Fig. 7

Chitosan alleviates ovarian aging by enhancing macrophage phagocyte-mediated tissue homeostasis. In this study, we found the aging ovarian macrophages exhibited insufficient expression of pivotal phagocytic macrophage markers, including CD36, CD204, and CD68. These diminished markers are indicative of impaired phagocytic capabilities in aging macrophages. Consequently, these aged cells tend to accumulate within the ovarian microenvironment, culminating in the release of a proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Due to the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the local milieu, ovarian function was impaired. Following the administration of LMWC, a compelling and robust upregulation in the expression of CD36, CD204, and CD68, was observed within the ovarian macrophage population. In this way, LMWC is helpful for attenuating local SASP secretion and the production of ROS by enhancing macrophage phagocyte-mediated tissue homeostasis