title: In vitro caloric restriction induces protective genes and functional rejuvenation in senescent SAMP8 astrocytes.
abstract: 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 pathways confirmed the brain benefits of caloric restriction. Studies of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function demonstrated a reduction of oxidative damage and partial improvement of mitochondria 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.
authors.affiliation: Aging and Neurodegeneration Unit, Biomedical Research Institute of Barcelona (IIBB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and IDIBAPS, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Matas
authors.forename: Rajib K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molina-Martínez
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corpas
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pallas
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cristòfol
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cabo
authors.forename: Coral
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanfeliu
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants
keywords: RNA microarrays; SAMP8; astrocytes; caloric restriction; mitochondria; oxidative stress