Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
06:24
Cryo-section Dissection of the Adult Subependymal Zone for Accurate and Deep Quantitative Proteome Analysis
Published on: October 7, 2021
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Reduction in IGF1 mRNA in the Human Subependymal Zone During Aging
Christin Weissleder1,2, Guy Barry3, Samantha J Fung1,2
11Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Aging and Disease
|February 2, 2019
Summary
Adult neurogenesis declines with age. Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) mRNA decreases in the human subependymal zone (SEZ), correlating with reduced immature neuron markers. This suggests IGF1 limits new neuron production in aging brains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Adult neurogenesis, marked by Ki67 and doublecortin, decreases in the human subependymal zone (SEZ) with age.
- Mitogen transcript levels remain stable, suggesting other factors influence reduced neurogenesis.
- Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) impacts mouse neurogenesis, but its role in human SEZ aging is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate age-related changes in IGF family members in the human SEZ.
- Determine the relationship between IGF family members and neurogenesis markers (Ki67, doublecortin).
Main Methods:
- Quantitative PCR used to analyze gene expression of seven IGF family members (IGF1, IGF1 receptor, insulin receptor, IGFBP2, IGFBP3, IGFBP4, IGFBP5).
- Human SEZ samples from 50 individuals aged 21-103 years analyzed.
- Gene expression levels correlated with age and neurogenesis markers.
Main Results:
- IGF1 mRNA expression significantly decreased with age.
- IGFBP2 and IGFBP4 mRNA positively correlated with Ki67 mRNA.
- IGF1 mRNA positively correlated with doublecortin mRNA, while IGFBP2 mRNA negatively correlated.
Conclusions:
- IGF family members act as local regulators of human adult neurogenesis.
- Age-related decline in IGF1 mRNA may impair new neuron production by limiting differentiation in the SEZ.
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