Molecular Hydrogen Modulates T Cell Differentiation and Enhances Neuro-Regeneration in a Vascular Dementia Mouse Model
This study explores whether molecular hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) administration can alleviate cognitive and immunological disturbances in a mouse model of vascular dementia (VaD). Adult male C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral common carotid artery stenosis to induce VaD and were subsequently...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Antioxidants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/1/111 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | This study explores whether molecular hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) administration can alleviate cognitive and immunological disturbances in a mouse model of vascular dementia (VaD). Adult male C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral common carotid artery stenosis to induce VaD and were subsequently assigned to three groups: VaD, VaD with hydrogen-rich water treatment (VaD + H<sub>2</sub>), and Sham controls. Behavioral assessments using open field and novel object recognition tests revealed that VaD mice exhibited anxiety-deficient behavior and memory impairment, both of which were reversed by H<sub>2</sub> treatment. Histological examinations showed pyknotic neuronal morphologies and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the VaD hippocampus, whereas H<sub>2</sub> administration mitigated these alterations. Furthermore, VaD-induced downregulation of BCL2 was reversed in the VaD + H<sub>2</sub> group, in parallel with increased IL-4 expression. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that VaD disrupted T regulatory cell homeostasis by significantly increasing their proportion, an effect reversed by H<sub>2</sub> treatment, thereby restoring immunological balance. Transcriptomic evaluations confirmed that VaD suppressed key neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory genes, while H<sub>2</sub> treatment restored or enhanced their expression. Collectively, these findings highlight the neuroprotective and immuno-modulatory potential of molecular hydrogen, suggesting that H<sub>2</sub> supplementation may promote neuronal resilience, modulate T cell differentiation, and support cognitive recovery in vascular dementia. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2076-3921 |