Title:Growth Hormone Stimulates Murine Macrophage Migration during Aging
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Author(s): Karen Steponavicius Cruz Borbely, Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques, Felipe Lima Porto, Beatriz Santana Mendonça, Salete Smaniotto and Maria Danielma dos Santos Reis*
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas,
Brazil
- Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Alagoas,
Brazil
Keywords:
Aging/senescence, cell adhesion, cell migration, growth factors, immunity, macrophage.
Abstract:
Background: Age-related impairments in macrophage functions have important consequences
for the health of the elderly population. The aging process is also accompanied by a reduction
in several hormones, including growth hormone (GH). Previous studies have shown that this
hormone can affect macrophage activity in young individuals; however, the biological effects of
GH stimulation on macrophages during aging have not yet been elucidated.
Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the in vitro effects of GH on peritoneal macrophages
from aged mice.
Methods: Peritoneal macrophages isolated from young (4 months-old) and old (12-15 months-old)
mice were treated in vitro with 100 ng/mL of GH for 24 hours. After treatment, cells were analysed
for cell morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, expression of integrins, cell adhesion
to extracellular matrix molecules, and migration in transwell chambers.
Results: Although GH-treated cells from old mice exhibited decreased ROS production, we did not
observe the effects of GH on macrophage morphology or macrophage phagocytic activity in young
and old mice-derived cell cultures. Macrophages from old mice had increased adhesion to laminin
and fibronectin substrates, as did cells obtained from young mice treated with GH, but no change
was observed in the expression of integrin receptors. Furthermore, cells from old mice exhibited
increased migration compared to young mice and a significant increase in macrophage migration
was observed under GH stimulation.
Conclusion: Our results showed that GH can interfere with the motility of macrophages from old
mice, advancing our understanding of the interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine
systems during aging.
