvement after treatment, as the acquisition of aging properties was significantly delayed.
“IL-17 is essential for vital bodily functions, such as defense against microbes and wound healing, so blocking it permanently is not an option. What we observed was that such transient inhibition offers benefits that may be of interest to level therapy,” said Dr. Joyomar Solanas. , research fellow at IRB Barcelona.
The researchers’ future work will focus on explaining the aging process associated with inflammatory skin conditions and how it relates to IL-17. The team will also discuss whether IL-17 is involved in aging and damage to other tissues and organs.
References: “Targeting Lymphocyte-derived IL-17 Signaling to Delay Skin Aging” By Paloma Sola, Elisabetta Mirio, Julia Bongoch, Marta Casado-Pelaez, Neos Prats, Menica Aguilera, Oscar Reyna, Enrique Blanco, Manel Esteller, Luciano de Croce , Holger Heine, Guimar Solanas, Salvador Aznar Bennettah, 8 June 2023, Available Here. natural aging.
DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00431-z
This research has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC), the Government of Catalonia, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Lilliane Bettencourt Foundation, the Government Research Agency (AEI), and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
2023-06-29 10:54:26
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