A landmark study published in the journal Nature provides new insights into aging processes in the brain and potential targets for combating age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The research team, led by Prof. Andrea Ablasser from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, conducted the study in collaboration with scientists from the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Freiburg.
· Press Release
Anti-Aging for the brain? Important signalling pathway in brain aging identified
A recent study provides new insights into age-related changes in the brain
Novel drug reverses age-related changes
The reserachers showed that the cGAS-STING signalling pathway mediates the immune response to DNA. It can be a crucial factor for chronic immune cell activation, nerve cell loss and functional decline in ageing mice. “After using a previously developed novel drug to block STING, the age-related cellular changes regressed,” explains study co-author Dr. Marius Schwabenland, a scientist at the Institute of Neuropathology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and a fellow in the IMM-PACT Clinician Scientist Program at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Freiburg. “In parallel, there was an improvement in brain function, such as improved learning and memory.”
Conversely, the researchers were able to amplify the cGAS-STING signalling pathway in mice using a genetic modification in microglial cells, the scavenger cells in the brain. This amplification alone caused the premature onset of age-related cellular changes and cognitive decline.
Potential for halting neurodegenerative processes in old age
Prof. Dr. Marco Prinz, Medical Director of the Institute of Neuropathology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and co-author of the study, emphasises the importance of these findings: “The research results suggest that targeted blockade of the cGAS-STING pathway could be a promising approach to stop neurodegenerative processes in old age. However, further investigation is needed to understand the full potential of these findings.” Prinz is a member of the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS – Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies at the University of Freiburg and spokesperson od the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 167 “Development, function and potential of myeloid cells in the central nervous system” (NeuroMac).
Original publication
Gulen, M.F., Samson, N., Keller, A., Schwabenland, M., Liu, C., Glück, S., Thacker, V.V., Favre, L., Mangeat, B., Kroese, L.J., Krimpenfort, P., Prinz, M., Ablasser, A. cGAS–STING drives ageing-related inflammation and neurodegeneration. Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06373-1
CIBSS profile of Prof. Dr. Marco Prinz