Intestinal Permeability, Gut Inflammation, and Gut Immune System Response Are Linked to Aging-Related Changes in Gut Microbiota Composition: A Study in Female Mice

Abstract Aging entails changes at the cellular level that increase the risk of various pathologies. An association between gut microbiota and age-related diseases has also been attributed. This study aims to analyze changes in fecal microbiota composition and their association with genes related to...

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Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2024-04, Vol.79 (4)
Main Authors: Gámez-Macías, Paola Elizabeth, Félix-Soriano, Elisa, Samblas, Mirian, Sáinz, Neira, Moreno-Aliaga, María Jesús, González-Muniesa, Pedro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Animals
Bacteria - genetics
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology
Immunity
Inflammation
Intestinal Barrier Function
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
THE JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY: Biological Sciences
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Summary:Abstract Aging entails changes at the cellular level that increase the risk of various pathologies. An association between gut microbiota and age-related diseases has also been attributed. This study aims to analyze changes in fecal microbiota composition and their association with genes related to immune response, gut inflammation, and intestinal barrier impairment. Fecal samples of female mice at different ages (2 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months) and gene expression in colon tissue were analyzed. Results showed that the older mice group had a more diverse microbiota than the younger group. Additionally, the abundance of Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Flavobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Akkermansia, and Parabacteroides goldsteinii increased with age. In contrast, there was a notable decline in Clostridiaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Monoglobaceae, Ligilactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Mucispirillum, and Bacteroides faecichinchillae. These bacteria imbalances were positively correlated with increased inflammation markers in the colon, including Tnf-α, Ccl2, and Ccl12, and negatively with the expression of tight junction genes (Jam2, Tjp1, and Tjp2), as well as immune response genes (Cd4, Cd72, Tlr7, Tlr12, and Lbp). In conclusion, high levels of diversity did not result in improved health in older mice; however, the imbalance in bacteria abundance that occurs with aging might contribute to immune senescence, inflammation, and leaky gut disease.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/glae045