FAP–satellite cell communication after disuse atrophy in older vs young women
In this abstract, older women recovering from disuse atrophy showed a larger transcriptional response than young women, with altered FAP–satellite cell communication and, in cell experiments, impaired myogenic differentiation and more senescence-like features. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The abstract compares young women (22±3 years, n=8) with older women (66±5 years, n=9) during recovery from disuse atrophy. [1]
At 7 days of recovery, older women showed 7,999 differentially expressed genes versus 1,548 in young women. [1]
In vitro, myogenic progenitor cells from older donors at 7 days of recovery showed impaired myogenic differentiation and a senescence-associated phenotype. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a study using single-nucleus RNA sequencing and complementary in vitro experiments
- Population / context
- Young women (22±3 years, n=8) and older women (66±5 years, n=9) recovering from disuse atrophy.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- September 24, 2026
Older vs young women after disuse atrophy
The abstract compares young women (22±3 years, n=8) with older women (66±5 years, n=9) during recovery from disuse atrophy. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and complementary in vitro experiments with primary muscle cells were used to study age-related cellular function and communication. The abstract does not report how long immobilization lasted in the main text, though the figure legend mentions 14 days of unilateral limb immobilization followed by re-ambulation.
Supporting source [1]
Larger transcriptional response in older women
At 7 days of recovery, older women showed 7,999 differentially expressed genes versus 1,548 in young women. This was driven mainly by slow- and fast-twitch myonuclei, satellite cells and fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). Satellite cells from older women showed collagen signatures, including elevated THBS1 expression and enrichment of TGF-β signaling; FAPs showed increased expression of the fibroblast activation marker ADAMTS14. Analyses suggested altered FAP–satellite cell communication in older women.
Supporting source [1]
Cell experiments: weaker myogenesis, more senescence
In complementary in vitro experiments, myogenic progenitor cells collected at 7 days of recovery from older donors showed impaired myogenic differentiation and a cellular senescence-associated phenotype, while fibroblasts showed greater myofibroblast-like activation. Conditioned media from older women's fibroblasts at 7 days of recovery increased cellular senescence and impaired myogenic potential compared with media from young women's fibroblasts. The authors suggest these changes may contribute to poor muscle remodeling; the abstract reports associations and in vitro findings, not proven causes or human outcomes.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This explainer is based only on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports associations and in vitro experiments, not proven causes or human outcomes. The figure legend mentions 14 days of immobilization, but the main text does not state the immobilization duration.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Skiles CM, Fennel ZJ, Bourrant P, Yee EM, Castro RJ, Keeble AR, O’Connell RM, Fry CS, Drummond MJ. · europepmc.org · September 24, 2026