By Dr. Chinta SidharthanJun 4 2024Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. In a recent study published in the journal Science Advances, a team of Chinese researchers used murine models to investigate whether immune rejuvenation through the transplantation of young bone marrow could retard immunosenescence and potentially be used as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease.
The age-related decline of the immune system results in a decrease in immune cell production, reduced diversity of the immune repertoire, and an accumulation of dysfunctional immune cells — a phenomenon collectively known as immunosenescence. It is believed that immunosenescence is a driver of systemic aging, including brain aging, and increases the susceptibility to age-related degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Studies have reported that peripheral lymphohematopoietic cells reconstitute approximately three weeks after the bone marrow transplant. Therefore, the researchers hypothesized that the effects of anti-Alzheimer's disease would be displayed after three weeks, and they conducted behavior tests such as the Y-maze and open-field tests to assess brain function.
The brain sections were also used to analyze brain volume and conduct western blotting to detect amyloid β and full-length amyloid precursor protein. Inflammatory factors such as interleukin-10, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The study found that young bone marrow transplantation significantly reduced neuronal degeneration, amyloid β plaque burden, and neuroinflammation and improved the behavioral deficits observed in aged Alzheimer's disease model mice. Increased amyloid β clearance was also found to ameliorate cerebral amyloidosis.