Muscle TFEB and Brain Health
Author Information
Author(s): Hakian Mia, Matthews Ian, Cai Catherine, Cortes Constanza
Primary Institution: University of Southern California
Hypothesis
Overexpression of TFEB in skeletal muscle has the potential to increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in an exercise mimicking model.
Conclusion
The study found no significant difference in AHN levels between TFEB mice and control mice, but indicated that memory function was maintained in the old muscle TFEB mice.
Supporting Evidence
- Adult hippocampal neurogenesis decreases with age.
- Voluntary wheel running in mice can reverse the reduction in AHN.
- TFEB regulates lysosomal and metabolic function.
- Transgenic mice overexpressing TFEB in skeletal muscle mimic neuroprotective benefits of exercise.
Takeaway
Researchers thought that boosting a protein in muscles could help the brain grow new cells, but it didn't work as expected, although the mice still remembered things well.
Methodology
AHN levels were measured using immunofluorescence in hemibrain cryosections to count immature neurons in the hippocampus.
Participant Demographics
3-month-old control and muscle-TFEB overexpressing mice.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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