Circulating factors in young blood as potential therapeutic agents for age-related neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases

Jingxi Ma, Baobing Gao, Keming Zhang, Qinbin Zhang, Gongwei Jia, J. Li, Changqing Li, Liang Jun Yan, Zhiyou Cai

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent animal studies on heterochronic parabiosis (a technique combining the blood circulation of two animals) have revealed that young blood has a powerful rejuvenating effect on brain aging. Circulating factors, especially growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL11), may play a key role in this effect, which inspires hope for novel approaches to treating age-related cerebral diseases in humans, such as neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases. Recently, attempts have begun to translate these astonishing and exciting findings from mice to humans and from bench to bedside. However, increasing reports have shown contradictory data, questioning the capacity of these circulating factors to reverse age-related brain dysfunction. In this review, we summarize the current research on the role of young blood, as well as the circulating factors GDF11 and CCL11, in the aging brain and age-related cerebral diseases. We highlight recent controversies, discuss related challenges and provide a future outlook.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15-23
Number of pages9
JournalBrain Research Bulletin
Volume153
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2019

Keywords

  • C-C motif chemokine 11
  • Circulating factor
  • Growth differentiation factor 11
  • Neurodegenerative diseases
  • Neurovascular diseases
  • Young blood

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