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Nrf2 activity is lost in the spinal cord and its astrocytes of aged mice

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Abstract

We report herein a study of aging using in vitro and in vivo models. Glial fibrillary acidic protein and ferritin expression levels increased, and the levels of glutamate transporter 1 and transferrin receptor 1 decreased in aging mouse spinal cord and its astrocytes. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential in astrocytes decreased after 60 d of culture. Given the relationship between aging and loss of antioxidant tolerance capacity, we examined the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) and NAD(P)H/quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in the old mouse astrocytes and spinal cord. Indeed, both antioxidant enzymes decreased there. Total nuclear factor E2-related factor 2, which governs basal and inducible expression of HO1 and NQO1, decreased significantly. Significantly, epigallocatechin gallate restored the Nrf2 activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050000, China

    Weisong Duan, Ruiyan Zhang, Yansu Guo, Yifang Jiang, Yanli Huang, Hong Jiang & Chunyan Li

  2. Institute of Cardiocerebrovascular Disease, Hepingxi Road 215, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050000, China

    Yansu Guo & Chunyan Li

Authors
  1. Weisong Duan
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  2. Ruiyan Zhang
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  3. Yansu Guo
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  4. Yifang Jiang
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  5. Yanli Huang
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  6. Hong Jiang
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  7. Chunyan Li
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Correspondence to Chunyan Li.

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Editor: J. Denry Sato

Weisong Duan and Ruiyan Zhang contributed equally to the work.

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Duan, W., Zhang, R., Guo, Y. et al. Nrf2 activity is lost in the spinal cord and its astrocytes of aged mice. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Animal 45, 388–397 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-009-9194-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-009-9194-5

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