BDNF reverses aging-related microglial activation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Excessive microglial activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of various age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to neurons, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB are also expressed in microglia. However, the direct effect of BDNF on age-related microglial activation has rarely been investigated.

Methods

We began to address this question by examining the effect of age on microglial activation and the BDNF-TrkB pathway in mice. By using pharmacological and genetic approaches, the roles of BDNF and downstream signaling pathways in microglial activation and related neurotoxicity were examined in microglial cell line and primary microglial cells.

Results

We showed that microglial activation was evident in the brains of a

SUBMITTER: Wu SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7362451 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature