Involvement of interferon-alpha in the regulation of apoptosis of cells of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenocortical system of aged mice in oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to identify the involvement of interferon-alpha (IA) in controlling apoptosis of cells of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenocortical system (HHACS) in young and aged mice in conditions of hyperoxia. Oxidative stress led to increases in the numbers of cells synthesizing the proapoptotic protein c-fos in the paraventricular nucleus in mice of both age groups. However, the protective actions of IA in stress were more marked at the earlier stage of apoptosis in young mice. Thus, the level of involvement of IA in controlling programmed cell death of hypothalamic cells depends on the age of the animals. In the fascicular zone of the adrenals in young mice, the number of dying cells was significantly greater after administration of IA, but remained at the control level in conditions of hyperoxia alone and in combination with IA. The proportion of apoptotic cells in the adrenals of aged mice was no different from that in young mice and did not change in response to any of the treatments used.