Sevoflurane increases FKBP5 expression in microglia in the brains of aged marmosets and mice

Background: Inhalation anesthetics may trigger the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. FK-506 binding protein (FKBP5) is a critical factor that regulates the HPA axis and is associated with perioperative neurocognitive impairment. However, it is unclear how inhalation anesthetics affects the expression of FKBP5 in different neural cells in the brain. Methods: We used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to characterize hippocampal transcriptome profiles in the brains of aged marmosets and mice after sevoflurane anesthesia. Results: Higher levels of FKBP5 were found in the hippocampi of aged mice after sevoflurane anesthesia. Single nuclear RNA sequencing results from aged mice and marmosets showed that the increased expression of FKBP5 mainly occurred in microglia. The expression of FKBP5 in the hippocampi of aged marmosets and mice increased following long-term exposure to sevoflurane anesthesia. Additionally, the brains of these animals displayed a marked increase in the expression of FKBP5 in microglia after sevoflurane anesthesia. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to sevoflurane augments FKBP5 expression in the hippocampi of aged marmosets and mice, specifically in the microglia. Overall design: Control and sevoflurane anesthetized hippocampi of aged mice and aged marmosets