scholarly journals Reversal of Age-Related Neuronal Atrophy by α5-GABAA Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D Prevot ◽  
Akiko Sumitomo ◽  
Toshifumi Tomoda ◽  
Daniel E Knutson ◽  
Guanguan Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Aging is associated with reduced brain volume, altered neural activity, and neuronal atrophy in cortical-like structures, comprising the frontal cortex and hippocampus, together contributing to cognitive impairments. Therapeutic efforts aimed at reversing these deficits have focused on excitatory or neurotrophic mechanisms, although recent findings show that reduced dendritic inhibition mediated by α5-subunit containing GABA-A receptors (α5-GABAA-Rs) occurs during aging and contributes to cognitive impairment. Here, we aimed to confirm the beneficial effect on working memory of augmenting α5-GABAA-R activity in old mice and tested its potential at reversing age-related neuronal atrophy. We show that GL-II-73, a novel ligand with positive allosteric modulatory activity at α5-GABAA-R (α5-PAM), increases dendritic branching complexity and spine numbers of cortical neurons in vitro. Using old mice, we confirm that α5-PAM reverses age-related working memory deficits and show that chronic treatment (3 months) significantly reverses age-related dendritic shrinkage and spine loss in frontal cortex and hippocampus. A subsequent 1-week treatment cessation (separate cohort) resulted in loss of efficacy on working memory but maintained morphological neurotrophic effects. Together, the results demonstrate the beneficial effect on working memory and neurotrophic efficacy of augmenting α5-GABAA-R function in old mice, suggesting symptomatic and disease-modifying potential in age-related brain disorders.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaella Boggia ◽  
Federica Turrini ◽  
Alessandra Roggeri ◽  
Guendalina Olivero ◽  
Francesca Cisani ◽  
...  

The immune system and the central nervous system message each other to preserving central homeostasis. Both systems undergo changes during aging that determine central age-related defects. Ellagic acid (EA) is a natural product which is beneficial in both peripheral and central diseases, including aging. We analyzed the impact of the oral administration of a new oral ellagic acid micro-dispersion (EAm), that largely increased the EA solubility, in young and old mice. Oral EAm did not modify animal weight and behavioral skills in young and old mice, but significantly recovered changes in “ex-vivo, in vitro” parameters in old animals. Cortical noradrenaline exocytosis decreased in aged mice. EAm administration did not modify noradrenaline overflow in young animals, but recovered it in old mice. Furthermore, GFAP staining was increased in the cortex of aged mice, while IBA-1 and CD45 immunopositivities were unchanged when compared to young ones. EAm treatment significantly reduced CD45 signal in both young and old cortical lysates; it diminished GFAP immunopositivity in young mice, but failed to affect IBA-1 expression in both young and old animals. Finally, EAm treatment significantly reduced IL1beta expression in old mice. These results suggest that EAm is beneficial to aging and represents a nutraceutical ingredient for elders.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Borja-Gonzalez ◽  
Jose C. Casas-Martinez ◽  
Brian McDonagh ◽  
Katarzyna Goljanek-Whysall

Ageing is associated with disrupted redox signalling and increased circulating inflammatory cytokines. Skeletal muscle homeostasis depends on the balance between muscle hypertrophy, atrophy and regeneration, however during ageing this balance is disrupted. The molecular pathways underlying the age-related decline in muscle regenerative potential remain elusive. microRNAs are conserved robust gene expression regulators in all tissues including skeletal muscle. Here, we studied satellite cells from adult and old mice to demonstrate that inhibition of miR-21 in satellite cells from old mice improves myogenesis. We determined that increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, TNFα and IL6, as well as H2O2, increased miR-21 expression in primary myoblasts, which in turn resulted in their decreased viability and myogenic potential. Inhibition of miR-21 function rescued the decreased size of myotubes following TNFα or IL6 treatment. Moreover, we demonstrated that miR-21 could inhibit myogenesis in vitro via regulating IL6R, PTEN and FOXO3 signalling. In summary, upregulation of miR-21 in satellite cells and muscle during ageing may occur in response to elevated levels of TNFα and IL6, within satellite cells or myofibrillar environment contributing to skeletal muscle ageing and potentially a disease-related decline in potential for muscle regeneration.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S956-S956
Author(s):  
Dmitry Kondrikov ◽  
Ahmed Elmansi ◽  
Xing-ming Shi ◽  
Sadanand Fulzele ◽  
Meghan mcGee-Lawrence ◽  
...  

Abstract Aging is characterized by progressive decline of tissue functionality and age-related accumulation of cellular and molecular damage leading to multiple pathological conditions including osteoporosis and increased fracture rates. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play an essential role in bone development and regeneration with their ability to undergo differentiation into osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic, and adipogenic cell lines cell lines. Proliferation rate of MSC is declined with ages leading to misbalance between bone resorption and osteogenesis. A recently identified age-related change in bone and bone marrow is an accumulation of tryptophan metabolite, kynurenine (KYN), catalyzed by indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) or free-radical oxidation. We previously reported that KYN suppresses autophagy in BMSC. We now investigated the effect of KYN on BMSC cellular function. In vitro treatment of murine BMSC isolated from 18 month old mice with kynurenine disrupted autophagy suppressing autophagic flux. KYN treatment also induces senescence in BMSC marked by increase in SA-beta-galactosidase activity as well as, increased expression of senescence marker p21. Inhibition of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) by AhR inhibitors significantly reduced β-galactosidase activity increase and blocked p21 expression elevation suggesting that KYN induces senescence in BMSC through the AhR pathway. Interestingly, KYN treatment failed to up-regulate beta-gal activity in BMSC isolated from 6 month-old mice suggesting that KYN induction of senescence maybe potentiated with aging. Together those data support the idea that KYN shifts the homeostatic balance of BMSC during prolonged stress or in aging through downregulating survival autophagic pathway in favor of driving BMSCs to senescence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nico Andreas ◽  
Sylvia Müller ◽  
Nicole Templin ◽  
Paul M. Jordan ◽  
Harald Schuhwerk ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is correlated with age. In this study, we analyzed the association of the incidence and severity of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6PI)-induced arthritis with age in two different mouse strains. Methods Young and very old mice from two different arthritis-susceptible wild-type mouse strains were analyzed after a single subcutaneous injection of G6PI s.c. The metabolism and the function of synoviocytes were analyzed in vitro, the production of bioactive lipid mediators by myeloid cells and synoviocytes was assessed in vitro and ex vivo by UPLC-MS-MS, and flow cytometry was used to verify age-related changes of immune cell composition and function. Results While the severity of arthritis was independent from age, the onset was delayed in old mice. Old mice showed common signs of immune aging like thymic atrophy associated with decreased CD4+ effector T cell numbers. Despite its decrease, the effector T helper (Th) cell compartment in old mice was reactive and functionally intact, and their Tregs exhibited unaltered suppressive capacities. In homeostasis, macrophages and synoviocytes from old mice produced higher amounts of pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived products. However, this functional difference did not remain upon challenge in vitro nor upon arthritis reactions ex vivo. Conclusion While old mice show a higher baseline of inflammatory functions, this does not result in increased reaction towards self-antigens in arthritis-susceptible mouse strains. Together, our data from two different mouse strains show that the susceptibility for G6PI-induced arthritis is not age-dependent.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Ma ◽  
Juan Gao ◽  
Jun Liang ◽  
Weixiang Dai ◽  
Zhenfei Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Senile osteoporosis can cause bone fragility and increased risk for fractures and has been one of the most prevalent and severe diseases affecting the elderly population worldwidely. The underlying mechanisms are currently intensive areas of investigation. In age-related bone loss, decreased bone formation overweighs increased bone resorption. The molecular mechanisms underlying defective bone formation in age-related bone loss are not completely understood. In particular, the specific role of histone acetylation in age-related bone loss has not been examined thoroughly. Methods We employed 6- and 18-month-old mice to investigate the mechanisms of defective bone formation in age-related bone loss. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were induced to undergo in vitro osteogenic differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was used to investigate the binding of histone deacetylases (HDACs) on Runx2 promoter in BMSCs. Luciferase reporter and transient transfection assay were employed to study Runx2 gene expression modulation by HDAC and androgen receptor (AR). siRNA and HDAC6 inhibitor, Tubastatin A, were used to inhibit HDAC6 in vitro. And systemic administration of Tubastatin A was used to block HDAC6 in vivo. Results Age-related trabecular bone loss was observed in 18-month-old mice compared with 6-month-old mice. In vitro osteogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs from 18-month-old mice was weaker than 6-month-old mice, in which there was Runx2 expression inactivation in BMSCs of 18-month-old mice compared with 6-month-old mice, which was attributable to HDAC6-mediated histone hypoacetylation in Runx2 promoter. There was competitive binding of HDAC6 and AR on Runx2 promoter to modulate Runx2 expression in BMSCs. More importantly, through siRNA- or specific inhibitor-mediated HDAC6 inhibition, we could activate Runx2 expression, rescue in vitro osteogenesis potential of BMSCs, and alleviate in vivo age-related bone loss of mice. Conclusion HDAC6 accumulation and histone hypoacetylation on Runx2 promoter contributed to the attenuation of in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs from aged mice. Through HDAC6 inhibition, we could activate Runx2 expression and osteogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs from aged mice and alleviate the age-related bone loss of aged mice. Our study will benefit not only for understanding the age-related bone loss, but also for finding new therapies to treat senile osteoporosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keya Li ◽  
Guiying Shi ◽  
Xuepei Lei ◽  
Yiying Huang ◽  
Xinyue Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and objectives Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) autologous transplantation has been a promising strategy for aging-related disorders. However, the relationship between ADSCs senescence and organismal aging has not been clearly established. Therefore, we aimed at evaluating senescence properties of ADSCs from different age donors and to verify the influence of organismal aging on the proliferation and function of ADSCs in vitro, providing the theoretical basis for the clinical application of autologous ADSCs transplantation. Methods and results The ADSCs were obtained from 1-month-old and 20-month-old mice. The cells characteristics, functions, gene expression levels, apoptosis proportion, cell cycle, SA-β-gal staining, and transcription features were evaluated. Compared to ADSCs from 1-month-old mice, ADSCs from 20-month-old mice exhibited some senescence-associated changes, including inhibited abilities to proliferate. Moreover, differentiation abilities, cell surface markers, and cytokines secreting differed between 1M and 20M ADSCs. SA-β-Gal staining did not reveal differences between the two donor groups, while cells exhibited more remarkable age-related changes through continuous passages. Based on transcriptome analysis and further detection, the CCL7-CCL2-CCR2 axis is the most probable mechanism for the differences. Conclusions ADSCs from old donors have some age-related alterations. The CCL7-CCL2-CCR2 axis is a potential target for gene therapy to reduce the harmful effects of ADSCs from old donors. To improve on autologous transplantation, we would recommend that ADSCs should be cryopreserved in youth with a minimum number of passages or block CCL7-CCL2-CCR2 to abolish the effects of age-related alterations in ADSCs through the Chemokine signaling pathway.


1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Goddard ◽  
Y. S. Davidson ◽  
B. B. Moser ◽  
I. Davies ◽  
E. B. Faragher

ABSTRACT The effect of age on the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response to increases in the concentration of arginine vasopressin in the presence of isobutyl methylxanthine (100 μmol/l) was studied in an in-vitro renal cell suspension prepared from C57BL/Icrfat mice at 6, 12, 18, 24, 29 and 35 months of age. Comparison of the response of the preparation to vasopressin, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone suggested that it was enriched with renal medullary cells. Basal cAMP output was similar throughout but the threshold dose of vasopressin increased from 1 × 10−11 mol/l (6, 12 and 18 months of age) to 1 × 10−10 mol/l (24, 29 and 35 months of age). The dose–response curve in 35-month-old mice was shifted to the right with the concentration of vasopressin required to give half maximal cAMP increased from 9·4 ± 0·37 × 10−11 mol/l (6 months) to 3·5±1·6 × 10−10 mol/l (35 months). Maximum cAMP output at 1 × 10 −9 mol/l was also reduced in the same animals (stimulated:basal ratio, 51·22±19·12 at 6 months; 11·50 ± 6·02 at 35 months). The results suggest that the lack of renal response to vasopressin in terms of cAMP metabolism may play a role in the well-documented age-related decline in urine-concentrating ability in experimental animals and elderly people. J. Endocr. (1984) 103, 133–139


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Ibañez ◽  
Jennifer I. Luebke ◽  
Wayne Chang ◽  
Danel Draguljić ◽  
Christina M. Weaver

AbstractBehavioral studies have shown spatial working memory impairment with aging in several animal species, including humans. Persistent activity of layer 3 pyramidal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) neurons during delay periods of working memory tasks is important for encoding memory of the stimulus. In vitro studies have shown that these neurons undergo significant age-related structural and functional changes, but the extent to which these changes affect neural mechanisms underlying spatial working memory is not understood fully. Here we confirm previous studies showing impairment on the Delayed Recognition Span Task in the spatial condition (DRSTsp), and increased in vitro action potential firing rates (hyperexcitability), across the adult life span of the rhesus monkey. We use a bump attractor model to predict how empirically observed changes in the aging dlPFC affect performance on the Delayed Response Task (DRT), and introduce a model of memory retention in the DRSTsp. Persistent activity—and, in turn, cognitive performance—in both models was affected much more by hyperexcitability of pyramidal neurons than by a loss of synapses. Our DRT simulations predict that additional changes to the network, such as increased firing of inhibitory interneurons, are needed to account for lower firing rates during the DRT with aging reported in vivo. Synaptic facilitation was an essential feature of the DRSTsp model, but it did not compensate fully for the effects of the other age-related changes on DRT performance. Modeling pyramidal neuron hyperexcitability and synapse loss simultaneously led to a partial recovery of function in both tasks, with the simulated level of DRSTsp impairment similar to that observed in aging monkeys. This modeling work integrates empirical data across multiple scales, from synapse counts to cognitive testing, to further our understanding of aging in non-human primates.


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