Microglia-aging: Roles of microglial lysosome- and mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species in brain aging

The accumulation of lysosome- and mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the most important causative factors for aging. Autophagic dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA damage in the central nervous system (CNS) are prominently found in microglia, the resident mononuclear phagocyte population within the CNS. The autophagic dysfunction may induce the defective turnover of mitochondria, which results in the accumulation of ROS-hypergenerating older mitochondria in microglia. ROS activate redox-dependent transduction cascades and transcription factors, including nuclear factor-κB, which induce the expression of inflammatory genes. Therefore, “microglia-aging” could function as a major driver for brain aging. Furthermore, the prevention of lysosomal autophagic dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA damage in microglia may therefore be a potentially effective new pharmaceutical intervention against brain aging.