Dataset Information

Molecular and cognitive signatures of ageing partially restored through synthetic delivery of IL2 to the brain

ABSTRACT: Cognitive decline is a common pathological outcome during aging, with an ill-defined cellular or molecular basis. Among the cellular changes observed with age are alterations to neuronal plasticity, changes in the glial compartment and the decline of the neurogenic niche. In the recent years, the concept of inflammaging, defined as a low-grade inflammation increasing with age, has emerged as a nexus for age-related diseases. This increase of basal inflammation is also observed in the central nervous system. While not classically considered a neurological cell type, infiltrating T cells increase in the brain with age, and may be responsible for amplification of inflammatory cascades and disruptions to the neurogenic niche. Recently, a small resident population of regulatory T cells has been identified in the brain, and the capacity of IL2-mediated expansion of this population to counter neuroinflammatory disease has been demonstrated. Here we test a brain-specific IL2 delivery system for the prevention of neurological decline in aging mice. We identify the molecular hallmarks of aging in the brain glial compartments, and identify partial restoration of this signature through IL2 treatment. At a behavioral level, brain IL2 delivery prevented the age-induced defect in learned memory formation during maze tests, without improving the general decline in motor skill or novelty-seeking behavior. These results identify immune modulation as a potential path to preserving cognitive function for healthy ageing.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE190486 | GEO | 2022/07/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Age is the primary risk factor for many chronic diseases and cognitive decline during brain aging may increase dementia risk. Hallmarks of brain aging including neuronal dysfunction and glial contribute to reduced cognitive function, and there is a persistent lack of effective treatments. Bioactive plant compounds called “nutraceuticals” can target age-related cellular processes and may protect cognitive function. Apigenin is a flavone found in plants such as chamomile and can inhibit hallmarks of aging such as cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired proteostasis. However, the underlying mechanisms of apigenin in the brain are not fully understood. Here, we characterized brain transcriptome changes in young and old mice given apigenin in drinking water and examined potential mechanisms in human astrocytes. Consistent with previous studies, we observed improved novel object recognition in old mice treated with apigenin versus old controls. Transcriptome analyses in old controls found differentially expressed genes related to immune responses, inflammation, and cytokine regulation versus young. Fewer differences were observed in old apigenin-treated versus old controls, but these changes were related to development, behavior, and antiviral responses. The majority of upregulated genes in old mice were downregulated with apigenin treatment and associated with immune responses. Similarly, the genes that were reduced with aging, but increased in old apigenin-treated mice were related to pathways important for neurological function/disease, cellular maintenance, and homeostatic signaling. We also found that glial cells drove the majority of the transcriptome differences with aging and apigenin-treatment. To explore the mechanism of action for apigenin in glial cells, we treated replicatively aged astrocytes with apigenin and observed reduced markers of inflammation and cellular senescence. Collectively, our data support the role of apigenin as a protector of cognitive and neuronal function protectant through the suppression of neuroinflammatory genes and proteins and may be especially important in non-neuronal cells.

Dataset Information

Molecular and cognitive signatures of ageing partially restored through synthetic delivery of IL2 to the brain

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure