Targeting Spermine Oxidase to Mitigate Traumatic Brain Injury Pathology in the Aging Brain.

ABSTRACT: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the elderly is frequently associated with worsened neurological outcomes and prolonged recovery, yet the age-specific molecular mechanisms driving this vulnerability remain poorly understood. Aging is characterized by increased oxidative stress and chronic neuro-inflammation, both of which may amplify the brain's susceptibility to injury. In this study, we identify spermine oxidase (SMOX), a polyamine-catabolizing enzyme that produces reactive oxygen species, as a key mediator linking oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation to age-dependent TBI susceptibility. Using a mouse model of controlled cortical impact (CCI), we found that SMOX expression was significantly upregulated in aged brains, primarily in neurons and microglia, and this increase correlated wit

SUBMITTER: Sun JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12189194 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature