Propolis and Dexpanthenol Alter Brain Gene Expression in Aged Mice

In naturally aged male mice, administration of propolis and dexpanthenol is associated with distinct, gene-specific transcriptional responses across brain inflammatory, cell-death, and cellular stress pathways rather than uniform shifts across examined genes. Researchers evaluated how these compounds, given individually or in combination, alter whole-brain gene expression in the context of natural aging.

The controlled study evaluated thirty-five male CD-1 mice that were randomly assigned to five cohorts of seven animals each: Young Control, Aged Control, Aged + Propolis, Aged + Dexpanthenol, and Aged + Propolis + Dexpanthenol. Propolis was administered at 200 mg/kg/day and dexpanthenol at 500 mg/kg/day over a 14-day intervention period.

Using quantitative real-time PCR, the researchers measured whole-brain mRNA expression levels of GSDMD, GSDME, GSDMC, TNF-α, IL-1β, HSP70, and HSP90. Natural aging in untreated controls was accompanied by marked decreases in TNF-α, IL-1β, and HSP70 expression, whereas baseline differences in GSDMD, GSDME, GSDMC, and HSP90 were not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons.

Individual treatments yielded contrasting molecular profiles relative to aged controls. Propolis reduced whole-brain mRNA expression of GSDME and IL-1β while elevating GSDMC expression. Dexpanthenol supplementation increased GSDMD and HSP70 expression, shifted TNF-α expression toward levels seen in the young-control group, and decreased HSP90 expression.

Co-administration of propolis and dexpanthenol generated a separate transcriptional pattern defined by pronounced increases in GSDMD, TNF-α, IL-1β, and HSP70 relative to aged controls. Because the investigation evaluated mRNA expression rather than protein activity, the observed gasdermin changes do not confirm functional pyroptosis, while the marked HSP70 upregulation suggests cellular stress adaptation and proteostasis may play roles in these treatment-related molecular responses.

Subject of Research: Brain gene expression profiles in aged mice treated with propolis and dexpanthenol

Article Title: Gasdermin, inflammatory, and heat-shock gene expression profiles in the naturally aged male mouse brain following propolis and dexpanthenol treatment

Article References: Şahin, U. (2026). Gasdermin, inflammatory, and heat-shock gene expression profiles in the naturally aged male mouse brain following propolis and dexpanthenol treatment. Biogerontology, 27(6), Article 192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-026-10539-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10522-026-10539-5

Keywords: Biogerontology, Aging, Propolis, Dexpanthenol, Gene Expression, Gasdermin, Heat-Shock Proteins, Mouse Study, inflammatory, heat-shock, gene, expression