title: Vascular and neurogenic rejuvenation of the aging mouse brain by young systemic factors.
abstract: In the adult central nervous system, the vasculature of the neurogenic niche regulates neural stem cell behavior by providing circulating and secreted factors. Age-related decline of neurogenesis and cognitive function is associated with reduced blood flow and decreased numbers of neural stem cells. Therefore, restoring the functionality of the niche should counteract some of the negative effects of aging. We show that factors found in young blood induce vascular remodeling, culminating in increased neurogenesis and improved olfactory discrimination in aging mice. Further, we show that GDF11 alone can improve the cerebral vasculature and enhance neurogenesis. The identification of factors that slow the age-dependent deterioration of the neurogenic niche in mice may constitute the basis for new methods of treating age-related neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Katsimpardi
authors.forename: Nadia K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Litterman
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schein
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Francesco S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Loffredo
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wojtkiewicz
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wagers
authors.forename: Lee L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010227:Parabiosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012060:Rejuvenation
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C119153:Gdf11 protein, mouse; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins