Processing, lysis, and elimination of brain lipopigments in rejuvenation therapies

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 May:1067:383-7. doi: 10.1196/annals.1354.054.

Abstract

Cerebral lipopigments (LPs)--lipofuscin and ceroid--represent a significant marker in postmitotic normal and pathologic aging, connected with causal and associated neuropathologic damage. Therefore, LP processing, lysis, and elimination may be the main targets in anti-aging and rejuvenation therapies. The regenerative neuroactive factors improve neuron supply with specific nutrients from plasma. They enhance the antioxidative defense, have anti-LP-poietic actions, stimulate brain anabolism, support energetic metabolism, and elevate the reduced lysosomal enzymes. In the second stage, by cytoplasm rehydration, they initiate the breaking up of the neuronal aggregated LP conglomerates, by consecutive disintegration. Then, possibly by the localized exo-endocytosis process between neurons and adjacent glia (especially microglia), intercellular LP transfer can be realized. So, therapeutically activated glia turn into brain garbage collectors and transporters. Therapeutic processing of glial LPs increases in the capillary neighborhood. Highly processed LPs, by glio-endothelial transfer, reach capillary walls before being eliminated. Consequently, neuroactive therapies having these synergistic rejuvenative actions represent new prospects in deceleration of normal and pathological cerebral aging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Ceroid / metabolism
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Lipofuscin / metabolism
  • Rejuvenation / physiology*

Substances

  • Ceroid
  • Lipids
  • Lipofuscin
  • lipopigments