Age-related myelin degradation burdens the clearance function of microglia during aging

Shima Safaiyan, Nirmal Kannaiyan, Nicolas Snaidero, Simone Brioschi, Knut Biber, Simon Yona, Aimee L. Edinger, Steffen Jung, Moritz J. Rossner, Mikael Simons

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

379 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)995-998
Number of pages4
JournalNature neuroscience
Volume19
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2016

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