Impact of aging on intestinal epithelial cells and reversible aspects by metformin or rapamycin treatment

Aging is a risk factor that initiates pathogenesis in the intestinal mucosa. We used single cell RNA sequencing to dissect the aging process and how effectively geroprotectors delays the process. Overall design: Intestinal epithelial cells from CB6F1 male mice were isolated by FACS (Epcam+, CD45 neg) at either 5-month-old (Young), or 24-month-old (Old). For treatment group, metformin or rapamycin treatment for old mice began at 21-month-old and sacrificed at 24-month-old.

衰老是诱发肠黏膜发病进程的风险因素。本研究借助单细胞RNA测序（single cell RNA sequencing）技术，解析衰老进程以及抗衰老剂（geroprotectors）延缓该进程的效果。实验整体设计：通过荧光激活细胞分选术（FACS, Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting），从CB6F1雄性小鼠中分离得到Epcam+、CD45 neg的肠上皮细胞，分别采集5月龄（青年组）与24月龄（老年组）的样本。对于治疗组，于21月龄起对老年小鼠施以二甲双胍（metformin）或雷帕霉素（rapamycin）干预，直至24月龄时处死取材。