Apoptosis of Hypothalamic Neurosecretory Cells in Stress and Aging: The Role of Immunomodulators

Abstract

Immunomodulators have been proposed to have an active role in cell death. The aim of the present work was to study the involvement of interferon alpha and cycloferon in regulating apoptosis of hypothalamic neurons in stress and aging. Expression of apoptosis markers (Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax) was assessed in comparison to the level of apoptosis. Immunomodulators were found to influence the level of synthesis of Bcl-2 family proteins in nonapeptidergic neurons. Use of interferon alpha decreased Bcl-2 synthesis, while cycloferon suppressed Bax and Bcl-2 expression in young and old mice. The role of immunomodulators in the process of hypothalamic neuron apoptosis depended on age and type of immunomodulator. On aging, cycloferon was able to decrease the level of age-dependent neuron apoptosis, though in stress both interferon alpha and cycloferon operated as protectors against cell death.