Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco have identified a mechanism by which blood transfused from young mice to old ones stops aging and protects the brain from neurodegenerative diseases. Experts believe that the same thing should happen in humans. This is reported by Science Alert.
The researchers conducted an experiment on parabiosis, during which the circulatory systems of rodents of various ages were combined - 18 months, three and six years. After that, the amount of the Tet2 enzyme in the brain of animals was determined, which plays a role in the epigenetic regulation of genes. As we age, more and more mutations appear in the DNA that encodes the enzyme, which contributes to the development of various diseases, including cancer, as well as stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
It turned out that the blood of young mice increases the amount of Tet2 in the hippocampus of old animals. Blocking the activity of this compound helps to reduce the number of formed neurons.
Older animals that underwent the parabiosis procedure improved some of their cognitive performance, the researchers said.
In January 2018, scientists at Stanford University found that old blood transfusion caused damage to the nervous system due to the action of the VCAM1 protein. It suppresses the formation of new nerve cells in the hippocampus, and also promotes inflammatory reactions involving microglia - immune cells of the central nervous system.
