Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver

Aysun İnan Genç; Ruken Ceylani

Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 35-day intermittent fasting (IF) regimen on the transcriptional and protein expression profiles of key autophagy-related markers in the liver of aged male Wistar rats. Methods: Twelve-month-old male Wistar rats were assigned to either an IF group or a control group. The IF group was subjected to an 18:6 h time-restricted feeding protocol for 35 days, whereas control animals had ad libitum access to food and water. Hepatic mRNA expression levels of ATG5, ATG7, Beclin1, LC3, and p62 were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, the protein expression of these autophagy-related markers was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: IF significantly increased the hepatic mRNA expression of ATG5, ATG7, Beclin1, and LC3 (p<0.0001 for all), while p62/SQSTM1 expression showed a more modest but significant increase (p=0.0384). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated significantly stronger immunoreactivity for ATG5, ATG7, Beclin1, and LC3-II, whereas p62 immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in the IF group (p<0.0001). The combined transcriptional and immunohistochemical findings indicate that IF modulates multiple molecular components associated with the autophagy pathway in the aged liver. Conclusion: These findings provide complementary molecular evidence that IF modulates autophagy-associated pathways and may contribute to the maintenance of hepatic cellular homeostasis during aging. Further studies evaluating autophagic flux and additional functional markers are required to clarify the biological significance of these changes.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by Saki Yenilli Experimental Animal Production and Practice Laboratory the by Ethics Committee (approval number: 2021/05).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Aysun İnan Genç ^*
0000-0001-7170-5559
Türkiye

Ruken Ceylani This is me
0009-0000-0334-8502
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

May 31, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 29, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 6

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

İnan Genç, A., & Ceylani, R. (2026). Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(6), 1193-1198. https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR

AMA

1.İnan Genç A, Ceylani R. Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(6):1193-1198. https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR

Chicago

İnan Genç, Aysun, and Ruken Ceylani. 2026. “Intermittent Fasting Modulates Autophagy-Related Gene and Protein Expression in the Aged Rat Liver”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (6): 1193-98. https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR.

EndNote

İnan Genç A, Ceylani R (October 1, 2026) Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 6 1193–1198.

IEEE

[1]A. İnan Genç and R. Ceylani, “Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 1193–1198, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR

ISNAD

İnan Genç, Aysun - Ceylani, Ruken. “Intermittent Fasting Modulates Autophagy-Related Gene and Protein Expression in the Aged Rat Liver”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/6 (October 1, 2026): 1193-1198. https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR.

JAMA

1.İnan Genç A, Ceylani R. Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:1193–1198.

MLA

İnan Genç, Aysun, and Ruken Ceylani. “Intermittent Fasting Modulates Autophagy-Related Gene and Protein Expression in the Aged Rat Liver”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 6, Oct. 2026, pp. 1193-8, https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR.

Vancouver

1.Aysun İnan Genç, Ruken Ceylani. Intermittent fasting modulates autophagy-related gene and protein expression in the aged rat liver. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;8(6):1193-8. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA56SS32RR