社会隔离对老年小鼠血清细胞因子和肝脏基因表达的影响

The effects of social isolation on serum cytokines and liver gene expression in elderly mice

目的 探索社会隔离对老年小鼠肝脏健康的影响及其机制。方法 将30月龄的老年小鼠随机分成隔离组(n=5)和同笼组(n=5),饲养4周后,采集血清和肝脏组织。采用酶联免疫吸附试验测定2组血清炎症细胞因子(肿瘤坏死因子α、白细胞介素1β、白细胞介素6、白细胞介素10和干扰素γ)水平,采用RNAseq法筛选2组的差异表达基因及通路。结果 隔离组的一般情况较差。隔离组TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平均高于同笼组(P<0.05)。隔离组肝脏较同笼组具有543个显著差异表达基因,表达上调与下调基因分别有289个和254个,差异基因主要富集在趋化因子信号通路(P<0.01)和细胞因子受体相互作用通路(P<0.05)。隔离组肝脏中显著上调的差异基因主要涉及趋化因子活性、粒细胞趋化性的正调控。结论 社会隔离可能通过激活炎症影响老年小鼠肝脏健康。

Objective To explore the effects of social isolation on liver health and its mechanisms in elderly mice.Methods Elderly mice aged 30 months were randomly divided into isolation group(n=5)and co⁃cage group(n=5).After 4 weeks of feeding,serum and liver tissue were collected.The levels of serum inflammatory cytokines(tumor necrosis factor⁃α,interleukin⁃1β,interleukin⁃6,interleukin⁃10 and interferon⁃γ)were determined by enzyme⁃linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).RNAseq method was used to screen the differentially expressed genes and their pathways between the two groups.Results The general condition of the isolated group was poor.The levels of TNF⁃α,IL⁃1βand IL⁃6 of the isolation group were higher than those of the co⁃cage group(P<0.05).Compared with the co⁃cage group,the isolated group had 543 signifi⁃cantly differentially expressed genes,including 289 up⁃regulated and 254 down⁃regulated genes.The differentially expressed genes were mainly concentrated in the chemokine signaling pathway(P<0.01)and cytokine receptor interaction(P<0.05).The significantly up⁃regulated differential genes in the liver of the isolation group mainly involved positive regulation of chemo⁃kine activity and granulocyte chemotaxis.Conclusion Social isolation may affect liver health in elderly mice by activating in⁃flammation.