Calorie restriction and refeeding alter age-linked circulating microRNAs in female breast-cancer-prone mice
In tumor-free female transgenic breast-cancer-prone mice, aging changed the circulating microRNA profile; chronic and intermittent calorie restriction reshaped these age-associated changes, most clearly in adult rather than old animals, and refeeding partly preserved the restriction patterns. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Aging significantly altered the global circulating microRNA profile in the mice, with validated targets enriched in IL-7 signaling, GPCR signaling and the TCA cycle. [1]
Chronic and intermittent calorie restriction reshaped the age-associated alterations, and the effects were most pronounced at adult age rather than old age. [1]
Calorie restriction reversed the aging-induced expression patterns of three key microRNAs, suggesting a shared molecular mechanism in these mice. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Animal study (abstract)
- Population / context
- Tumor-free female transgenic breast-cancer-prone mice (MMTV-TGF-α)
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 27, 2026
Aging and diet effects on circulating microRNAs in mice
The study asked how chronic and intermittent calorie restriction, and later refeeding, remodel circulating microRNA networks in a tumor-free, female breast-cancer-prone transgenic mouse model. Blood was sampled at weeks 10 (young), 49 (adult) and 81 (old), and microRNA expression was measured with an array. Aging significantly altered the global circulating microRNA profile, and validated targets were enriched in IL-7 signaling, GPCR signaling and the TCA cycle.
Supporting source [1]
Restriction timing and three reversed microRNAs
Both chronic and intermittent calorie restriction reshaped the age-associated alterations, with consistent target pathways. The effects were most pronounced at adult age rather than old age, while the refeeding phase of intermittent restriction partially preserved the restriction-induced microRNA patterns. Three key microRNAs (mmu-miR-142-5p, mmu-miR-30e-5p, mmu-miR-494-3p) were identified where calorie restriction reversed the expression patterns induced by aging, suggesting a shared molecular mechanism.
Supporting source [1]
Mouse-only scope of the microRNA findings
The findings describe how chronic and intermittent calorie restriction modulate circulating microRNAs in an age-dependent manner in female transgenic breast-cancer-prone mice. These are molecular associations in an animal model, not evidence of human lifespan or cancer benefit. The abstract reports the design, sampling weeks and array measurement but not group sizes, restriction details or full results; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a transgenic mouse model, so the microRNA associations do not establish human lifespan or cancer benefits. Group sizes, restriction details and full results are not reported in the abstract.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Tuna BG, Keles NA, Cicekdal MB, Ozorhan U, Thomas PB, Kuskucu A, Bayrak OF, Yilmaz B, Dogan S. · europepmc.org · August 27, 2026