Journal article
Human astrocytes exhibit an increased expression of the cellular senescence biomarker p16INK4a in aged human brain and Alzheimer's Disease
The FASEB journal, v 25, pp 615.3-615.3
Apr 2011
Abstract
Introduction
Astrocytes are neuroglia that provide grey matter architecture, metabolic support and control extracellular concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters. It is not known if astrocytes activate a senescence program and undergo terminal arrest in aging and age‐related diseases.
Objective
To demonstrate that senescent astrocytes accumulate during human brain aging and in Alzheimer‘s Disease (AD), and exhibit increased p16 accumulation.
Methods
Archived FFPE de‐identified human frontal cortex slides were obtained from autopsy specimens. Samples were obtained from normal subjects (36 weeks to 88 yrs, N=21), and AD subjects (53 to 90 yrs, N=11). Immunoflourescence staining for GFAP/p16 was performed in triplicates using standardized methods.
Results/Conclusions
There is a significant age‐dependent increase in p16‐positive astrocytes (6‐fold in aged brains vs. fetal brains, P<0.001, Fig. 1). AD brains show greater p16 accumulation compared to age‐matched controls, with the difference being more striking in the 60–79 years age group, compared to the > 80 years age group (Fig. 2), which raises the possibility that the chain of events leading to cellular senescence may already have occurred in the older brains. Astrocyte senescence during aging and AD may be due to effects of oxidative stress and/or β‐amyloid, which will be clarified by further studies.
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Details
- Title
- Human astrocytes exhibit an increased expression of the cellular senescence biomarker p16INK4a in aged human brain and Alzheimer's Disease
- Creators
- Rekha Bhat - Drexel UniversityMichelle Moh - Drexel UniversityAllessandro Bitto - Drexel UniversityChristian Sell - Drexel UniversityChristos Katsetos - Drexel UniversityFernando U Garcia - Drexel UniversityJohn Q Trojanowski - Pathology & Laboratory MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAClaudio Torres - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The FASEB journal, v 25, pp 615.3-615.3
- Publisher
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- Number of pages
- 1
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neurobiology and Anatomy; Pathology (and Laboratory Medicine)
- Other Identifier
- 991019170541604721