Effects of natural aging and gender on pro-inflammatory markers

The term inflammaging is now widely used to designate the inflammatory process of natural aging. During this process, cytokine balance is altered, presumably due to the loss of homeostasis, thus contributing to a greater predisposition to disease and exacerbation of chronic diseases. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between pro-inflammatory markers and age in the natural aging process of healthy individuals. One hundred and ten subjects were divided into 5 groups according to age (22 subjects/group). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were quantified using the ELISA method. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was analyzed by turbidimetry according to laboratory procedures. The main findings of this study were: a positive correlation between hsCRP and IL-6 as a function of age (110 subjects); women showed stronger correlations; the 51-60 age group had the highest values for hsCRP and IL-6; women presented higher values for hsCRP in the 51-60 age group and higher values for IL-6 in the 61-70 age group; and men showed higher values in the 51-60 age group for hsCRP and IL-6. In conclusion, the natural aging process increased IL-6 and hsCRP levels, which is consistent with the inflammaging theory; however, women presented stronger correlations compared to men (IL-6 and hsCRP) and the 51-60 age range seems to be a key point for these increases. These findings are important because they indicate that early preventive measures may minimize the increase in these inflammatory markers in natural human aging.

Analysis of Effect of Siwutang on Natural Aging Mice Based on Chinmedomics / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: Through metabonomics research methods,the effect of Siwutang on metabolites and metabolic pathways in natural aging mice were observed.The related targets and mechanism of Siwutang intervention in natural aging mice were analyzed. Method: Taking 20-month-old natural aging model mice(equivalent to 60-65 years old of human beings) as the experimental subjects,at the same time,mice aged 3 months were established as the youth group.UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technique was employed to analyze the mouse plasma with mobile phase of acetonitrile(containing 0.1%formic acid)-0.1%formic acid solution for gradient elution and positive ion mode of electrospray ionization,and the metabolic markers were analyzed by principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA),and their metabolic pathways were summarized. Result: Siwutang had obvious reversal effect on the expression levels of 16 aging-related metabolites,among which 9 metabolic markers were statistically significant(PConclusion: Siwutang can affect the metabolites in the plasma of 20-month-old natural aging mice,and the metabolic disorder during the aging process of mice can be improved by glutathione metabolism,pyrimidine metabolism,selenium amino acid metabolism and other pathways,and this paper can provide biological information for the study of material basis of this compound for aging.

Effects of Guilingji on improving learning and memory dysfunction caused by aging / 中草药

Objective To explore the effects of Guilingji on improving learning and memory dysfunction caused by aging. Methods The mouse model of subacute aging caused by D-galactose and the rat model of natural aging were used respectively to imitate learning and memory dysfunction caused by aging. The effects of Guilingji on improving of learning and memory function index were focused in the diving platform experiment and the Morris water maze experiment. At the same time, the effect of that on rat organ index and blood biochemical index were investigated. Results Guilingji can significantly prolong step down latency (P < 0.05) and reduce the number of errors within 5 min (P < 0.05, 0.01) of the model mice. It can shorten positioning navigation escape incubation period (P < 0.01), extend the space exploration quadrant retention time (P < 0.05, 0.01), and increase the number of access to the platform (P < 0.05). Guilingji can increase testicular, thymus and spleen index (P < 0.05) and reduce the ALT content in serum (P < 0.05). Conclusion Guilingji can obviously improve the impairment of learning and memory function caused by aging. It also has some good effects on enhancing immunity, improving reproductive capacity, and protecting liver.

Effect of saponins extracted from Panax japonicas on inhibiting myocardial fibrosis by TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway in aging rats / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the amelioration effect of saponins extracted from Panax japonicas (SPJ) on myocardial fibrosis in natural aging rats and its mechanisms, male SD rats aged 18 months were randomly divided into 3 groups (aging model group, low-dose SPJ group and high-dose SPJ group), with 10 rats in each group. SPJ groups were given SPJ at different doses (10, 60 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) consecutively for 6 months, meanwhile, aging model group was treated with the equal volume of saline for 6 months until 24 months old. Another 10 rats aged 6 month were used as young control group. The changes of myocardial morphological were observed by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Masson staining was used to observe the changes of collagen deposition in rat hearts. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of myofibroblast marker α-SMA, collagen-related protein COL1α2, COL3α1 and matrix metalloproteinase MMP2, MMP9. Western blot was used to test the changes of the protein expressions of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, IL-1β and TNF-α in heart tissues. SPJ can effectively improve the arrangement of myocardial fibers, decrease inflammatory infiltration and reduce collagen deposition in aging rats. SPJ can effectively down-regulate the mRNA expression levels of COL1α2, COL3α1, α-SMA, MMP9, MMP2 and inhibit the protein expressions of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, TNF-α, IL-1β in the natural aging heart tissues. SPJ can effectively alleviate myocardial fibrosis in natural aging rats, and its mechanisms was related to the inhibition of the protein expressions of TGF-β1, p-Smad3 and the reduction of myocardial inflammation in rat hearts.

Effect of saponins extracted from Panax japonicus on inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis by AMPK/Sirt1/NF-κB signaling pathway in aging rats / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the effects of saponins extracted from Panax japonicus(SPJ) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in natural aging rats and explore its underlying mechanisms. SD male rats were randomly divided into four groups: young control group, natural aging group, SPJ low dose group and SPJ high dose group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in natural aging group, SPJ low and high dose groups were respectively treated with normal saline, SPJ 10 and 60 mg•kg-1•d-1 from the beginning of 18 month-old, 6 days per week for 6 months till 24 month-old. Then the animals were sacrificed. Their myocardial morphology changes were observed by using haematoxylin-eoin(HE) staining; cardiomyocyte apoptosis was tested by using Tunel assays; and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, IL-1β, TNF-α, AMPK, p-AMPK, Sirt1, and Ac-NF-κB p65 in myocardial tissues of rats were detected by Western blot. The results showed that SPJ could effectively improve the arrangement disorder of myocardial fibers, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells and inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis in natural aging rats. At the same time, SPJ could significantly inhibit the protein expression of Bax, IL-1β, TNF-α and Ac-NF-κB p65, and increase the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-2/Bax, p-AMPK/AMPK and Sirt1 in the heart tissues of natural aging rats. SPJ can effectively inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis in natural aging rats, and its mechanisms may be related with the regulation of inflammatory reaction by AMPK/Sirt1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract on Learning Memory Ability and Inflammatory Response in Hippocampus of Natural Aging Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of Ginkgo biloba extract 50 (GBE50) on learning memory ability and inflammatory response in hippocampus of natural aging mice, and explore the underlying anti-aging mechanisms.Methods 16-month-old ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups:model group, GBE50 low and high dose groups. 1 month mice were as normal group. The mice in GBE50 low and high dose groups received GBE50. The mice in the normal and model groups received solvent (1%CMC-Na+) by intragastric administration. The Morris water maze test and step-down test were used to assess behaviors of the mice. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the number of Iba-1 positive cells. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β.Results Compared with normal group, escape latency and swimming distance in the Morris water maze test in the model group increased (P<0.05);latency shorted and error times decreased in the step-down test (P<0.05);the number of Iba-1 positive cell in the hippocampus CA1 in the model group increased considerably (P<0.01);TNF-α expression was in a general upward trend while IL-1β increased apparently (P<0.01). Compared with model group, escape latency and swimming distance decreased in the Morris water maze test in GBE50 high dose group;latency and the error times increased in the step-down test (P<0.05);the number of Iba-1 positive cells decreased (P<0.05). TNF-α expression showed a downward trend and IL-1β expression decreased in GBE50 low dose group (P<0.05). Conclusion GBE50 can delay aging and increase learning memory of natural aging mice.