Biogerontology

Abstract  Animal cells are protected from oxidative damage by an antioxidant network operating as a coordinated system, with strong synergistic interactions. Lifespan studies with whole animals are expensive and laborious, so there has been little investigation of which antioxidant interactions might be useful for life extension. Animals in the phylum Rotifera are particularly promising models for aging studies because they are small (0.1–1 mm), have short, two-week lifespan, display typical patterns of animal aging, and have well characterized, easy to measure phenotypes of aging and senescence. One class of interventions that has consistently produced significant rotifer life extension is antioxidants. Although the mechanism of antioxidant effects on animal aging remains controversial, the ability of some antioxidant supplements to extend rotifer lifespan was unequivocal. We found that exposing rotifers to certain combinations of antioxidant supplements can produce up to about 20% longer lifespan, but that most antioxidants have no effect. We performed life table tests with 20 single antioxidants and none yielded significant rotifer life extension. We tested 60 two-way combinations of selected antioxidants and only seven (12%) produced significant rotifer life extension. None of the 20 three- and four-way antioxidant combinations tested yielded significant rotifer life extension. These observations suggest that dietary exposure of antioxidants can extend rotifer lifespan, but most antioxidants do not. We observed significant rotifer life extension only when antioxidants were paired with trolox, N-acetyl cysteine, l-carnosine, or EUK-8. This illustrates that antioxidant treatments capable of rotifer life extension are patchily distributed in the parameter space, so large regions must be searched to find them. It furthermore underscores the value of the rotifer model to conduct rapid, facile life table experiments with many treatments, which makes such a search feasible. Although some antioxidants extended rotifer lifespan, they likely did so by another mechanism than direct antioxidation.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-15
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-012-9371-x
• Authors
  • Terry W. Snell, School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA
  • Allison M. Fields, School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA
  • Rachel K. Johnston, School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA

• Journal Biogerontology
• Online ISSN 1573-6768
• Print ISSN 1389-5729

Abstract  Consequences of age on the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on bone marrow (BM) derived stem cells and progenitors (SCPs) are largely unknown. We treated 2- and 18-month old C57BL/6 female mice by HBO. Hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors, enumerated as colony-forming units in culture, were doubled only in peripheral leukocytes and BM cells of young mice receiving HBO. In old mice colony-forming unit fibroblast numbers, a measure of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from BM, were high but unaffected by HBO. To further explore this finding, in BM-MSCs we quantified the transcripts of adipocyte early-differentiation genes peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β and fatty-acid binding protein 4; these transcripts were not affected by age or HBO. However, osteoblast gene transcripts runt-related transcription factor 2, osterix (OSX) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were twofold to 20-fold more abundant in MSCs from old control mice relative to those of young control mice. HBO affected expression of osteoblast markers only in old MSCs (OSX gene expression was reduced by twofold and AP expression was increased threefold). Our data demonstrate the impact of aging on the response of BM SCPs to HBO and indicate the potentially different age-related benefit of HBO in wound healing and tissue remodeling.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-11
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-012-9373-8
• Authors
  • Christian R. Gomez, Stem Cell Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
  • Gaylord J. Knutson, Stem Cell Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
  • Kari B. Clifton, Endocrine Research Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
  • Claire A. Schreiber, Stem Cell Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
  • Stanimir Vuk-Pavlović, Stem Cell Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

• Journal Biogerontology
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Abstract  This paper offers a broad assessment of the hormetic dose response and its relevance to biogerontology. The paper provides detailed background information on the historical foundations of hormesis, its quantitative features, mechanistic foundations, as well as how the hormesis concept could be further applied in the development of new therapeutic advances in the treatment of age-related diseases. The concept of hormesis has direct application to biogerontology not only affecting the quality of the aging process but also experimental attempts to extend longevity.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Review Article
• Pages 1-21
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-012-9374-7
• Authors
  • Edward J. Calabrese, Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Morrill I, N344, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
  • Ivo Iavicoli, Istituto di Medicina del Lavoro, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy
  • Vittorio Calabrese, Department of Chemistry, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 95100 Catania, Italy

• Journal Biogerontology
• Online ISSN 1573-6768
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Abstract  Ageing of kidneys is a clinical health issue of the society. Age-related renal insufficiency has important implications due to impaired redox homeostasis. We examined protein, DNA and lipid oxidation biomarkers as well as protein-bound sialic acid (SA) in the kidney tissues of d-galactose induced ageing rats, naturally aged rats and their corresponding young control group. Intraperitoneal injection of d-galactose (60 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks to young male Sprague–Dawley rats (20-week-old) was used to establish mimetic ageing model. In this study, we investigated the levels of protein carbonyl groups (PCO), various thiol fractions such as total thiol groups (T-SH), protein (P-SH) and non-protein thiol groups (NP-SH), lipid oxidation parameters such as lipid hydroperoxides (LHP) and malondialdehyde (MDA), SA and 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) parameters for comparison of naturally aged, induced aged and young rats. In d-galactose induced aged group, PCO, LHP, MDA, and 8-OHdG concentrations were significantly higher than young control group, whereas T-SH, P-SH levels were significantly lower than the young rats. In addition, NP-SH and SA concentrations were similar between the mimetic ageing and young control groups. In naturally ageing rats, PCO and MDA levels were significantly higher, whereas T-SH, P-SH, NP-SH concentrations were low compared to young controls. On the other hand, SA and 8-OHdG levels were not different between the naturally ageing group and the young control group. Our results demonstrated that the rats in the mimetic ageing group, have significant similarities with the naturally aged rats in terms of impaired redox homeostasis and can be used as a reliable animal model for renal ageing.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research article
• Pages 1-10
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9370-3
• Authors
  • Seval Aydın, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Karolin Yanar, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Pınar Atukeren, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Enis Dalo, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Mustafa Erinç Sitar, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Ezel Uslu, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Nazlı Caf, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
  • Ufuk Çakatay, Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey

• Journal Biogerontology
• Online ISSN 1573-6768
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Abstract  The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of p-chloro-diphenyl diselenide (p-ClPhSe)2 on depressant-like action and cognitive impairment caused by aging in male rats. For this purpose, old rats were orally treated with (p-ClPhSe)2 (10 or 25 mg/kg) for seven days. Then, rats were tested in experimental models of ambulation, memory and depression. In addition, Na+ K+ ATPase activity and reactive species (RS) levels were measured in rat cortex and hippocampus. Our findings demonstrated that treatment of old rats with (p-ClPhSe)2 (10 and 25 mg/kg) reversed spatial memory deficit in the object location test and depressant-like action in the forced swimming test (FST) caused by aging. Reduction in exploratory behavior (rearings) in the open-field test caused by aging was not altered by (p-ClPhSe)2 administration. Moreover, the increase of RS levels and inhibition of Na+ K+ ATPase activity in cortex and hippocampus resulting from aging were restored by the highest dose of (p-ClPhSe)2. To assess the mechanisms involved in the antidepressant-like effect of (p-ClPhSe)2, old rats received WAY100635 (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneous, a selective 5-HT1AR antagonist), ritanserin (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, a 5-HT2A/2CR antagonist) or ondansetron (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, a 5-HT3R antagonist) 15 min before (p-ClPhSe)2 (25 mg/kg) treatment. After 30 min, the FST was performed. Results showed that in addition to the antioxidant action, the modulation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT3 receptors may be at least partly involved in the antidepressant-like action elicited by (p-ClPhSe)2 in old rats. These findings highlight the beneficial potential of (p-ClPhSe)2 in aged male rats.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-13
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9369-9
• Authors
  • Cristiani F. Bortolatto, Laboratório de Síntese, Reatividade e Avaliação Farmacológica e Toxicológica de Organocalcogênios, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS CEP 97105-900, Brazil
  • Ethel A. Wilhelm, Laboratório de Síntese, Reatividade e Avaliação Farmacológica e Toxicológica de Organocalcogênios, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS CEP 97105-900, Brazil
  • Pietro M. Chagas, Laboratório de Síntese, Reatividade e Avaliação Farmacológica e Toxicológica de Organocalcogênios, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS CEP 97105-900, Brazil
  • Cristina W. Nogueira, Laboratório de Síntese, Reatividade e Avaliação Farmacológica e Toxicológica de Organocalcogênios, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS CEP 97105-900, Brazil

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Abstract   Bacopa monnieri (L.), popularly known as Brahmi, is a revered Ayurvedic medicinal plant used as nerve tonic since time immemorial. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of bacosides, the active saponins of Bacopa monnieri (L.) against age associated neurodegeneration and its impact over the prevention of Senile Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type (SDAT). The optimum dose of bacosides with no adverse effect was selected by screening its dose dependant activity on ageing biomarker lipofuscin and SDAT biomarker neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the aged female Wistar rat brain. The selected therapeutic dose of bacosides (200 mg/kg) was orally administered for 3 months in middle aged and aged rats and further investigated for its protective action against age associated alterations in neurotransmission system, behavioral paradigms, hippocampal neuronal loss and oxidative stress markers. The results of the present study suggest that bacosides may act as a potential therapeutic intervention in forestalling the deleterious effects of ageing and preventing the age associated pathologies like SDAT.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-13
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9367-y
• Authors
  • Manisha Rastogi, Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
  • Rudra P. Ojha, Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
  • P. C. Prabu, Central Animal Facility (CAF), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
  • B. Parimala Devi, Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
  • Aruna Agrawal, Centre for Psychosomatic and Biofeedback Medicine, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
  • G. P. Dubey, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, CCRAS, New Delhi, India

• Journal Biogerontology
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Abstract  Telomeres are specialized structures designed to protect the ends of linear chromosomes. They are dynamic structures such that in normal somatic cells they constantly shorten as cell division progresses. There is compelling evidence that telomere shortening leads to cell senescence, a process perceived as the main cause of aging in higher mammals. Therefore, the features of telomere shortening are of great importance in understanding cell senescence and aging in general. By identifying unique subtelomeric regions, large enough to produce strong chemiluminescent signals, we have provided a new tool for Southern blot analysis of individual human Xp/Yp telomeres. We extend these results with quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization using peptide nucleic acid probe (PNA Q-FISH) analysis of telomeres on the Y chromosome. Our results demonstrates unequal shortening dynamics between the p and q telomeres.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category METHOD
• Pages 1-11
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9368-x
• Authors
  • Milena Ivanković, Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Andrea Ćukušić Kalajžić, Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Nikolina Škrobot Vidaček, Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ivana Franić Šimić, Cytogenetic Laboratory, Division of Pediatrics, University Hospital Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb, 10 000 Croatia
  • Sanja Davidović Mrsić, Cytogenetic Laboratory, Division of Pediatrics, University Hospital Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb, 10 000 Croatia
  • Ivica Rubelj, Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

• Journal Biogerontology
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Abstract  CD28−, CD57+ and KLRG1+ are cell surface markers that have been used to describe senescent T-lymphocytes in humans. However, the relationship among these phenotypes during aging, and their relationship with the concept of in vitro cellular aging have not been well established. Using five-colour flow cytometry, we analyzed peripheral blood T-lymphocytes for their expression of CD28, CD57 and KLRG1 in 11 young (Y) and 11 old (O) apparently healthy human subjects. The proportions of CD28− and CD57+ cells were significantly higher among the T-cell populations of O compared to Y subjects; the proportion of KLRG1+ cells was significantly higher only among CD8+ cells. Populations that were more frequent in the elderly participants were characterised as CD28+ CD57+, CD28− CD57+ or CD28− CD57−. The expression of p16 and p21, considered as markers for in vitro senescence, was higher in CD28+ CD57+ cells than in other subpopulations in both age groups. The expression of p21 was age-related, which was not the case for p16. Thus, although both p16 and p21 are involved in T-cell senescence, they appear to behave differently. CMV infection and shifts in subpopulations are unlikely as explanations of the observed differences. Their higher levels of p16 and p21 expression, coupled with their higher prevalence in the elderly participants make CD28+ CD57+ cells the subpopulation of T-cells most closely corresponding to the concept of senescent cells.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-13
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9366-z
• Authors
  • Oscar Okwudiri Onyema, Gerontology Department and Frailty in Aging Research (FRIA) Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
  • Rose Njemini, Gerontology Department and Frailty in Aging Research (FRIA) Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
  • Ivan Bautmans, Gerontology Department and Frailty in Aging Research (FRIA) Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
  • Wim Renmans, Department of Hematology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
  • Marc De Waele, Department of Hematology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
  • Tony Mets, Gerontology Department and Frailty in Aging Research (FRIA) Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium

• Journal Biogerontology
• Online ISSN 1573-6768
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Abstract  This study was designed to investigate the effect of aging on the glucose metabolism on cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys. A total of 33 cynomolgus monkeys in three aged groups were monitored for glucose levels, serum parameters in fasting state and somatometric measurements. Intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were also performed. Aging associated changes lies in the less secretion of insulin and C-peptide during IVGTT in cynomolgus monkeys. It was also found that impaired insulin sensitivity occurred in female monkeys during aging based on HOMA-IR and KITT value. In addition, triglyceride level also rose with the increase of age. Less insulin secretion and impaired insulin sensitivity in female were the characteristic during the aging of cynomolgus monkeys in this study. Body mass index, weight and waist hip rate may be the relevant factors in insulin resistance of cynomolgus monkeys.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-9
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9364-1
• Authors
  • Di Wu, Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
  • Feng Yue, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
  • Chunlin Zou, Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
  • Piu Chan, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
  • Y. Alex Zhang, Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

• Journal Biogerontology
• Online ISSN 1573-6768
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Abstract  Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, attributable in part to muscle fibre loss. We are currently unable to prevent fibre loss because we do not know what causes it. To provide a platform from which to better understand the causes of muscle fibre death we have quantified fibre loss in several muscles of aged C57Bl/6J mice. Comparison of muscle fibre numbers on dystrophin-immunostained transverse tissue sections at 6 months of age with those at 24 months shows a significant fibre loss in extensor digitorum longus and soleus, but not in sternomastoid or cleidomastoid muscles. The muscles of the elderly mice were mostly lighter than their younger counterparts, but fibres in the elderly muscles were of about the same cross-sectional area. This study shows that the contribution of fibre death to sarcopenia is highly variable and that there is no consistent pattern of age-related fibre loss between skeletal muscles.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-11
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9365-0
• Authors
  • Philip W. Sheard, Department of Physiology, University of Otago, P. O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand
  • Ross D. Anderson, Department of Physiology, University of Otago, P. O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand

• Journal Biogerontology
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Abstract  One of the prevailing theories of aging, the disposable soma theory, views aging as the result of the accumulation of damage through imperfect maintenance. Aging, then, is explained from an evolutionary perspective by asserting that this lack of maintenance exists because the required resources are better invested in reproduction. However, the amount of maintenance necessary to prevent aging, ‘maintenance requirement’ has so far been largely neglected and has certainly not been considered from an evolutionary perspective. To our knowledge we are the first to do so, and arrive at the conclusion that all maintenance requirement needs an evolutionary explanation. Increases in maintenance requirement can only be selected for if these are linked with either higher fecundity or better capabilities to cope with environmental challenges to the integrity of the organism. Several observations are suggestive of the latter kind of trade-off, the existence of which leads to the inevitable conclusion that the level of maintenance requirement is in principle unbound. Even the allocation of all available resources to maintenance could be unable to stop aging in some organisms. This has major implications for our understanding of the aging process on both the evolutionary and the mechanistic level. It means that the expected effect of measures to reallocate resources to maintenance from reproduction may be small in some species. We need to have an idea of how much maintenance is necessary in the first place. Our explorations of how natural selection is expected to act on the maintenance requirement provides the first step in understanding this.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Opinion
• Pages 1-5
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9362-3
• Authors
  • Maarten J. Wensink, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad-Zuse Strasse 1, 18057 Rostock, Germany
  • Diana van Heemst, Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
  • Maarten P. Rozing, Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
  • Rudi G. J. Westendorp, Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

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Abstract  Baicalin, a herb-derived flavonoid compound, has beneficial activities, including the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-induced age-related inflammation. We investigated the anti-inflammatory action of baicalin, which depends on its ability to activate PPARγ, and subsequently to suppress NF-κB. We examined baicalin-treated kidney tissue from 24-month-old Fischer 344 aged rats (10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days) and baicalin-fed mice (10 mg/kg/day for 3 days) for in vivo investigations, and used endothelial YPEN-1 cells for in vitro studies. In the baicalin-fed aged rats, there was a marked enhancement of both nuclear protein levels and DNA binding activity of PPARγ, and a decreased expression of NF-κB target genes (VCAM-1, IL-1β, and IL-6) compared with non-baicalin-fed aged rats. Furthermore, to confirm the anti-inflammatory action of PPARγ activated by baicalin, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated cells and mice. The results showed that baicalin induced PPARγ-selective activation in YPEN-1 cells, and that the effects of baicalin were blocked by the PPARγ receptor antagonist, GW9662. In addition, baicalin treatment prevented RS generation, NF-κB activation and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, whereas it increased PPARγ expression in LPS-treated cells and mouse kidney. Our data suggest that baicalin-induced PPARγ expression reduced age-related inflammation through blocking pro-inflammatory NF-κB activation. These results indicate that baicalin is a novel PPARγ activator and that this agent may have the potential to minimize inflammation.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Research Article
• Pages 1-13
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9361-4
• Authors
  • Hyun Ae Lim, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Eun Kyeong Lee, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Ji Min Kim, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Min Hi Park, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Dae Hyun Kim, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Yeon Ja Choi, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Young Mi Ha, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Jeong-Hyun Yoon, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea
  • Jae Sue Choi, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Pukyong National University, Busan, 608-737 Republic of Korea
  • Byung Pal Yu, Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
  • Hae Young Chung, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA), Pusan National University, Gumjung-gu, Busan, 609-735 Republic of Korea

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Abstract  An understanding of the mechanisms of aging is important for prevention of age-related diseases. In this study, we examined age-dependent changes in lipid metabolism in the senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)P10 fed a high-fat diet to investigate the effects of high-fat intake and aging. Tissue weights and biological parameters in plasma and liver were measured at 6 and 12 months old in SAMP10 mice fed a high-fat diet. These mice showed marked increases in liver triacylglycerol and plasma insulin levels with intake of a high-fat diet intake and aging. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and morphological aberrations and hypertrophy in pancreatic islets were also promoted by a high-fat diet and aging. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, the activities and mRNA levels for enzymes associated with lipid metabolism in liver were measured. The results indicated that the lipid metabolic system was activated by a high-fat diet and aging. Liver mRNA level for hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd11b1), which exhibit age-dependent increases and promote insulin secretion, was also markedly increased. These results suggest that a high-fat diet accelerated aging in the liver of SAMP10 mice by increasing liver mRNA level for Hsd11b1, increasing insulin secretion, and promoting lipid accumulation in the liver.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category Original Article
• Pages 1-11
• DOI 10.1007/s10522-011-9363-2
• Authors
  • Taro Honma, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Nahoko Shinohara, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Junya Ito, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Ryo Kijima, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Soko Sugawara, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Tatsuya Arai, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Tsuyoshi Tsuduki, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan
  • Ikuo Ikeda, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan

• Journal Biogerontology
• Online ISSN 1573-6768
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