Gene expression analysis of cell populations derived from skeletal muscle of young and aged mice

Comprehensive analyses of mRNA expression were performed using three different cell populations isolated from skeletal muscle of young and aged mice to investigate age-related changes of each cell population. PDGFRa+ mesenchymal progenitors, satellite cells, and mixed population of endothelial or hematopoietic cells were FACS purified from hind limb muscles of young (8-10 w old) and aged (24-28 mo old) mice. Freshly sorted cells were pooled and cell sorting was performed multiple times until pooled cell number reached 0.4-1 x 10e6. Gene expression of freshly sorted cell populations were analyzed to identify genes that were specifically expressed in each cell population and altered by aging.