Astrocytic deletion of protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) does not affect learning and memory in aged mice but worsens outcome from experimental stroke

Aging is associated with cognitive decline and is the main risk factor for a myriad of conditions including neurodegeneration and stroke. Concomitant with aging is the progressive accumulation of misfolded proteins and loss of proteostasis. Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to ER stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR is mediated, in part, by the eukaryotic initiation factor 2a (eIF2a) kinase protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK). Phosphorylation of eIF2a reduces protein translation as an adaptive mechanism but this also opposes synaptic plasticity. PERK, and other eIF2a kinases, have been widely studied in neurons where they modulate both cognitive function and response to injury. The impact of astrocytic PERK signaling in cognitive processes was previously unknown. To examine this, we deleted PERK from astrocytes (AstroPERK(KO)) and examined the impact on cognitive functions in middle-aged and old mice of both sexes. Additionally, we tested the outcome following experimental stroke using the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Tests of short-term and long-term learning and memory as well as of cognitive flexibility in middle-aged and old mice revealed that astrocytic PERK does not regulate these processes. Following MCAO, AstroPERK(KO) had increased morbidity and mortality. Collectively, our data demonstrate that astrocytic PERK has limited impact on cognitive function and has a more prominent role in the response to neural injury.