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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications
Published on: May 18, 2017
Age-associated decrease of senescence marker protein-30/gluconolactonase in individual mouse liver cells:
Akihito Ishigami1, Hirofumi Masutomi1, Setsuko Handa1
1Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
Aim:
Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30)/gluconolactonase (GNL) is an age-associated protein in that its presence decreases with aging. Here, we used immunohistochemical analysis to investigate the changes of SMP30/GNL in individual cells of the liver from progressively aged mice.
Methods:
Male C57BL/6 strain mice at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 30 months-of-age were the source of hepatic cells used to detect SMP30/GNL. Liver sections from these mice were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with anti-SMP30/GNL antibody. For immunofluorescent staining, primary cultured hepatocytes from mice at various ages were stained with SMP30/GNL and albumin.
Results:
In liver cells from mice of all ages, SMP30/GNL staining appeared in some but not all parenchymal cells, and localized in both the nuclei and cytoplasm. Moreover, SMP30/GNL-positive staining of parenchymal cells was present only around central vein areas, but not at sites of portal veins. Furthermore, the number of SMP30/GNL-positive cells increased as mice aged from 1 to 12 months, then decreased from the 12th to 24th month. Results were similar in primary cultured hepatocytes from mice of various ages.
Conclusions:
SMP30/GNL-positive cells localized mainly around the central veins in the livers of mice and decreased numerically with aging, although there was no age-related change in counts of albumin-positive cells. SMP30/GNL protein occupied the nuclei and cytoplasm. Therefore, nuclear SMP30/GNL protein might be a regulatory factor specific for genes whose expression governs transcription and the aging process.
Insights
Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30)/gluconolactonase (GNL) protein decreases in mouse liver cells with aging. This age-associated protein, found in nuclei and cytoplasm, may regulate gene expression and the aging process.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cell Biology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30)/gluconolactonase (GNL) is an age-associated protein that declines with aging.
- Investigating SMP30/GNL changes in liver cells provides insights into cellular aging mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in SMP30/GNL expression within individual mouse liver cells.
- To determine the cellular localization and distribution of SMP30/GNL in aging mouse livers.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of liver sections from mice aged 1 to 30 months.
- Immunofluorescent staining of primary cultured hepatocytes for SMP30/GNL and albumin.
Main Results:
- SMP30/GNL staining was observed in both the nuclei and cytoplasm of some parenchymal cells, primarily around central veins.
- The number of SMP30/GNL-positive cells increased from 1 to 12 months and then decreased from 12 to 24 months of age.
- No age-related changes were observed in albumin-positive cell counts.
Conclusions:
- SMP30/GNL-positive cells are concentrated around central veins and decrease in number with aging.
- Nuclear SMP30/GNL protein may play a role in regulating gene expression involved in transcription and aging.
- SMP30/GNL serves as a potential biomarker for cellular aging in the liver.
