Promoting The Nuclear Retention Of Hmgb1 Attenuates Astrocyte Senescence
Our brains, like the rest of our bodies, undergo an aging process. A key player in brain health are astrocytes, star-shaped cells that support neurons. As we age, these astrocytes can enter a state called senescence, where they stop dividing and can even release harmful substances, contributing to brain aging and related diseases.
Recent research has shed light on a protein called HMGB1, which is found in astrocytes and plays a complex role in this aging process. Scientists observed that the amount of HMGB1 decreases in astrocytes as they age. Interestingly, this protein can exist in two main locations: inside the cell’s control center, the nucleus, or outside the cell.
The crucial discovery is that HMGB1 acts very differently depending on its location. When HMGB1 stays inside the nucleus, it actually helps to prevent astrocytes from becoming senescent, essentially acting as an anti-aging factor for these cells. However, if HMGB1 leaves the nucleus and is found outside the cell, it promotes senescence, accelerating the aging of astrocytes.
This finding suggests a promising new strategy for combating brain aging: by developing ways to keep HMGB1 within the nucleus of astrocytes, we might be able to slow down or even prevent the cellular aging that contributes to age-related brain disorders. This approach could open new avenues for therapies aimed at maintaining brain health as we get older.
Source: link to paper