Mechanosensitive Protein of the Hippo Regulatory Pathway—Transcription Coactivator with PZD-Binding Motif (TAZ) in Human Skin during Aging

Abstract

The goal of this work was to examine the content of mechanosensitive transcription coactivator with PZD-binding motif (TAZ) in fibroblasts and microvessels of human dermis from embryonic development until senility (from 20 weeks of pregnancy until 85 years of age) and to determine the role of TAZ in age-dependent changes in the number of fibroblasts and blood vessels in human skin. TAZ, proliferating cells nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the CD31 endothelial cell marker were detected in skin sections via indirect immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the proportion of fibroblasts with positive staining for TAZ in the dermis systematically decreases from 20 weeks of pregnancy to 40 years of age. The percentage of TAZ positive dermal fibroblasts increases from 41 to 60–85 years of age. The TAZ content in human dermal microvessels decreases from 20 weeks of pregnancy until 40 years of age and increases from 41 to 60 years of age; in individuals aged 61–85 years, its content does not differ from the data of those aged 41–60 years. Age-related changes in the TAZ content in dermal fibroblasts and microvessels are not associated with the age-related decrease in the total number and percentage of PCNA positive fibroblasts and the number of dermal microvessels.