Excess Signaling Is Bad for the Aging Brain

Abstract only Excess signaling by type I interferon contributes to cognitive decline in aged mice. Preventing antiviral-like responses may protect function in the aging brain. Baruch et al. monitored messenger RNA production in the choroid plexus, the interface between the blood and cerebrospinal fl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science signaling 2014-10, Vol.7 (346)
Main Author: Ray, L. Bryan
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Abstract only Excess signaling by type I interferon contributes to cognitive decline in aged mice. Preventing antiviral-like responses may protect function in the aging brain. Baruch et al. monitored messenger RNA production in the choroid plexus, the interface between the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, in young and old mice (see the Perspective by Ransohoff). They detected an inflammatory response in older mice not present in the brain of young mice that was also seen in old aged human samples postmortem. Preventing signaling by type I interferons, which normally mediates the antiviral response of the immune system, helped prevent the decrease in cognitive function seen in aged mice. K. Baruch, A. Deczkowska, E. David, J. M. Castellano, O. Miller, A. Kertser, T. Berkutzki, Z. Barnett-Itzhaki, D. Bezalel, T. Wyss-Coray, I. Amit, M. Schwartz, Aging-induced type I interferon response at the choroid plexus negatively affects brain function. Science 346 , 89–93 (2014). [Abstract] [Full Text] R. M. Ransohoff, Good barriers make good neighbors. Science 346, 36–37 (2014). [Abstract] [Full Text]
ISSN:1945-0877
1937-9145
DOI:10.1126/scisignal.2005992