Pax6 interacts with Iba1 and shows age-associated alterations in brain of aging mice

- Pax6 binds to the genetic sequence elements of microglia specific gene Iba1 in brain of mice during aging.
- Alteration in co-localization of Pax6 with Iba1 was observed in the brain of aging mice.
- The Pax6 has been shown to interact physically with Iba1 in brain of mice.
- The impact of Pax6 on Iba1-mediated Rac-signalling and remodelling of microglial membrane is presumed in brain during aging.
- Interaction of Pax6 with Iba1 both at genetic and protein level indicates Pax6-mediated activities of microglia in brain.

The Pax6, a transcriptional regulator and multifunctional protein, has been found critical for neurogenesis, neuro-degeneration, mental retardation, neuroendocrine tumors, glioblastoma and astrocytomas. The age-associated alteration in the expression of Pax6 in neuron and glia has also been observed in the immunologically privileged brain. Therefore, it is presumed that Pax6 may modulate brain immunity by activation of microglia either directly interacting with genes or proteins of microglia or indirectly though inflammation associated with neurodegeneration. This report describes evaluation of expression, co-localization and interactions of Pax6 with Ionized binding protein1 (Iba1) in brain of aging mice by Immunohistochemistry, Chromatin Immuno-precipitation (ChIP) and Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), respectively. The co-localization of Pax6 with Iba1 was observed in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and olfactory lobe. The Pax6 and Iba1 also interact physically. The age-dependent alteration in their expression and co-localization were also observed in mice. Results indicate Pax6-dependent activities of Iba1 in the remodelling of microglia during immunological surveillance of the brain.