Rejuvenation of peripheral immune cells attenuates Alzheimer's disease-like pathologies and behavioral deficits in a mouse model

Sci Adv. 2024 May 31;10(22):eadl1123. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adl1123. Epub 2024 May 29.

Abstract

Immunosenescence contributes to systematic aging and plays a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential of immune rejuvenation as a therapeutic strategy for AD. To achieve this, the immune systems of aged APP/PS1 mice were rejuvenated through young bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that young BMT restored the expression of aging- and AD-related genes in multiple cell types within blood immune cells. The level of circulating senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins was decreased following young BMT. Notably, young BMT resulted in a significant reduction in cerebral Aβ plaque burden, neuronal degeneration, neuroinflammation, and improvement of behavioral deficits in aged APP/PS1 mice. The ameliorated cerebral amyloidosis was associated with an enhanced Aβ clearance of peripheral monocytes. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that immune system rejuvenation represents a promising therapeutic approach for AD.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / immunology
  • Alzheimer Disease* / immunology
  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease* / therapy
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
  • Rejuvenation*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides