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Molière A, Park JYC, Goyala A, Vayndorf EM, Zhang B, Hsiung KC, Jung Y, Kwon S, Statzer C, Meyer D, Nguyen R, Chadwick J, Thompson MA, Schumacher B, Lee SJV, Essmann CL, MacArthur MR, Kaeberlein M, David D, Gems D, Ewald CY. Improved resilience and proteostasis mediate longevity upon DAF-2 degradation in old age. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01232-x. [PMID: 38900346 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01232-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the possibility of reversing age-related biological changes when they have already occurred. To explore this, we have characterized the effects of reducing insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) during old age. Reduction of IIS throughout life slows age-related decline in diverse species, most strikingly in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we show that even at advanced ages, auxin-induced degradation of DAF-2 in single tissues, including neurons and the intestine, is still able to markedly increase C. elegans lifespan. We describe how reversibility varies among senescent changes. While senescent pathologies that develop in mid-life were not reversed, there was a rejuvenation of the proteostasis network, manifesting as a restoration of the capacity to eliminate otherwise intractable protein aggregates that accumulate with age. Moreover, resistance to several stressors was restored. These results support several new conclusions. (1) Loss of resilience is not solely a consequence of pathologies that develop in earlier life. (2) Restoration of proteostasis and resilience by inhibiting IIS is a plausible cause of the increase in lifespan. And (3), most interestingly, some aspects of the age-related transition from resilience to frailty can be reversed to a certain extent. This raises the possibility that the effect of IIS and related pathways on resilience and frailty during aging in higher animals might possess some degree of reversibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Molière
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Ji Young Cecilia Park
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Anita Goyala
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Elena M Vayndorf
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-7470, USA
| | - Bruce Zhang
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kuei Ching Hsiung
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yoonji Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Sujeong Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Cyril Statzer
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - David Meyer
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University Hospital and University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Richard Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-7470, USA
| | | | | | - Björn Schumacher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University Hospital and University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Seung-Jae V Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Clara L Essmann
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biology III, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael R MacArthur
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA
| | - Matt Kaeberlein
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-7470, USA
| | | | - David Gems
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Collin Y Ewald
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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Wan J, Ding JL, Lu H. Microfluidic approach to correlate C. elegans neuronal functional aging and underlying changes of gene expression in mechanosensation. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2811-2824. [PMID: 38700452 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01080e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The aging process has broad physiological impacts, including a significant decline in sensory function, which threatens both physical health and quality of life. One ideal model to study aging, neuronal function, and gene expression is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has a short lifespan and relatively simple, thoroughly mapped nervous system and genome. Previous works have identified that mechanosensory neuronal structure changes with age, but importantly, the actual age-related changes in the function and health of neurons, as well as the underlying genetic mechanisms responsible for these declines, are not fully understood. While advanced techniques such as single-cell RNA-sequencing have been developed to quantify gene expression, it is difficult to relate this information to functional changes in aging due to a lack of tools available. To address these limitations, we present a platform capable of measuring both physiological function and its associated gene expression throughout the aging process in individuals. Using our pipeline, we investigate the age-related changes in function of the mechanosensing ALM neuron in C. elegans, as well as some relevant gene expression patterns (mec-4 and mec-10). Using a series of devices for animals of different ages, we examined subtle changes in neuronal function and found that while the magnitude of neuronal response to a large stimulus declines with age, sensory capability does not significantly decline with age; further, gene expression is well maintained throughout aging. Additionally, we examine PVD, a harsh-touch mechanosensory neuron, and find that it exhibits a similar age-related decline in magnitude of neuronal response. Together, our data demonstrate that our strategy is useful for identifying genetic factors involved in the decline in neuronal health. We envision that this framework could be applied to other systems as a useful tool for discovering new biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Wan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jimmy L Ding
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Interdisciplinary BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Hang Lu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Interdisciplinary BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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3
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La Cavera S, Chauhan VM, Hardiman W, Yao M, Fuentes-Domínguez R, Setchfield K, Abayzeed SA, Pérez-Cota F, Smith RJ, Clark M. Label-free Brillouin endo-microscopy for the quantitative 3D imaging of sub-micrometre biology. Commun Biol 2024; 7:451. [PMID: 38622287 PMCID: PMC11018753 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06126-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
This report presents an optical fibre-based endo-microscopic imaging tool that simultaneously measures the topographic profile and 3D viscoelastic properties of biological specimens through the phenomenon of time-resolved Brillouin scattering. This uses the intrinsic viscoelasticity of the specimen as a contrast mechanism without fluorescent tags or photoacoustic contrast mechanisms. We demonstrate 2 μm lateral resolution and 320 nm axial resolution for the 3D imaging of biological cells and Caenorhabditis elegans larvae. This has enabled the first ever 3D stiffness imaging and characterisation of the C. elegans larva cuticle in-situ. A label-free, subcellular resolution, and endoscopic compatible technique that reveals structural biologically-relevant material properties of tissue could pave the way toward in-vivo elasticity-based diagnostics down to the single cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore La Cavera
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Veeren M Chauhan
- Advanced Materials & Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - William Hardiman
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Mengting Yao
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Rafael Fuentes-Domínguez
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Kerry Setchfield
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Sidahmed A Abayzeed
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Fernando Pérez-Cota
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Richard J Smith
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Matt Clark
- Optics and Photonics Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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Coker ZN, Troyanova-Wood M, Steelman ZA, Ibey BL, Bixler JN, Scully MO, Yakovlev VV. Brillouin microscopy monitors rapid responses in subcellular compartments. PHOTONIX 2024; 5:9. [PMID: 38618142 PMCID: PMC11006764 DOI: 10.1186/s43074-024-00123-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Measurements and imaging of the mechanical response of biological cells are critical for understanding the mechanisms of many diseases, and for fundamental studies of energy, signal and force transduction. The recent emergence of Brillouin microscopy as a powerful non-contact, label-free way to non-invasively and non-destructively assess local viscoelastic properties provides an opportunity to expand the scope of biomechanical research to the sub-cellular level. Brillouin spectroscopy has recently been validated through static measurements of cell viscoelastic properties, however, fast (sub-second) measurements of sub-cellular cytomechanical changes have yet to be reported. In this report, we utilize a custom multimodal spectroscopy system to monitor for the very first time the rapid viscoelastic response of cells and subcellular structures to a short-duration electrical impulse. The cytomechanical response of three subcellular structures - cytoplasm, nucleoplasm, and nucleoli - were monitored, showing distinct mechanical changes despite an identical stimulus. Through this pioneering transformative study, we demonstrate the capability of Brillouin spectroscopy to measure rapid, real-time biomechanical changes within distinct subcellular compartments. Our results support the promising future of Brillouin spectroscopy within the broad scope of cellular biomechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary N. Coker
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Texas A&M University, 4242 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 USA
- SAIC, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 USA
| | | | - Zachary A. Steelman
- Air Force Research Laboratory, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 USA
| | - Bennett L. Ibey
- Air Force Research Laboratory, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 USA
| | - Joel N. Bixler
- Air Force Research Laboratory, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 USA
| | - Marlan O. Scully
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Texas A&M University, 4242 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 USA
- Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Vladislav V. Yakovlev
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Texas A&M University, 4242 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 USA
- Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 3120 TAMU, 101 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843 USA
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Essmann CL, Elmi M, Rekatsinas C, Chrysochoidis N, Shaw M, Pawar V, Srinivasan MA, Vavourakis V. The influence of internal pressure and neuromuscular agents on C. elegans biomechanics: an empirical and multi-compartmental in silico modelling study. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1335788. [PMID: 38558792 PMCID: PMC10978802 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1335788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The function of a specific tissue and its biomechanics are interdependent, with pathologies or ageing often being intertwined with structural decline. The biomechanics of Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism widely used in pharmacological and ageing research, has been established as biomarker for healthy ageing. However, the properties of the constituent tissues, and their contribution to the overall mechanical characteristics of the organism, remain relatively unknown. In this study we investigated the biomechanics of healthy C. elegans cuticle, muscle tissue, and pseudocoelom using a combination of indentation experiments and in silico modelling. We performed stiffness measurements using an atomic force microscope. To approximate the nematode's cylindrical body we used a novel three-compartment nonlinear finite element model, enabling us to analyse of how changes in the elasticity of individual compartments affect the bulk stiffness. We then fine-tuned the parameters of the model to match the simulation force-indentation output to the experimental data. To test the finite element model, we modified distinct compartments experimentally. Our in silico results, in agreement with previous studies, suggest that hyperosmotic shock reduces stiffness by decreasing the internal pressure. Unexpectedly, treatment with the neuromuscular agent aldicarb, traditionally associated with muscle contraction, reduced stiffness by decreasing the internal pressure. Furthermore, our finite element model can offer insights into how drugs, mutations, or processes such as ageing target individual tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara L. Essmann
- Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muna Elmi
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nikolaos Chrysochoidis
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Michael Shaw
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - Vijay Pawar
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vasileios Vavourakis
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Zhao B, Liu Z, Fu Y, Zhang H, Wu J, Lai C, Xue E, Gao Q, Shao J. Social Determinants of Intrinsic Capacity: A National Cohort Study. Am J Prev Med 2024; 66:559-567. [PMID: 37844711 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intrinsic capacity (IC), a composite of physical and mental capacities, is a marker of healthy aging. Social determinants of health (SDOH), namely the economic and social environments across a lifespan, are the most fundamental factors influencing health outcomes and health disparities. However, there is limited evidence on the influence of the individual and combined burden of the SDOH on IC. METHODS Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015), and data analysis was conducted in 2023. Linear mixed-effect regression was employed to investigate the association between SDOH and IC in a longitudinal analysis. RESULTS This study comprised 7,669 participants (mean [SD] age, 68.5 [7.1] years; 49.8% female; mean [SD] IC, 7.2 [1.6]). In the longitudinal analysis, all five SDOH domains were independently and significantly associated with IC. The absence of social association within the social and community context domain exhibited the weakest association with IC (β: -0.11 [95% CI -0.20, -0.02]), while illiteracy within the education access and quality domain demonstrated the strongest association with IC (β: -0.51 [95% CI -0.60, -0.42]). Furthermore, the adverse effects of SDOH on IC became more distinguishable with the cumulative number of SDOH variables (coefficient for 2 SDOH, -0.41 [-0.64, -0.19]; 3 SDOH, -0.70 [-0.93, -0.48]; ≥4 SDOH, -1.10 [-1.33, -0.88]) compared with those without any SDOH. CONCLUSIONS Certain SDOH levels were significantly and negatively associated with IC. Targeted interventions may be needed to improve SDOH in individuals at high risk of poor IC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binyu Zhao
- Department of Nursing, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Nursing Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zuyun Liu
- Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health and Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics of the Second Affiliated Hospital, The Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yujia Fu
- Department of Nursing, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Nursing Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huafang Zhang
- Department of Nursing, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingjie Wu
- Nursing Department, Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chuyang Lai
- Nursing Department, Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Erxu Xue
- Nursing Department, Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qisheng Gao
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Shao
- Department of Nursing, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Nursing Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Teuscher AC, Statzer C, Goyala A, Domenig SA, Schoen I, Hess M, Hofer AM, Fossati A, Vogel V, Goksel O, Aebersold R, Ewald CY. Longevity interventions modulate mechanotransduction and extracellular matrix homeostasis in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:276. [PMID: 38177158 PMCID: PMC10766642 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44409-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctional extracellular matrices (ECM) contribute to aging and disease. Repairing dysfunctional ECM could potentially prevent age-related pathologies. Interventions promoting longevity also impact ECM gene expression. However, the role of ECM composition changes in healthy aging remains unclear. Here we perform proteomics and in-vivo monitoring to systematically investigate ECM composition (matreotype) during aging in C. elegans revealing three distinct collagen dynamics. Longevity interventions slow age-related collagen stiffening and prolong the expression of collagens that are turned over. These prolonged collagen dynamics are mediated by a mechanical feedback loop of hemidesmosome-containing structures that span from the exoskeletal ECM through the hypodermis, basement membrane ECM, to the muscles, coupling mechanical forces to adjust ECM gene expression and longevity via the transcriptional co-activator YAP-1 across tissues. Our results provide in-vivo evidence that coordinated ECM remodeling through mechanotransduction is required and sufficient to promote longevity, offering potential avenues for interventions targeting ECM dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina C Teuscher
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Cyril Statzer
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Anita Goyala
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Seraina A Domenig
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Ingmar Schoen
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Max Hess
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Alexander M Hofer
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Fossati
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA
| | - Viola Vogel
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Orcun Goksel
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ruedi Aebersold
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Collin Y Ewald
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland.
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Cornwell A, Zhang Y, Thondamal M, Johnson DW, Thakar J, Samuelson AV. The C. elegans Myc-family of transcription factors coordinate a dynamic adaptive response to dietary restriction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.22.568222. [PMID: 38045350 PMCID: PMC10690244 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.568222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR), the process of decreasing overall food consumption over an extended period of time, has been shown to increase longevity across evolutionarily diverse species and delay the onset of age-associated diseases in humans. In Caenorhabditis elegans , the Myc-family transcription factors (TFs) MXL-2 (Mlx) and MML-1 (MondoA/ChREBP), which function as obligate heterodimers, and PHA-4 (orthologous to forkhead box transcription factor A) are both necessary for the full physiological benefits of DR. However, the adaptive transcriptional response to DR and the role of MML-1::MXL-2 and PHA-4 remains elusive. We identified the transcriptional signature of C. elegans DR, using the eat-2 genetic model, and demonstrate broad changes in metabolic gene expression in eat-2 DR animals, which requires both mxl-2 and pha-4 . While the requirement for these factors in DR gene expression overlaps, we found many of the DR genes exhibit an opposing change in relative gene expression in eat-2;mxl-2 animals compared to wild-type, which was not observed in eat-2 animals with pha-4 loss. We further show functional deficiencies of the mxl-2 loss in DR outside of lifespan, as eat-2;mxl-2 animals exhibit substantially smaller brood sizes and lay a proportion of dead eggs, indicating that MML-1::MXL-2 has a role in maintaining the balance between resource allocation to the soma and to reproduction under conditions of chronic food scarcity. While eat-2 animals do not show a significantly different metabolic rate compared to wild-type, we also find that loss of mxl-2 in DR does not affect the rate of oxygen consumption in young animals. The gene expression signature of eat-2 mutant animals is consistent with optimization of energy utilization and resource allocation, rather than induction of canonical gene expression changes associated with acute metabolic stress -such as induction of autophagy after TORC1 inhibition. Consistently, eat-2 animals are not substantially resistant to stress, providing further support to the idea that chronic DR may benefit healthspan and lifespan through efficient use of limited resources rather than broad upregulation of stress responses, and also indicates that MML-1::MXL-2 and PHA-4 may have different roles in promotion of benefits in response to different pro-longevity stimuli.
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Reich H, Savage-Dunn C. Signaling circuits and the apical extracellular matrix in aging: connections identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C1201-C1211. [PMID: 37721005 PMCID: PMC10861026 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00195.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous conserved signaling pathways play critical roles in aging, including insulin/IGF-1, TGF-β, and Wnt pathways. Some of these pathways also play prominent roles in the formation and maintenance of the extracellular matrix. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been an enduringly productive system for the identification of conserved mechanisms of biological aging. Recent studies in C. elegans highlight the regulatory circuits between conserved signaling pathways and the extracellular matrix, revealing a bidirectional relationship between these factors and providing a platform to address how regulation of and by the extracellular matrix can impact lifespan and organismal health during aging. These discoveries provide new opportunities for clinical advances and novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Reich
- Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York, United States
| | - Cathy Savage-Dunn
- Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York, United States
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
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10
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Dehn AS, Duhaime L, Gogna N, Nishina PM, Kelley K, Losick VP. Epithelial mechanics are maintained by inhibiting cell fusion with age in Drosophila. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs260974. [PMID: 37732459 PMCID: PMC10651104 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A characteristic of normal aging and age-related diseases is the remodeling of the cellular organization of a tissue through polyploid cell growth. Polyploidy arises from an increase in nuclear ploidy or the number of nuclei per cell. However, it is not known whether age-induced polyploidy is an adaption to stressors or a precursor to degeneration. Here, we find that abdominal epithelium of the adult fruit fly becomes polyploid with age through generation of multinucleated cells by cell fusion. Inhibition of fusion does not improve the lifespan of the fly, but does enhance its biomechanical fitness, a measure of the healthspan of the animal. Remarkably, Drosophila can maintain their epithelial tension and abdominal movements with age when cell fusion is inhibited. Epithelial cell fusion also appears to be dependent on a mechanical cue, as knockdown of Rho kinase, E-cadherin or α-catenin is sufficient to induce multinucleation in young animals. Interestingly, mutations in α-catenin in mice result in retina pigment epithelial multinucleation associated with macular disease. Therefore, we have discovered that polyploid cells arise by cell fusion and contribute to the decline in the biomechanical fitness of the animal with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari S. Dehn
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Levi Duhaime
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Navdeep Gogna
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Kristina Kelley
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Vicki P. Losick
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
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11
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Spanoudakis E, Tavernarakis N. Age-associated anatomical and physiological alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 213:111827. [PMID: 37268279 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Since its introduction by Sydney Brenner, Caenorhabditis elegans has become a widely studied organism. Given its highly significant properties, including transparency, short lifespan, self-fertilization, high reproductive yield and ease in manipulation and genetic modifications, the nematode has contributed to the elucidation of several fundamental aspects of biology, such as development and ageing. Moreover, it has been extensively used as a platform for the modelling of ageing-associated human disorders, especially those related to neurodegeneration. The use of C. elegans for such purposes requires, and at the same time promotes the investigation of its normal ageing process. In this review we aim to summarize the major organismal alterations during normal worm ageing, in terms of morphology and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Spanoudakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece; Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
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12
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Aggad D, Brouilly N, Omi S, Essmann CL, Dehapiot B, Savage-Dunn C, Richard F, Cazevieille C, Politi KA, Hall DH, Pujol R, Pujol N. Meisosomes, folded membrane microdomains between the apical extracellular matrix and epidermis. eLife 2023; 12:e75906. [PMID: 36913486 PMCID: PMC10010689 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) form a physical barrier to the environment. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the epidermal aECM, the cuticle, is composed mainly of different types of collagen, associated in circumferential ridges separated by furrows. Here, we show that in mutants lacking furrows, the normal intimate connection between the epidermis and the cuticle is lost, specifically at the lateral epidermis, where, in contrast to the dorsal and ventral epidermis, there are no hemidesmosomes. At the ultrastructural level, there is a profound alteration of structures that we term 'meisosomes,' in reference to eisosomes in yeast. We show that meisosomes are composed of stacked parallel folds of the epidermal plasma membrane, alternately filled with cuticle. We propose that just as hemidesmosomes connect the dorsal and ventral epidermis, above the muscles, to the cuticle, meisosomes connect the lateral epidermis to it. Moreover, furrow mutants present marked modifications of the biomechanical properties of their skin and exhibit a constitutive damage response in the epidermis. As meisosomes co-localise to macrodomains enriched in phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate, they could conceivably act, like eisosomes, as signalling platforms, to relay tensile information from the aECM to the underlying epidermis, as part of an integrated stress response to damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Aggad
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Nicolas Brouilly
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Shizue Omi
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Clara Luise Essmann
- Department of Computer Science, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Bio3/Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Albert-Ludwigs-UniversityFreiburgGermany
| | - Benoit Dehapiot
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Cathy Savage-Dunn
- Department of Biology, Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNYFlushingUnited States
| | - Fabrice Richard
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Chantal Cazevieille
- INM, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Plateau de microscopie électronique, INSERM, Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Kristin A Politi
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - David H Hall
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Remy Pujol
- INM, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Plateau de microscopie électronique, INSERM, Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
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13
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Ma S, Wu J, Liu Z, He R, Wang Y, Liu L, Wang T, Wang W. Quantitative characterization of cell physiological state based on dynamical cell mechanics for drug efficacy indication. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:388-402. [PMID: 37181289 PMCID: PMC10173291 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell mechanics is essential to cell development and function, and its dynamics evolution reflects the physiological state of cells. Here, we investigate the dynamical mechanical properties of single cells under various drug conditions, and present two mathematical approaches to quantitatively characterizing the cell physiological state. It is demonstrated that the cellular mechanical properties upon the drug action increase over time and tend to saturate, and can be mathematically characterized by a linear time-invariant dynamical model. It is shown that the transition matrices of dynamical cell systems significantly improve the classification accuracies of the cells under different drug actions. Furthermore, it is revealed that there exists a positive linear correlation between the cytoskeleton density and the cellular mechanical properties, and the physiological state of a cell in terms of its cytoskeleton density can be predicted from its mechanical properties by a linear regression model. This study builds a relationship between the cellular mechanical properties and the cellular physiological state, adding information for evaluating drug efficacy.
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14
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Techniques for characterizing mechanical properties of soft tissues. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105575. [PMID: 36470112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The characterization of soft tissues remains a vital need for various bioengineering and medical fields. Developing areas such as regenerative medicine, robot-aided surgery, and surgical simulations all require accurate knowledge about the mechanical properties of soft tissues to replicate their mechanics. Mechanical properties can be characterized through several different characterization techniques such as atomic force microscopy, compression testing, and tensile testing. However, many of these methods contain considerable differences in ability to accurately characterize the mechanical properties of soft tissues. As a result of these variations, there are often discrepancies in the reported values for numerous studies. This paper reviews common characterization methods that have been applied to obtain the mechanical properties of soft tissues and highlights their advantages as well as disadvantages. The limitations, accuracies, repeatability, in-vivo testing capability, and types of properties measurable for each method are also discussed.
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15
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Simpson JD, Ray A, Koehler M, Mohammed D, Alsteens D. Atomic force microscopy applied to interrogate nanoscale cellular chemistry and supramolecular bond dynamics for biomedical applications. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:5072-5087. [PMID: 35315846 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc07200e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Understanding biological interactions at a molecular level grants valuable information relevant to improving medical treatments and outcomes. Among the suite of technologies available, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is unique in its ability to quantitatively probe forces and receptor-ligand interactions in real-time. The ability to assess the formation of supramolecular bonds and intermediates in real-time on surfaces and living cells generates important information relevant to understanding biological phenomena. Combining AFM with fluorescence-based techniques allows for an unprecedented level of insight not only concerning the formation and rupture of bonds, but understanding medically relevant interactions at a molecular level. As the ability of AFM to probe cells and more complex models improves, being able to assess binding kinetics, chemical topographies, and garner spectroscopic information will likely become key to developing further improvements in fields such as cancer, nanomaterials, and virology. The rapid response to the COVID-19 crisis, producing information regarding not just receptor affinities, but also strain-dependent efficacy of neutralizing nanobodies, demonstrates just how viable and integral to the pre-clinical development of information AFM techniques are in this era of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Simpson
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - Ankita Ray
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - Melanie Koehler
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - Danahe Mohammed
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - David Alsteens
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
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16
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Longevity interventions temporally scale healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans. iScience 2022; 25:103983. [PMID: 35310333 PMCID: PMC8924689 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Human centenarians and longevity mutants of model organisms show lower incidence rates of late-life morbidities than the average population. However, whether longevity is caused by a compression of the portion of life spent in a state of morbidity, i.e., "sickspan," is highly debated even in isogenic Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we developed a microfluidic device that employs acoustophoretic force fields to quantify the maximum muscle strength and dynamic power in aging C. elegans. Together with different biomarkers for healthspan, we found a stochastic onset of morbidity, starting with a decline in dynamic muscle power and structural integrity, culminating in frailty. Surprisingly, we did not observe a compression of sickspan in longevity mutants but instead observed a temporal scaling of healthspan. Given the conservation of these longevity interventions, this raises the question of whether the healthspan of mammalian longevity interventions is also temporally scaled.
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17
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Rahimi M, Sohrabi S, Murphy CT. Novel elasticity measurements reveal C. elegans cuticle stiffens with age and in a long-lived mutant. Biophys J 2022; 121:515-524. [PMID: 35065051 PMCID: PMC8874029 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in biomechanical properties have profound impacts on human health. C. elegans might serve as a model for studying the molecular genetics of mammalian tissue decline. Previously, we found that collagens are required for insulin signaling mutants' long lifespan and that overexpression of specific collagens extends wild-type lifespan. However, whether these effects on lifespan are due to mechanical changes during aging has not yet been established. Here, we have developed two novel methods to study the cuticle: we measure mechanical properties of live animals using osmotic shock, and we directly perform the tensile test on isolated cuticles using microfluidic technology. Using these tools, we find that the cuticle, not the muscle, is responsible for changes in the "stretchiness" of C. elegans, and that cuticle stiffness is highly nonlinear and anisotropic. We also found that collagen mutations alter the integrity of the cuticle by significantly changing the elasticity. In addition, aging stiffens the cuticle under mechanical loads beyond the cuticle's healthy stretched state. Measurements of elasticity showed that long-lived daf-2 mutants were considerably better at preventing progressive mechanical changes with age. These tests of C. elegans biophysical properties suggest that the cuticle is responsible for their resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rahimi
- Department of Molecular Biology & Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Salman Sohrabi
- Department of Molecular Biology & Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Coleen T. Murphy
- Department of Molecular Biology & Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey,Corresponding author
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18
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Park HEH, Hwang W, Ham S, Kim E, Altintas O, Park S, Son HG, Lee Y, Lee D, Heo WD, Lee SJV. A PTEN variant uncouples longevity from impaired fitness in Caenorhabditis elegans with reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5631. [PMID: 34561453 PMCID: PMC8463539 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25920-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) regulates various physiological aspects in numerous species. In Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations in the daf-2/insulin/IGF-1 receptor dramatically increase lifespan and immunity, but generally impair motility, growth, and reproduction. Whether these pleiotropic effects can be dissociated at a specific step in insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway remains unknown. Through performing a mutagenesis screen, we identified a missense mutation daf-18(yh1) that alters a cysteine to tyrosine in DAF-18/PTEN phosphatase, which maintained the long lifespan and enhanced immunity, while improving the reduced motility in adult daf-2 mutants. We showed that the daf-18(yh1) mutation decreased the lipid phosphatase activity of DAF-18/PTEN, while retaining a partial protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. We found that daf-18(yh1) maintained the partial activity of DAF-16/FOXO but restricted the detrimental upregulation of SKN-1/NRF2, contributing to beneficial physiological traits in daf-2 mutants. Our work provides important insights into how one evolutionarily conserved component, PTEN, can coordinate animal health and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae-Eun H Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Wooseon Hwang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Seokjin Ham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Eunah Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Ozlem Altintas
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Sangsoon Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Heehwa G Son
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Yujin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Dongyeop Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Seung-Jae V Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea.
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19
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Läubli NF, Burri JT, Marquard J, Vogler H, Mosca G, Vertti-Quintero N, Shamsudhin N, deMello A, Grossniklaus U, Ahmed D, Nelson BJ. 3D mechanical characterization of single cells and small organisms using acoustic manipulation and force microscopy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2583. [PMID: 33972516 PMCID: PMC8110787 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22718-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative micromechanical characterization of single cells and multicellular tissues or organisms is of fundamental importance to the study of cellular growth, morphogenesis, and cell-cell interactions. However, due to limited manipulation capabilities at the microscale, systems used for mechanical characterizations struggle to provide complete three-dimensional coverage of individual specimens. Here, we combine an acoustically driven manipulation device with a micro-force sensor to freely rotate biological samples and quantify mechanical properties at multiple regions of interest within a specimen. The versatility of this tool is demonstrated through the analysis of single Lilium longiflorum pollen grains, in combination with numerical simulations, and individual Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. It reveals local variations in apparent stiffness for single specimens, providing previously inaccessible information and datasets on mechanical properties that serve as the basis for biophysical modelling and allow deeper insights into the biomechanics of these living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino F Läubli
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan T Burri
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Hannes Vogler
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriella Mosca
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Vertti-Quintero
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrew deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ueli Grossniklaus
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
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20
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Backes C, Martinez-Martinez D, Cabreiro F. C. elegans: A biosensor for host-microbe interactions. Lab Anim (NY) 2021; 50:127-135. [PMID: 33649581 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-021-00724-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Microbes are an integral part of life on this planet. Microbes and their hosts influence each other in an endless dance that shapes how the meta-organism interacts with its environment. Although great advances have been made in microbiome research over the past 20 years, the mechanisms by which both hosts and their microbes interact with each other and the environment are still not well understood. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been widely used as a model organism to study a remarkable number of human-like processes. Recent evidence shows that the worm is a powerful tool to investigate in fine detail the complexity that exists in microbe-host interactions. By combining the large array of genetic tools available for both organisms together with deep phenotyping approaches, it has been possible to uncover key effectors in the complex relationship between microbes and their hosts. In this perspective, we survey the literature for insightful discoveries in the microbiome field using the worm as a model. We discuss the latest conceptual and technological advances in the field and highlight the strengths that make C. elegans a valuable biosensor tool for the study of microbe-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Backes
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - Filipe Cabreiro
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. .,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
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21
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Liu Y, Martinez-Martinez D, Essmann CL, Cruz MR, Cabreiro F, Garsin DA. Transcriptome analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans lacking heme peroxidase SKPO-1 reveals an altered response to Enterococcus faecalis. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkaa055. [PMID: 33609366 PMCID: PMC8022988 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is commonly used as a model organism in studies of the host immune response. The worm encodes twelve peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily members, making it an attractive model in which to study the functions of heme peroxidases. In previous work, loss of one of these peroxidases, SKPO-1 (ShkT-containing peroxidase), rendered C. elegans more sensitive to the human, Gram-positive pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. SKPO-1 was localized to the hypodermis of the animals where it also affected cuticle development as indicated by a morphological phenotype called "dumpy." In this work, a better understanding of how loss of skpo-1 impacts both sensitivity to pathogen as well as cuticle development was sought by subjecting a deletion mutant of skpo-1 to transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing following exposure to control (Escherichia coli) and pathogenic (E. faecalis) feeding conditions. Loss of skpo-1 caused a general upregulation of genes encoding collagens and other proteins related to cuticle development. On E. faecalis, these animals also failed to upregulate guanylyl cyclases that are often involved in environmental sensing. Hoechst straining revealed increased permeability of the cuticle and atomic force microscopy exposed the misalignment of the cuticular annuli and furrows. These findings provide a basis for better understanding of the morphological as well as the pathogen sensitivity phenotypes associated with loss of SKPO-1 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Daniel Martinez-Martinez
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences,Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Clara L Essmann
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences,Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Melissa R Cruz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Filipe Cabreiro
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences,Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Danielle A Garsin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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22
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Mkrtchyan GV, Abdelmohsen K, Andreux P, Bagdonaite I, Barzilai N, Brunak S, Cabreiro F, de Cabo R, Campisi J, Cuervo AM, Demaria M, Ewald CY, Fang EF, Faragher R, Ferrucci L, Freund A, Silva-García CG, Georgievskaya A, Gladyshev VN, Glass DJ, Gorbunova V, de Grey A, He WW, Hoeijmakers J, Hoffmann E, Horvath S, Houtkooper RH, Jensen MK, Jensen MB, Kane A, Kassem M, de Keizer P, Kennedy B, Karsenty G, Lamming DW, Lee KF, MacAulay N, Mamoshina P, Mellon J, Molenaars M, Moskalev A, Mund A, Niedernhofer L, Osborne B, Pak HH, Parkhitko A, Raimundo N, Rando TA, Rasmussen LJ, Reis C, Riedel CG, Franco-Romero A, Schumacher B, Sinclair DA, Suh Y, Taub PR, Toiber D, Treebak JT, Valenzano DR, Verdin E, Vijg J, Young S, Zhang L, Bakula D, Zhavoronkov A, Scheibye-Knudsen M. ARDD 2020: from aging mechanisms to interventions. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:24484-24503. [PMID: 33378272 PMCID: PMC7803558 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aging is emerging as a druggable target with growing interest from academia, industry and investors. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced screening techniques, as well as a strong influence from the industry sector may lead to novel discoveries to treat age-related diseases. The present review summarizes presentations from the 7th Annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery (ARDD) meeting, held online on the 1st to 4th of September 2020. The meeting covered topics related to new methodologies to study aging, knowledge about basic mechanisms of longevity, latest interventional strategies to target the aging process as well as discussions about the impact of aging research on society and economy. More than 2000 participants and 65 speakers joined the meeting and we already look forward to an even larger meeting next year. Please mark your calendars for the 8th ARDD meeting that is scheduled for the 31st of August to 3rd of September, 2021, at Columbia University, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garik V. Mkrtchyan
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kotb Abdelmohsen
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Pénélope Andreux
- Amazentis SA, EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment C, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ieva Bagdonaite
- Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nir Barzilai
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Institute for Aging Research, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Søren Brunak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Filipe Cabreiro
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Rafael de Cabo
- Experimental Gerontology Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Judith Campisi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Ana Maria Cuervo
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Marco Demaria
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Collin Y. Ewald
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute for Technology Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Richard Faragher
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Adam Freund
- Calico Life Sciences, LLC, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Carlos G. Silva-García
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Vadim N. Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David J. Glass
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | - Vera Gorbunova
- Departments of Biology and Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | | | - Wei-Wu He
- Human Longevity Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Jan Hoeijmakers
- Department of Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Hoffmann
- DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steve Horvath
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Riekelt H. Houtkooper
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Majken K. Jensen
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Alice Kane
- Blavatnik Institute, Department of Genetics, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 94107, USA
| | - Moustapha Kassem
- Molecular Endocrinology Unit, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Odense and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Peter de Keizer
- Department of Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Division of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Brian Kennedy
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for Healthy Ageing, National University Healthy System, Singapore
| | - Gerard Karsenty
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dudley W. Lamming
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Kai-Fu Lee
- Sinovation Ventures and Sinovation AI Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Nanna MacAulay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Polina Mamoshina
- Deep Longevity Inc., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong
| | - Jim Mellon
- Juvenescence Limited, Douglas, Isle of Man, UK
| | - Marte Molenaars
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexey Moskalev
- Institute of Biology of FRC Komi Science Center of Ural Division of RAS, Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Andreas Mund
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura Niedernhofer
- Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brenna Osborne
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Heidi H. Pak
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | | | - Nuno Raimundo
- Institute of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Thomas A. Rando
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lene Juel Rasmussen
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Christian G. Riedel
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Björn Schumacher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - David A. Sinclair
- Blavatnik Institute, Department of Genetics, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 94107, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yousin Suh
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Pam R. Taub
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Debra Toiber
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jonas T. Treebak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Eric Verdin
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Jan Vijg
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | | | - Lei Zhang
- Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Daniela Bakula
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Insilico Medicine, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong
| | - Morten Scheibye-Knudsen
- Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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23
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Bajpai A, Li R, Chen W. The cellular mechanobiology of aging: from biology to mechanics. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1491:3-24. [PMID: 33231326 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a chronic, complicated process that leads to degenerative physical and biological changes in living organisms. Aging is associated with permanent, gradual physiological cellular decay that affects all aspects of cellular mechanobiological features, including cellular cytoskeleton structures, mechanosensitive signaling pathways, and forces in the cell, as well as the cell's ability to sense and adapt to extracellular biomechanical signals in the tissue environment through mechanotransduction. These mechanobiological changes in cells are directly or indirectly responsible for dysfunctions and diseases in various organ systems, including the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, skin, and immune systems. This review critically examines the role of aging in the progressive decline of the mechanobiology occurring in cells, and establishes mechanistic frameworks to understand the mechanobiological effects of aging on disease progression and to develop new strategies for halting and reversing the aging process. Our review also highlights the recent development of novel bioengineering approaches for studying the key mechanobiological mechanisms in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apratim Bajpai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York.,Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
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24
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Cohen JD, Sundaram MV. C. elegans Apical Extracellular Matrices Shape Epithelia. J Dev Biol 2020; 8:E23. [PMID: 33036165 PMCID: PMC7712855 DOI: 10.3390/jdb8040023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) coat exposed surfaces of epithelia to shape developing tissues and protect them from environmental insults. Despite their widespread importance for human health, aECMs are poorly understood compared to basal and stromal ECMs. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a variety of distinct aECMs, some of which share many of the same types of components (lipids, lipoproteins, collagens, zona pellucida domain proteins, chondroitin glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans) with mammalian aECMs. These aECMs include the eggshell, a glycocalyx-like pre-cuticle, both collagenous and chitin-based cuticles, and other understudied aECMs of internal epithelia. C. elegans allows rapid genetic manipulations and live imaging of fluorescently-tagged aECM components, and is therefore providing new insights into aECM structure, trafficking, assembly, and functions in tissue shaping.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meera V. Sundaram
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine 415 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA;
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