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Blueberry supplementation attenuates microglial activation in hippocampal intraocular grafts to aged hosts
Author(s) -
Willis Lauren M.,
Freeman Linnea,
Bickford Paula C.,
Quintero E. Matthew,
Umphlet Claudia D.,
Moore Alfred B.,
Goetzl Laura,
Granholm AnnCharlotte
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.20954
Subject(s) - astrogliosis , biology , hippocampal formation , microglia , transplantation , hippocampus , inflammation , astrocyte , central nervous system , palmitoylethanolamide , immunology , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , receptor , agonist , cannabinoid receptor
Transplantation of central nervous tissue has been proposed as a therapeutic intervention for age‐related neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. However, survival of embryonic neuronal cells is hampered by detrimental factors in the aged host brain such as circulating inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. We have previously found that supplementation with 2% blueberry in the diet increases graft growth and neuronal survival in intraocular hippocampal grafts to aged hosts. In the present study we explored possible biochemical mechanisms for this increased survival, and we here report decreased microglial activation and astrogliosis in intraocular hippocampal grafts to middle‐aged hosts fed a 2% blueberry diet. Markers for astrocytes and for activated microglial cells were both decreased long‐term after grafting to blueberry‐treated hosts compared with age‐matched rats on a control diet. Similar findings were obtained in the host brain, with a reduction in OX‐6 immunoreactive microglial cells in the hippocampus of those recipients treated with blueberry. In addition, immunoreactivity for the pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐6 was found to be significantly attenuated in intraocular grafts by the 2% blueberry diet. These studies demonstrate direct effects of blueberry upon microglial activation both during isolated conditions and in the aged host brain and suggest that this nutraceutical can attenuate age‐induced inflammation. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.