Abstract
The aging process is linked to numerous cellular changes, among which are modifications in the functionality of dermal fibroblasts. These fibroblasts play a crucial role in sustaining the healing of skin wounds. Reduced cell proliferation is a hallmark feature of aged dermal fibroblasts. Long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNAs), such as LincRNA-EPS (Erythroid ProSurvival), has been implicated in various cellular processes. However, its role in aged dermal fibroblasts and its impact on the cell cycle and its regulator, Cyclin D1 (CCND1), remains unclear. Primary dermal fibroblasts were isolated from the skin of 17-week-old (young) and 88-week-old (aged) mice. Overexpression of LincRNA-EPS was achieved through plasmid transfection. Cell proliferation was detected using the MTT assay. Real-time PCR was used to quantify relative gene expressions. Our findings indicate a noteworthy decline in the expression of LincRNA-EPS in aged dermal fibroblasts, accompanied by reduced levels of CCND1 and diminished cell proliferation in these aging cells. Significantly, the overexpression of LincRNA-EPS in aged dermal fibroblasts resulted in an upregulation of CCND1 expression and a substantial increase in cell proliferation. Mechanistically, LincRNA-EPS induces CCND1 expression by sequestering miR-34a, which was dysregulated in aged dermal fibroblasts, and directly targeting CCND1. These outcomes underscore the crucial role of LincRNA-EPS in regulating CCND1 and promoting cell proliferation in aged dermal fibroblasts. Our study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related changes in dermal fibroblasts and their implications for skin wound healing. The significant reduction in LincRNA-EPS expression in aged dermal fibroblasts and its ability to induce CCND1 expression and enhance cell proliferation highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for addressing age-related skin wound healing.