The beneficial effects of physical activity on brain ageing are well recognised, with exerkines, factors that are secreted into the circulation in response to exercise, emerging as likely mediators of this response. However, the source and identity of these exerkines remain unclear. Here we provide evidence that an anti-geronic exerkine is secreted by platelets. We show that platelets are activated by exercise and are required for the exercise-induced increase in hippocampal precursor cell proliferation in aged mice. We also demonstrate that increasing the systemic levels of the platelet-derived exerkine CXCL4/platelet factor 4 (PF4) ameliorates age-related regenerative and cognitive impairments in a hippocampal neurogenesis-dependent manner. Together these findings highlight the role of platelets in mediating the rejuvenating effects of exercise during physiological brain ageing.

体育活动对大脑衰老的有益影响是公认的，运动后分泌到血液循环中的因素是运动产生的，可能是这种反应的介质。然而，这些 exerkines 的来源和身份仍不清楚。在这里，我们提供了抗老年运动菌由血小板分泌的证据。我们表明血小板被运动激活，并且是运动诱导的老年小鼠海马前体细胞增殖增加所必需的。我们还证明，增加血小板衍生的 exerkine CXCL4/血小板因子 4 （PF4） 的全身水平以海马神经发生依赖性方式改善与年龄相关的再生和认知障碍。这些发现共同强调了血小板在生理性大脑衰老期间介导运动的恢复活力作用中的作用。