Mechanisms of Peripheral Nerve Aging: Fat, Proteoglycans, and Growth Factors

Project Overview

This PhD project, titled “The Puzzle of Nerve Aging: Unraveling the Trinity of Fat, Chondral Proteoglycans, and Fibroblast Growth Factors,” aims to elucidate cellular mechanisms underlying peripheral nerve aging. While muscular aging is well studied, the molecular pathways driving deterioration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) with age are poorly understood. The research focuses on Schwann cell and neural fibroblast degeneration and how neural fat signaling induces these changes, leading to decreased nerve function and increased sedentarism, particularly impacting elderly populations.

What You Will Do

You will conduct molecular and cellular neurobiology research using advanced techniques such as cell isolation, senescence studies, transfection, confocal microscopy, antibody-based assays, live cell imaging, and transgenic mouse models. Collaboration with the Aging Initiative and Cardiovascular Research Group will enrich interdisciplinary perspectives. Supervision of master’s and bachelor students will also be part of your responsibilities.

Expected Outcomes

The project seeks to discover signaling pathways that disrupt peripheral nerve function and contribute to sarcopenia and sedentarism with age. Identifying these mechanisms will support the development of therapeutic approaches to prevent peripheral nerve degeneration, improving muscle innervation and quality of life for the elderly.

Why This Matters

Addressing peripheral nerve aging is critical to combat muscle loss and weakness leading to sedentarism, which elevates frailty and mortality among older adults. This research offers potential to break a vicious cycle of nerve deterioration and muscle atrophy, thereby reducing healthcare burdens and promoting healthy aging worldwide.