Potential Application of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in Delaying Aging for Mice

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is one of the popular treatment modalities allowing to boost the proliferation, differentiation, and migratory activity of cells, which might be a powerful strategy for anti-aging. Seeking a novel setup for LIPUS would benefit the development of ultrasound therapeutics. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Here, we proposed a novel underwater exposure setup of LIPUS. C57BL/6 mice were reared in the designated age-groups, which consisted of a middle-aged group (12–14 months) and an old-age group (20–23 months). The age-related changes of body composition, imbalance of energy supply and demand, imbalance of signal network maintaining internal stability, and representative phenotypes of neurodegeneration and neuroplasticity with the presence and absence of underwater LIPUS in middle-aged and aged groups were evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The results showed that there were obvious aging changes, imbalance of energy supply and demand, imbalance of signal network maintaining homeostasis, neurodegeneration, and damage of neural plasticity in the middle-aged and aged group with or without the LIPUS. Although middle-aged group and aged group responded differently to LIPUS, they mostly generated positive results in relieving bone loss, improving ovarian structure, regulated immune system, and enhanced endurance ability, which should have declined over age. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> These findings indicate that underwater extracorporeal LIPUS exposure could be employed as single or combined anti-aging strategies that generated positive outcomes against the process of aging.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) modulates microglial activation following intracortical microelectrode implantation

“…3). Together with recent literature demonstrating that LIPUS can reduce senescent marker (P16 INK4a ) in aged mouse 131 , LIPUS treatment appears to have potential anti-aging effects on microglia.…”

“…LIPUS not only has the potential to improve tissue-microelectrode bio-integration for BCIs, but also provide a new opportunity for treating other dysfunctions in biological processes 131,132 , CNS injuries 133 and neurodegenerative diseases [134][135][136] . For example, in response to ischemic injury, microglia migrate toward the injury site to phagocytose cell debris and protect damaged cells, reducing the inflammation caused by dead cell corpses 137 .…”

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound activated the anti-tumor immunity by irradiating the spleen of mice in 4 T-1 breast cancer

“…IL-7 is intrinsically involved in T cell homeostasis as an essential cytokine that enhances the persistence of T cells in vivo [ 21 ]. Our previous study [ 22 ] found that IL-2 and IL-7 levels in the spleen were still elevated in middle-aged (12–14 months old) C57BL/6 mice after LIPUS underwater irradiation and after one month of follow-up. The present study additionally demonstrates the significant impact of LIPUS on the release of upgraded IL-2 and IL-7.…”