Cited by 165Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsTryptophan and brain disordersAntioxidants, Aging, Portulaca oleracea

IL-6 Mediated Degeneration of Forebrain GABAergic Interneurons and Cognitive Impairment in Aged Mice through Activation of Neuronal NADPH Oxidase

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Dugan, Laura L., Ali, Sameh S., Shekhtman, Grigoriy, Roberts, Amanda J., Lucero, Jacinta, Quick, Kevin L., Behrens, M. Margarita·2009·PLoS ONE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have shown that plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) are elevated in patients with important and prevalent adverse health conditions, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and frailty. Higher plasma levels of IL-6, in turn, increase the risk of many conditions associated with aging including age-related cognitive decline. However, the mechanisms underlying this association between IL-6 and cognitive vulnerability remain unclear. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We investigated the role of IL-6 in brain aging in young (4 mo) and aged (24 mo) wild-type C57BL6 and genetically-matched IL-6(-/-) mice, and determined that IL-6 was necessary and sufficient for increased neuronal expression of the superoxide-producing immune enzyme, NADPH-oxidase, and this was mediated by non-canonical NFkappaB signaling. Furthermore, superoxide production by NADPH-oxidase was directly responsible for age-related loss of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing GABAergic interneurons, neurons essential for normal information processing, encoding, and retrieval in hippocampus and cortex. Targeted deletion of IL-6 or elimination of superoxide by chronic treatment with a superoxide-dismutase mimetic prevented age-related loss of PV-interneurons and reversed age-related cognitive deficits on three standard tests of spatial learning and recall. CONCLUSIONS: Present results indicate that IL-6 mediates age-related loss of critical PV-expressing GABAergic interneurons through increased neuronal NADPH-oxidase-derived superoxide production, and that rescue of these interneurons preserves cognitive performance in aging mice, suggesting that elevated peripheral IL-6 levels may be directly and mechanistically linked to long-lasting cognitive deficits in even normal older individuals. Further, because PV-interneurons are also selectively affected by commonly used anesthetic agents and drugs, our findings imply that IL-6 levels may predict adverse CNS effects in older patients exposed to these compounds through specific derangements in inhibitory interneurons, and that therapies directed at lowering IL-6 may have cognitive benefits clinically.

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  1. [32]Serrander L Cartier L Bedard K Banfi B Lardy B 2007 NOX4 activity is determined by mRNA levels and reveals a unique pattern of ROS generation. Biochem J PMC1948990 17501721
  2. [53]Kausler DH 1994 Learning and Memory in Normal Aging Academic Press, San Diego, CA

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Authors
Dugan, L. L., Ali, S. S., Shekhtman, G., Roberts, A. J., Lucero, J., Quick, K. L., & Behrens, M. M.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Scripps Research Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Dugan, Laura L.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2009-05-13
Volume
4
Issue
5
Pages
e5518
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2000833088
Cited by
165
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 7
FWCI
5.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Larry L. Hillblom Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (NS057096)
  • National Institute on Aging (K25AG026379, R21AG030320, AG030320)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (P30NS057096, NS057096)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Antioxidants, Aging, Portulaca oleracea
Keywords
interleukin-6, brain aging, GABAergic interneurons, parvalbumin interneurons, NADPH oxidase, superoxide, non-canonical NF-κB signaling, age-related cognitive decline, neuroinflammation, superoxide dismutase mimetic, spatial learning and memory
MeSH terms
NADPH Oxidase 2, Aging, Animals, Cell Nucleus, Cognition, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Interneurons, Membrane Glycoproteins, Mice, Transgenic, Nerve Degeneration, Neurons, Parvalbumins, Superoxide Dismutase, Synaptosomes, Interleukin-6, Prosencephalon, NADPH Oxidases, Mice

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