Age-associated alterations in hippocampal and basal forebrain nuclear factor kappa B activity

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54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Age-related cognitive deficits are often associated with loss of cholinergic activity within the neurotrophin-dependent cholinergic neurons that project from the basal forebrain to the hippocampus. The cause of reduced cholinergic function is unknown, but alterations in transcription factor-signaling pathways causing altered gene expression may cause decreased specific tissue function, resulting in loss of cholinergic activity. We measured transcription factor Nuclear Factor kappa B by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western analysis in young and aged rat brain tissues and report that basal levels of Nuclear Factor kappa B DNA-binding activity increase in the hippocampus and basal forebrain with age to significantly higher levels at 30 months of age. This age-associated increase in binding activity is associated with increased translocation of p65 to the nucleus. These data show an age-associated alteration in Nuclear Factor kappa B signal transduction pathways that may contribute to age-associated decreases in specific tissue function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)580-587
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Research
Volume48
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 1997

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Brain
  • Transcription factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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