Effects of Melatonin and Age on Gene Expression in Mouse CNS Using Microarray Analysis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bondy SC ; Cotman CW ; Lahiri D ; Perreau VM ; Sharman EH ; Sharman KG
• Description:
  The expression levels of a number of genes associated with inflammation and immune function change with advancing age. Melatonin modulates gene expression levels of several of these genes. Therefore the declining levels of melatonin associated with age may play a role in the physiological effects of aging. We used oligonucleotide microarrays to measure age-related changes in mRNA expression in the murine CNS, and to study the effect of prolonged administration of dietary melatonin upon these changes. CB6F1 male mice were fed 40 ppm melatonin for 2.1 months prior to sacrifice at age 26.5 months, and compared with both age-matched controls and young, 4.5-month-old untreated controls. Total RNA was extracted from whole brain (excluding cerebellum and brain stem) and individual samples were hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse 430-2.0 arrays. The expression of a substantial number of genes was modulated by melatonin treatment and changes in selected genes were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A subset of these genes did not change with age. Conversely, some genes modulated by age were also modulated by melatonin treatment. In general, melatonin treatment drove the expression levels of these genes closer to the expression levels detected in the younger animals. Notably, the abundance of lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) mRNA increased with age and was decreased in old animals treated with melatonin. Lcn2 is a member of the acute phase response family of proteins and its mRNA levels in the brain increase in response to inflammation. Many of the genes with expression reduced by melatonin are involved in inflammation and the immune system. This suggests that melatonin treatment may influence the inflammatory responses of old animals, driving them to resemble more closely those occurring in young animals. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Animals Diet Immune System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Animal Studies Author Keywords: Aging Brain Brain Function Central Nervous System Gene Expression Immune Reaction Immune System Immunity Melatonin Microarray MRNA Physiological Effects

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• ISSN:
  0197-0186
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Indiana ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  336-344
• Volume:
  50
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058456
• Citation:
  Neurochem Int 2007 Jan; 50(2):336-344
• Contact Point Address:
  Edward H. Sharman, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Community and Environmental Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-1825, USA
• Email:
  esharman@uci.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Melatonin (CAS RN 73-31-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Los Angeles
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Neurochemistry International
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bacd8e2381e7f8b927608e7e4e3709d996f2a7fc1173b16499672e1cc75cc978806a6e438ddaa4ec69bb8c922df6200ae39934a9a54af647b2205d761f5b374a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/221546/cdc_221546_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 299.82 KB ]