Study of Skin Cells That Stop Replicating (Senescent) During Wound Healing

Objectives and Specific Aims:

The objective of this proof-of-concept study is to understand the physiological role of
senescent cells in humans during the aging process using a model of wound healing. Cellular
senescence is the phenomenon by which normal cells cease to divide in response to a stress.
We aim to determine if in healthy humans: (1) senescent cells appear around wound sites a few
days after skin injury; (2) the number of senescent cells induced by skin injury increases
with age; (3) the wound healing process, as determined by the size of the healed wounds, is
altered with aging; (4) biomarkers of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)
increase significantly in the tissue around the wound a few days after skin injury, and the
magnitude of increase is higher in older compared to younger persons; (5) ethnic differences
in the dynamics of the appearance of senescent cells and whether such a difference is
associated with wound healing. We also want to describe changes that occur with aging in DNA
methylation and histone acetylation, gene expression, and protein expression within senescent
cells in comparison to normal tissue.

Experimental Design and Methods:

One hundred and twenty-eight healthy participants, sixty-four between the ages of 20-39 years
and sixty-four 70 years old or older will be recruited for this pilot study. Of the
sixty-four participants in each age group, thirty-two will be men and thirty-two will be
women and sixteen

will be Caucasian and sixteen will be African American. Each participant will have two 3mm
skin biopsies on the inner upper arm during baseline visit (Visit 1) and two 6mm skin
biopsies concentric to the previous site during Visit 2. Visit 2 will be scheduled on 8
different days (day 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 21 and 30) after the baseline visit with two men and
two woman from each age/ethnic group for each of the days. A follow-up visit will be
scheduled at the discretion of the medical staff. Senescent cells will be visualized by
confocal microscopy based on a number of senescent markers described in the literature.
Senescent biomarkers will be measured in the tissue and systemically at baseline and
follow-up.

Medical Relevance and Expected Outcome:

Cellular senescence is a complex process characterized by arrest in replication that is
thought to be intrinsically connected with aging and age-related diseases. Recently,
researchers have

suggested that senescent cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and its
associated complications. Therefore, understanding the physiological role of senescent cells
is critically important for understanding aging and age-related diseases such as type 2
diabetes. Preclinical data have shown that senescent cells were inducible during cutaneous
wound healing. Our preliminary results showed that there may be a difference in rate of
granulation tissue formation with ethnicity. Therefore, this method can be used to quantify

senescent cell response after a standard stimulus and to verify whether the magnitude of
senescence response correlate with aging and ethnicity. In the future this method could be
used to test interventions that can modify the senescence response, and may be an invaluable
method for assessing novel treatments of type 2 diabetes involving senescent cells.

- INCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Age 20 - 39 years or age 70 years and older

- Healthy (see exclusion criteria below)

- Are able to understand the study risks and procedures, and consent to participate in
the study.

- Are able to read and speak English.

- Caucasian or Africian American

- Previous enrolled participants.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA (SCREENING VISIT):

- A medical condition that requires the use of chronic anticoagulant medication use such
as warfarin, clopidogrel, heparin or antiplatelet agents other than low dose aspirin
(81mg).

- History of increased bleeding due to either a known medical condition or an
undiagnosed cause.

- A medical condition that causes impaired wound healing such as diabetes.

- Current androgenic/anabolic and/or corticosteroid use or use within 90 days of the
procedure (ocular corticosteroid use okay).

- Current antibiotic or anti-viral use or use within 60 days of the procedure.

- Active infections or chronic skin conditions that would prevent access to the biopsy
area.

- Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as Motrin (Ibuprofen),
Advil (Ibuprofen) or Naprosyn (Naproxen) and the

participant is unable to stop taking them 3 days before the biopsy and 1 day after the
biopsy procedure.

- Taking more than 81 mg of aspirin a day and the participant is unable to stop taking
it for 3 days before the biopsy and 1 day after the biopsy procedure.

- Allergic to Lidocaine (Xylocaine) or any other local anesthetic or the participant has
had in the past a severe allergic reaction to similar drugs.

- Allergic to topical betadine solution.

- Severe allergy to adhesives found in tape.

- HIV virus infection.

- Hepatitis B or C or exposure within 6 months of visit.

- History of diabetes (requiring any medical treatment other than diet and exercise) or
fasting plasma glucose is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL or HbA1c greater than or
equal to 6.5%.

- Clinically significant hormonal dysfunction (self-reported or laboratory values out of
range. Mild hypothyroidism (TSH < 10 microIU/mL) in participants over 60 is not
considered exclusion).

- Kidney disease (Creatinine >1.5 mg/dl or calculated creatinine clearance < 50 cc/min)

- Liver disease (Bilirubin > 1.5 mg/dl (unless higher levels can be ascribed to Gilbert
s disease); ALT, AST or alkaline phosphatase twice the normal serum concentration)

- Severe gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn s disease or ulcerative colitis
requiring continuous treatment.

- History of severe pulmonary disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) or asthma requiring continuous medication use.

- History of severe psychiatric conditions associated with behavioral problems or
requiring chronic medical treatment.

- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

- Participants with history of skin keloid formation during wound healing

- Current illness that as judged by the study physician substantially increases the
risks associated the skin biopsy(s) (active infections, allergies, etc.).