Project description:Astrocytes are key cells in brain aging, helping neurons to undertake healthy aging or otherwise letting them enter into a spiral of neurodegeneration. We aimed to characterize astrocytes cultured from senescence-accelerated prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, a mouse model of brain pathological aging, along with the effects of caloric restriction, the most effective rejuvenating treatment known so far. Analysis of the transcriptomic profiles of SAMP8 astrocytes cultured in control conditions and treated with caloric restriction serum was performed using mRNA microarrays. A decrease in mitochondrial and ribosome mRNA, which was restored by caloric restriction, confirmed the age-related profile of SAMP8 astrocytes and the benefits of caloric restriction. An amelioration of antioxidant and neurodegeneration-related path- ways confirmed the brain benefits of caloric restriction. Studies of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function demonstrated a reduction of oxidative damage and partial improvement of mito- chondria after caloric restriction. In summary, caloric restriction showed a significant tendency to normalize pathologically aged astrocytes through the activation of pathways that are protective against the age-related deterioration of brain physiology. Key words: astrocytes; caloric restriction; mitochondria; oxidative stress; RNA microarrays; SAMP8.
Project description:Caloric restriction (CR) slows the ageing process in many orgamisms, including mice. Liver is an important metabolic organ with active RNA expression. CR reprogrammes hepatic metabolism as well as hepatic transcriptome. We sought to study CR-induced transcriptomic changes in mouse liver to investigate the anti-ageing mechanisms of CR.
Project description:The effects of caloric restriction (CR) on glucose homeostasis and metabolic function differ between males and females. To investigate if hepatic function contributes to these sex differences, we collected liver samples from male and female C57BL/6NCrl mice that were fed ad libitum (AL) or underwent caloric restriction (CR; receiving 70% of daily AL intake) from 9-13 weeks of age. Livers were then analysed by bulk RNA-seq.
Project description:Astrocytes are key cells in brain aging, helping neurons to undertake healthy aging or otherwise letting them enter into a spiral of neurodegeneration. We aimed to characterize astrocytes cultured from senescence-accelerated prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, a mouse model of brain pathological aging, along with the effects of caloric restriction, the most effective rejuvenating treatment known so far. Analysis of the transcriptomic profiles of SAMP8 astrocytes cultured in control conditions and treated with caloric restriction serum was performed using mRNA microarrays. A decrease in mitochondrial and ribosome mRNA, which was restored by caloric restriction, confirmed the age-related profile of SAMP8 astrocytes and the benefits of caloric restriction. An amelioration of antioxidant and neurodegeneration-related path- ways confirmed the brain benefits of caloric restriction. Studies of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function demonstrated a reduction of oxidative damage and partial improvement of mito- chondria after caloric restriction. In summary, caloric restriction showed a significant tendency to normalize pathologically aged astrocytes through the activation of pathways that are protective against the age-related deterioration of brain physiology. Key words: astrocytes; caloric restriction; mitochondria; oxidative stress; RNA microarrays; SAMP8. Primary cultures enriched in astrocytes were obtained from cerebral cortical tissue from 2-day-old SAMP8 and SAMR1 mice. Astrocyte cultures were established and experiments were routinely carried out after 21 days in culture. Established astrocyte cultures of both SAMR1 and SAMP8 consisted of 85-90% astrocytes, 10-15% microglia and 0.1-1% oligodendroglia. Sera from rats subjected to ad libitum (AL) diet and to CR were obtained as described for the establishment of the CR in vitro model (de Cabo et al., 2003). Serum was heat inactivated at 56°C prior to use in astrocyte culture experiments. Treatment in vitro was performed by adding 10% volume CR or AL serum onto the astrocyte culture medium for 48 h, the cells were harvested and RNA was extracted for the microarray studies. Three biological replicates for each condition were done and RNA was extracted for the microarray studies. Please note that SAM models were developed from AKR/J by Kyoto University. Five litters with severe senescence were selected to further propagate and examine these characteristics. Litters that showed normal aging were selected as a senescence-resistant series (R-series). The genetic background of the SAM mice became suspect after the pathological findings were different from the AKR/J mouse. Each SAM model is genetically different. Each SAM colony was acquired by Harlan by Takeda Chemical Ltd. in 2002. And here is the link to the company site. http://www.harlan.com/products_and_services/research_models_and_services/research_models/sam_inbred_mice/samp8tahsd.hl
Project description:Sex differences in liver gene expression are dictated by sex-differences in circulating growth hormone (GH) profiles. Presently, the pituitary hormone dependence of mouse liver gene expression was investigated on a global scale to discover sex-specific early GH response genes that might contribute to sex-specific regulation of downstream GH targets and to ascertain whether intrinsic sex-differences characterize hepatic responses to plasma GH stimulation. RNA expression analysis using 41,000-feature microarrays revealed two distinct classes of sex-specific mouse liver genes: genes subject to positive regulation (class-I) and genes subject to negative regulation by pituitary hormones (class-II). Genes activated or repressed in hypophysectomized (Hypox) mouse liver within 30-90min of GH pulse treatment at a physiological dose were identified as direct targets of GH action (early response genes). Intrinsic sex-differences in the GH responsiveness of a subset of these early response genes were observed. Notably, 45 male-specific genes, including five encoding transcriptional regulators that may mediate downstream sex-specific transcriptional responses, were rapidly induced by GH (within 30min) in Hypox male but not Hypox female mouse liver. The early GH response genes were enriched in 29 male-specific targets of the transcription factor Mef2, whose activation in hepatic stellate cells is associated with liver fibrosis leading to hepatocellular carcinoma, a male-predominant disease. Thus, the rapid activation by GH pulses of certain sex-specific genes is modulated by intrinsic sex-specific factors, which may be associated with prior hormone exposure (epigenetic mechanisms) or genetic factors that are pituitary-independent, and could contribute to sex-differences in predisposition to liver cancer or other hepatic pathophysiologies.