As people get older, their neural stem cells lose their ability to multiply and produce new neurons, leading to a decline in memory function. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now discovered a mechanism linked to the aging of gas cells – and how neurons can reactivate.
The stem cells in our brain generate new neurons throughout life, for example in the hippocampus. This region of the brain plays a key role for a range of memory processes. With increasing age, and in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus’s ability to form new neurons is steadily declining – and with it, its memory functions.
Circulation of cell damage is age-dependent
A study by research group Sebastian Jessberger, a professor at the University of Zurich’s Brain Research Institute, shows how the formation of new neurons is damaged by advanced age. Protein structures in the nucleus of neural gas cells ensure that harmful proteins that accumulate over time are unequally distributed on both daughter cells during cell division. This appears to be an important part of the ability of cells to multiply over a long period of time to maintain a supply of neurons. With advanced age, however, the amount of nuclear proteins changes, leading to a deficient release of harmful proteins between the two daughter cells. This leads to a decrease in the numbers of newly generated neurons in the brains of old mice.
The key element of this process is a nuclear protein called lamin B1, and the levels go down as people age. When the researchers increased lamin B1 levels in experiments in aging mice, gas cell division improved and the number of new neurons increased. “As we get older, stem cells throughout the body gradually lose their ability to multiply. Using genetic engineering and state-of-the-art microscope technology, we were able to identify equipment that is related to this process, “said doctoral candidate and first author Khadeesh bin Imtiaz.
Stopping the aging process of gas cells
The research is part of a number of ongoing projects aimed at regenerating aging cells. The ability to regenerate damaged bones usually declines with age, thus affecting almost all types of cells in the body. “While our study was limited to brain stem cells, devices like this seem to play a key role when it comes to the aging process of other cells,” says Sebastian Jessberger.
These latest findings are an important step toward age-dependent changes in stem cell behavior. “We now know that we can regenerate stem cells in the brain. Our hope is that these decisions will one day help increase levels of neurogenesis, for example in the elderly or those suffering from degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer ‘s. Even if this may still be there will be many years in the future, “says Jessberger.
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Magazine Reference:
bin Imtiaz, MK, et al. (2021) Decreased Lamin B1 expression mediates age-dependent reduction of hippocampal gas cell activity. Stem cells. doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.01.015.