Aging is Associated with Impaired Renal Function, INF-gamma Induced Inflammation and with Alterations in Iron Regulatory Proteins Gene Expression

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Elisio Costa (Author) FFUP; Joao Fernandes (Author) Other; Sandra Ribeiro (Author) Other; Jose Sereno (Author) Other; Patricia Garrido (Author) Other; Petronila Rocha Pereira (Author) Other; Susana Coimbra (Author) Other; Cristina Catarino (Author) FFUP; Luis Belo (Author) FFUP; Elsa Bronze da Rocha (Author) Other; Helena Vala (Author) Other; Rui Alves (Author) Other; Flavio Reis (Author) Other; Alice Santos Silva (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Aging And Disease

Vol. 5

Pages: 356-365

ISSN: 2152-5250

Publisher: International Society on Aging and Disease

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 17 Citations

Scopus - 20 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-2SE

DOI: 10.14366/ad.2014.0500356

Abstract (EN): Our aim was to contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of anemia in elderly, by studying how aging affects renal function, iron metabolism, erythropoiesis and the inflammatory response, using an experimental animal model. The study was performed in male Wistar, a group of young rats with 2 months age and an old one with 18 months age. Old rats presented a significant higher urea, creatinine, interferon (INF)-gamma, ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor serum levels, as well as increased counts of reticulocytes and RDW. In addition, these rats showed significant lower erythropoietin (EPO) and iron serum levels. Concerning gene expression of iron regulatory proteins, old rats presented significantly higher mRNA levels of hepcidin (Hamp), transferrin (TF), transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) and hemojuvelin (HJV); divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) mRNA levels were significantly higher in duodenal tissue; EPO gene expression was significantly higher in liver and lower in kidney, and the expression of the EPOR was significantly higher in both liver and kidney. Our results showed that aging is associated with impaired renal function, which could be in turn related with the inflammatory process and with a decline in EPO renal production. Moreover, we also propose that aging may be associated with INF-gamma-induced inflammation and with alterations upon iron regulatory proteins gene expression.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10