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Mastication Affects Transcriptomes of Mouse Microglia.
Mineaki Seki1, Arisa Haino1, Tatsuya Ishikawa1
1Research Institute for Healthy Living, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
Anticancer Research
|July 31, 2020
Summary
Chewing hard food may influence brain immune cells called microglia. This suggests mastication impacts brain health and function, including cognition and tumor growth.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Dietary Science
Background:
- Microglia are key immune cells in the brain.
- Microglial activity is linked to cognitive functions and brain tumor development.
- The impact of mastication on microglia remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of mastication (diet hardness) on microglia.
- To determine if mastication influences gene expression in brain microglia.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed either a hard or soft diet for 2, 4, or 8 months.
- Brains were harvested, and microglia were isolated.
- Microglial RNA underwent DNA microarray analysis to assess gene expression.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in gene expression were observed between hard- and soft-diet groups.
- Genes regulating the actin cytoskeleton were notably downregulated in mice fed a soft diet.
- Mastication demonstrably alters microglial gene expression profiles.
Conclusions:
- Mastication, through diet hardness, influences microglia.
- Altered microglial activity may impact cognitive processes.
- Mastication could modulate neuroimmune responses and brain patrolling by microglia.
