Elevated p38MAPK activity promotes neural stem cell aging

• DOI: 10.18632/aging.102994
• Publication Date: 2020-04-03T19:59:00Z
• Authors: Leire Moreno-Cugnon; Olatz Arrizabalaga; Irantzu Llarena; Ander Matheu
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Aging; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Pyridones; Neurogenesis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Neurodegenerative Diseases; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Neural Stem Cells; Lateral Ventricles; Benzamides; Animals; Research Paper

Age-progressive neural stem cell (NSC) dysfunction leads to impaired neurogenesis, cognitive decline and the onset of age-related neurodegenerative pathologies. p38MAPK signalling pathway limits stem cell activity during aging in several tissues. Its role in NSCs remains controversial. In this work, we show that p38MAPK activity increases in NSCs with age in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and its pharmacological inhibition is sufficient to rejuvenate their activity in vitro. These data reveal a cell-autonomous role for p38MAPK increase in decreasing NSC homeostasis with age. This information shed light in the role of p38MAPK in NSC aging.