A possible role of soluble receptors to cell growth factors in body aging.

Seledtsov V.I., Seledtsova G.V.

Abstract

It is assumed that production by differentiated cells of soluble receptors to cell growth factors may mediate a feedback mechanism controlling cell growth and differentiation in the body. Based on this assumption, it is hypothesized that with age a concentration of such soluble receptors in the body fluids gradually augments as a consequence of increasing a proportion of the differentiated cell pool.

In the old body, when present in the cellular microenvironment at relatively high concentrations these receptors might markedly diminish ligand binding to the membrane-bound counterparts in a competitive manner and, thereby, significantly reduce cell regeneration activity. Under such conditions, the niches forming because of cell death could be being filled by connective fibers rather than newly generated cells.

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