Age-dependent expression of S100beta in the brain of mice

Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2010 Jul;30(5):709-16. doi: 10.1007/s10571-009-9495-y. Epub 2010 Jan 23.

Abstract

S100beta is a soluble calcium binding protein released by glial cells. It has been reported as a neurotrophic factor that promotes neurite maturation and outgrowth during development. This protein also plays a role in axonal stability and in long term potentiation in the adult brain. The ability of S100beta to modulate neuronal morphology raises the important question whether there is an age-related difference in the expression of S100beta in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices of AKR strain mice and is this change is region specific. Our RT-PCR and Western blotting experiments show that the expression of S100beta gene in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices starts from 0 day, peaks at about 45 days. However, in 70-week old mice its expression is significantly up-regulated as compared to that of 20-week old mice. S100beta follows the same age-related pattern in both cerebral and cerebellar cortices. These results suggest that S100beta is important for brain development and establishment of proper brain functions. Up-regulation of S100beta in old age may have some role in development of age-related pathological systems in the brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain / growth & development*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics*
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins / genetics*
  • S100 Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins