Longevity and age-related pathology of mice deficient in pregnancy-associated plasma protein-a

Cheryl A. Conover, Laurie K. Bale, Jessica R. Mader, Megan A. Mason, Kevin P. Keenan, Ronald J. Marler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A knockout (PAPP-A KO) mouse is a model of reduced local insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I activity with normal circulating IGF-I levels. In this study, PAPP-A KO mice had significantly increased mean (27%), median (27%), and maximum (35%) life span compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. End-of-life pathology indicated that the incidence of neoplastic disease was not significantly different in the two groups of mice; however, it occurred in older aged PAPP-A KO compared with WT mice. Furthermore, PAPP-A KO mice were less likely to show degenerative changes of age. Scheduled pathologies at 78, 104, and 130 weeks of age indicated that WT mice, in general, had more degenerative changes and tumors earlier than PAPP-A KO mice. This was particularly true for abnormalities in heart, testes, brain, kidney, spleen, and thymus. In summary, the major contributors to the extended life span of PAPP-A KO mice are delayed occurrence of fatal neoplasias and decreased incidence of age-related degenerative changes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)590-599
Number of pages10
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume65 A
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2010

Keywords

  • Insulin-like growth factor I
  • Longevity
  • Mouse model
  • Pathology
  • Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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