Dietary magnesium deficiency induces the expression of neuroinflammation-related genes in mouse brain

Abstract

Aims: Dietary Mg2+ deficiency (MgD) impairs hippocampus-dependent memory in mice; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying MgD-induced memory impairments are unclear. Here, we investigated the molecular signatures in the hippocampus of MgD mice by analyzing the hippocampal transcriptome. Methods: We performed RNA-sequencing of the hippocampal transcriptome of MgD mice. We used gene ontology analyses and quantitative real-time PCR to validate the RNA-sequencing results. Results: mRNAs for neuroinflammation-related genes were upregulated in the hippocampus and cortex of MgD mice. Conclusion: MgD induces neuroinflammation in the mouse brain, including the hippocampus and cortex. Our findings suggest that MgD-induced neuroinflammation triggers the impairments of hippocampus-dependent memory.