Researchers at the Karolinska Institute have identified an unexpected defense mechanism in the aging spinal cord. It has been found that the organ's own immune cells play an important role in preventing damage to nerve fibers.
According to Milli.Az, the results of the study were published in the prestigious scientific journal "Nature Neuroscience."
As age increases, the structure of the spinal cord, which facilitates information transmission between the brain and body, gradually weakens. In particular, the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers is more sensitive to this process. Experiments conducted on mice of different ages showed that over time, myelin damage begins in the dorsal columns of the spinal cord.
During the study, scientists discovered that immune cells called microglia play a key role in these changes. In the aging spinal cord, microglia cells activate a signaling molecule called TGF-beta. This molecule limits excessive microglial activity, acting as a regulatory mechanism and preventing further myelin degradation.
Researchers stated that when TGF-beta synthesis is artificially stopped in old mice, this protective mechanism stops functioning. As a result, microglia cells begin to intensively break down myelin, which leads to movement problems and other neurological symptoms.
According to the scientists, similar damage in this specific area of the spinal cord has previously been observed in humans suffering from some neurological diseases. This discovery allows for a better understanding of how the nervous system protects itself during the aging process and why diseases emerge when these mechanisms are disrupted.
