| First Author | Chen J | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | EMBO J | Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | e105242 |
| PubMed ID | 33215738 | Mgi Jnum | J:299507 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6491504 | Doi | 10.15252/embj.2020105242 |
| Citation | Chen J, et al. (2021) Decreased blood vessel density and endothelial cell subset dynamics during ageing of the endocrine system. EMBO J 40(1):e105242 |
| abstractText | Age-associated alterations of the hormone-secreting endocrine system cause organ dysfunction and disease states. However, the cell biology of endocrine tissue ageing remains poorly understood. Here, we perform comparative 3D imaging to understand age-related perturbations of the endothelial cell (EC) compartment in endocrine glands. Datasets of a wide range of markers highlight a decline in capillary and artery numbers, but not of perivascular cells in pancreas, testis and thyroid gland, with age in mice and humans. Further, angiogenesis and beta-cell expansion in the pancreas are coupled by a distinct age-dependent subset of ECs. While this EC subpopulation supports pancreatic beta cells, it declines during ageing concomitant with increased expression of the gap junction protein Gja1. EC-specific ablation of Gja1 restores beta-cell expansion in the aged pancreas. These results provide a proof of concept for understanding age-related vascular changes and imply that therapeutic targeting of blood vessels may restore aged endocrine tissue function. This comprehensive data atlas offers over > 1,000 multicolour volumes for exploration and research in endocrinology, ageing, matrix and vascular biology. |
