Aging Induced p53/p21 in Genioglossus Muscle Stem Cells and Enhanced Upper Airway Injury

Figure 6

Hypoxia strengthened the influence of aging on GG MuSC differentiation. (a) The differentiation of GG MuSCs from four age groups under normoxia and hypoxia. (b) The expression level of MyHC was tested after differentiation in normoxia and hypoxia. (c) p53, p21, and MyoD were observed after differentiation under normoxia and hypoxia. p53 and p21 significantly increased, and the expressions of MyHC and MyoD were markedly downregulated under hypoxia. Aging further inhibited the levels of MyHC and MyoD and increased the levels of p53 and p21. Statistical significance is marked as follows: represents the difference between normoxia and 1-month-old vs. 2-month-old vs. 6-month-old vs. 12-month-old; , , and . @ represents the difference between hypoxia and 1-month-old vs. 2-month-old vs. 6-month-old vs. 12-month-old; ^@, ^@@, and ^@@@. # represents the difference between same age and normoxia vs. hypoxia; ^#, ^##, and ^###. Scale bars are 100 μm in all images. Scale bars are 100 μm.

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