Research groups from Toho University, Kyoto University, Ritsumeikan University and others have shown that improving the aging of abdominal cells in the abdominal lumen leads to improving the aging of cognitive function.

 According to the research group's presentation, administration of CX3CL1, one of the chemokines that control the migration of immune cells, to the abdominal cavity of aged mice partially restores the properties of the abdominal cells that have changed due to aging, and at the same time, aged cognitive function. Is said to have improved.Until now, it was known that the expression of CX3CL1 was increased by exercise, but its role was unknown.In this study, we found that intraperitoneal administration of CX3CL1 enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression.

 BDNF expression in the brain decreases with age, and its association with aging has been pointed out.The enhancement of BDNF expression in the brain by administration of CX3CL1 to the abdominal cavity suggests that abdominal cells are an effective target for recovering BDNF production decreased by aging of the brain and improving brain function. ..On the other hand, BDNF expression in the brain due to CX3CL1 administration to the abdominal cavity disappeared when the vagus nerve was cut. Therefore, when the aging of abdominal cells improves, the stimulus is transmitted to the brain via the vagus nerve and increases BDNF expression. As a result, we have come to see a mechanism for improving aging cognitive function.

 It was also revealed that transplantation of abdominal cells whose aging was improved by administration of CX3CL1 to another aged mouse restored the cognitive function of the transplanted aged mouse.Using this mechanism, we succeeded in improving the cognitive function of aged mice, which correspond to about 60 years old, to almost the same level as young mice, which correspond to about 20 to 30 years old.

 This study revealed a new relationship between abdominal cells and the brain, and showed that aging of abdominal cells may affect brain aging via the vagus nerve.Further studies are expected to make it possible to treat cognitive aging in the elderly and lead to the development of preventive methods for diseases whose onset risk increases with aging.

Paper information:[Gero Science] Alteration in peritoneal cells with the chemokine CX3CL1 reverses age-associated impairment of recognition memory

Kyoto University

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Ritsumeikan University
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