Aging Deteriorates Blood Brain Barrier Function and Polarizes Adaptive T Cell Expansion Contributing to Neurocognitive Damage in Experimental Cirrhosis.

ABSTRACT: Cirrhosis incidence is significantly increased with age and frequently complicated with neurocognitive dysfunction. We have evaluated the contribution of aging to neuroinflammation in the liver-brain axis in advanced chronic liver disease. Young (6-week-old) and old (9-month-old) mice were included in a 12-week protocol of CCl₄-induced cirrhosis. Liver damage, neuromotor and cognitive capacities, blood brain barrier integrity and function, liver and brain T cell subpopulations and ammonia levels were evaluated. Timp1 and Acta2 gene expression was upregulated in old cirrhotic mice. Increased liver damage was confirmed histologically by Sirius red staining, expression of alpha-SMA, collagen 1-alpha1 and vimentin in aged CCl₄-treated mice. Aging further compromised the n

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Lopez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12339172 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature