Open AccessAge-related myelin degradation burdens the clearance function of microglia during aging
Author(s) -
Shima Safaiyan,
Nirmal Kannaiyan,
Nicolas Snaidero,
Simone Brioschi,
Knut Biber,
Simon Yona,
Aimee L. Edinger,
Steffen Jung,
Moritz J. Rossner,
Mikael Simons
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nature neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 13.403
H-Index - 422
eISSN - 1546-1726
pISSN - 1097-6256
DOI - 10.1038/nn.4325
Subject(s) - microglia , myelin , lipofuscin , clearance , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , fragmentation (computing) , neuroscience , lysosome , biology , senescence , ageing , central nervous system , chemistry , immunology , biochemistry , medicine , inflammation , enzyme , ecology , genetics , urology
Myelin is synthesized as a multilamellar membrane, but the mechanisms of membrane turnover are unknown. We found that myelin pieces were gradually released from aging myelin sheaths and were subsequently cleared by microglia. Myelin fragmentation increased with age and led to the formation of insoluble, lipofuscin-like lysosomal inclusions in microglia. Thus, age-related myelin fragmentation is substantial, leading to lysosomal storage and contributing to microglial senescence and immune dysfunction in aging.