1)国家卫生健康委员会毒品依赖和戒治重点实验室(昆明医科大学),昆明 650500;2)昆明医科大学法医学院,昆明 650500
国家卫生健康委员会毒品依赖和戒治重点实验室(昆明医科大学)开放课题基金(KN202416)和国家自然科学基金(81860258)资助项目。
1)NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine (Kunming Medical University), Kunming 650500, China;2)School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
This work was supported by grants from NHC Key Lab of Drug Addiction Medicine (Kunming Medical University) Open Projects (KN202416) and The National Natural Science Foundation of China (81860258).
下丘脑神经干细胞(hypothalamic neural stem cells,htNSCs)是一类存在于下丘脑的具有增殖能力并能分化迁移到下丘脑实质成为神经元及整合到神经环路中的胶质样神经干细胞。成年下丘脑内的多种生理学过程都有htNSCs参与调节,包括构成血液-下丘脑屏障(blood-hypothalamus barrier,BHB)并促进小分子在血液、脑脊液和下丘脑实质间的扩散,感知血糖水平、调节神经肽释放等。发生在htNSCs的衰老对能量代谢、性激素分泌甚至下丘脑整体功能有着极大的影响,移植更为年轻的htNSCs可以减轻机体衰老中神经和骨骼肌功能障碍。近年来,htNSCs在能量代谢以及促进机体衰老方面引起了科研工作者的广泛关注。本文对htNSCs的分型以及htNSCs衰老对机体功能的影响、htNSCs与相关疾病的关系、促进htNSCs再生的调控机制进行了简要阐述,一些促进htNSCs再生及改善htNSCs衰老的措施似乎可以影响生物整体的衰老表型。深入研究htNSCs的衰老有助于理解下丘脑对机体整体衰老的影响以及性别差异造成不同衰老的原因,为改善能量代谢紊乱综合征和治疗性腺激素异常相关疾病提供新方法及治疗靶点。
Hypothalamic neural stem cells (htNSCs) are a type of glial-like neural stem cell located in the hypothalamus, possessing unique biological characteristics. They not only have the capacity to proliferate and differentiate but can also migrate into the parenchymal regions of the hypothalamus, further developing into neurons and successfully integrating into neural circuits. HtNSCs play multiple key physiological roles in the adult hypothalamus, including contributing to the formation of the blood-hypothalamic barrier (BHB), which is crucial for maintaining the stability of the hypothalamic environment. Through the BHB, htNSCs facilitate the effective diffusion of small molecules between the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and hypothalamic parenchyma, thereby ensuring the proper transmission of nutrients and signaling molecules. In addition, htNSCs can sense fluctuations in blood glucose levels and regulate the release of neuropeptides accordingly, thus influencing the body’s energy metabolism and endocrine balance. However, as the body ages, the function of htNSCs gradually declines. Studies have shown that the aging of htNSCs has significant adverse effects on energy metabolism, sex hormone secretion, and overall hypothalamic function. During the aging process, the proliferative and differentiative capacities of htNSCs diminish, leading to reduced neuronal replenishment and subsequently impairing the hypothalamus’s ability to regulate energy balance. Furthermore, aging htNSCs may secrete inflammatory factors that disrupt the endocrine functions of the hypothalamus, thereby affecting sex hormone secretion. This impact extends beyond the hypothalamus itself and may exert widespread effects on the entire endocrine system through pathways such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Fortunately, research has found that transplanting young htNSCs can effectively alleviate neurological and skeletal muscle dysfunction associated with aging. This transplantation therapy replenishes active htNSCs, restoring normal hypothalamic function and thereby improving the body’s energy metabolism and neuromuscular function. These findings offer new perspectives and potential therapeutic strategies for anti-aging interventions. In recent years, the role of htNSCs in regulating energy metabolism and promoting aging has attracted significant attention from researchers. Studies have shown that the aging of htNSCs is closely linked to the development of various diseases. For instance, in obesity and metabolic syndrome, htNSC dysfunction may lead to disturbances in energy metabolism. Moreover, the aging of htNSCs has also been associated with the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, in-depth research into the mechanisms underlying htNSC aging is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of these conditions. This article briefly reviews the classification of htNSCs, the impacts of their aging on bodily functions, their relationship with related diseases, and the regulatory mechanisms that promote htNSC regeneration. Some strategies aimed at promoting htNSC regeneration and counteracting their aging appear to influence the overall aging phenotype of organisms. For example, studies have shown that modulating specific signaling pathways or gene expression can promote htNSC regeneration, thereby delaying the aging process. Additionally, certain natural products or pharmacological agents may also influence htNSC aging. Further research on htNSC aging will enhance our understanding of the hypothalamus’s role in systemic aging and elucidate the reasons behind gender differences in aging patterns. Moreover, these studies may offer novel approaches and therapeutic targets for improving energy metabolism disorders and treating diseases associated with gonadal hormone abnormalities. In summary, htNSCs play a vital role in the physiological functions of the hypothalamus and the aging process. Further investigation into the mechanisms and regulatory pathways of htNSC aging will aid in the development of new anti-aging therapies and provide innovative strategies for the treatment of related diseases.
张宇,张秀峰.下丘脑神经干细胞的衰老与再生[J].生物化学与生物物理进展,2025,52(5):1126-1139
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