Folic Acid Inhibits Aging-Induced Telomere Attrition and Apoptosis in Astrocytes In Vivo and In Vitro

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Folic acid (FA) is known to mitigate aging disorders, but its effect on telomere attrition is not well understood.
• Astrocyte apoptosis and neurodegeneration are key features of aging, potentially linked to telomere shortening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of folic acid in preventing telomere attrition and astrocyte apoptosis in aging mice.
• To explore the underlying mechanisms by which FA influences aging-related cellular changes.

Main Methods:

• In vivo study: Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were fed diets with varying folic acid levels (deficient, normal, low, high) from 4 to 10 months of age.
• In vitro study: Primary astrocyte cultures were exposed to different folic acid concentrations across multiple generations.
• Evaluated astrocytosis, apoptosis, neurodegeneration, telomere length, and telomerase activity.

Main Results:

• Folic acid supplementation inhibited aging-induced astrocytosis, astrocyte apoptosis, and neurodegeneration in SAMP8 mice.
• FA treatment prevented telomere attrition in the hippocampus and cortex of aging mice.
• In vitro, FA decreased astrocyte apoptosis and telomere attrition while increasing telomerase activity.

Conclusions:

• Folic acid supplementation effectively counteracts aging-induced telomere attrition and astrocyte apoptosis in mice.
• Alleviating telomere attrition is a potential mechanism through which FA inhibits aging-related astrocyte apoptosis.
• FA shows promise in mitigating age-related neurodegenerative processes by preserving telomere integrity.