Aging disrupts blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barrier homeostasis, but does not increase paracellular permeability.

ABSTRACT: Blood-CNS barriers protect the CNS from circulating immune cells and damaging molecules. It is thought barrier integrity becomes disrupted with aging, contributing to impaired CNS function. Using genome-wide and targeted molecular approaches, we found aging affected expression of predominantly immune invasion and pericyte-related genes in CNS regions investigated, especially after middle age, with spinal cord being most impacted. We did not find significant perturbation of endothelial cell junction genes or proteins, nor were vascular density or pericyte coverage affected by aging. We evaluated barrier paracellular permeability using small molecular weight tracers, serum protein extravasation, CNS water content, and iron labelling measures. We found no evidence for age-related increased ba

SUBMITTER: Cummins MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11872845 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature