Centenarians, but not octogenarians, up-regulate the expression of microRNAs

Wisdom, Resilience, and Well-Being in Later Life

As the numbers of older adults continue to increase globally, the need for facilitating healthy aging has become critical. While a physically healthy lifestyle, including exercise and diet, is important, recent research has highlighted a major impact of psychosocial determinants of health, such as resilience, wisdom, positive social connections, and mental well-being, on whole health. This article focuses on keeping the mind and brain healthy with psychosocially active aging. It has six sections: Philosophy Concepts of Wisdom, Resilience, and Well-Being; Wisdom: Clinical, Neurobiological, and Evolutionary Perspectives; Resilience, Adaptation, and Augmentation; Psychological Resilience, Brain Health, and Whole Person Health; Preventing Depression and Promoting Resilience and Well-Being in Old Age; and The Centenarian as a Model of Resilience and Well-Being. We discuss the biopsychosocial mechanisms and effectiveness of healthy lifestyle strategies and propose a framework for future research and its practical implications for promoting wisdom, resilience, and well-being at the individual, societal, and policy levels.

Centenarians-the way to healthy vascular ageing and longevity: a review from VascAgeNet

The prevalence of centenarians, people who lived 100 years and longer, is steadily growing in the last decades. This exceptional longevity is based on multifaceted processes influenced by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as sex, (epi-)genetic factors, gut microbiota, cellular metabolism, exposure to oxidative stress, immune status, cardiovascular risk factors, environmental factors, and lifestyle behavior. Epidemiologically, the incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases is reduced in healthy centenarians along with late onset of age-related diseases compared with the general aged population. Understanding the mechanisms that affect vascular ageing in centenarians and the underlying factors could offer valuable insights for developing strategies to improve overall healthy life span in the elderly. This review discusses these key factors influencing vascular ageing and how their modulation could foster healthy longevity.

The Intersection of Epigenetics and Senolytics in Mechanisms of Aging and Therapeutic Approaches

The biological process of aging is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors. Recent advancements in the fields of epigenetics and senolytics offer promising avenues for understanding and addressing age-related diseases. Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, with mechanisms like DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation playing critical roles in aging. Senolytics, a class of drugs targeting and eliminating senescent cells, address the accumulation of dysfunctional cells that contribute to tissue degradation and chronic inflammation through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. This scoping review examines the intersection of epigenetic mechanisms and senolytic therapies in aging, focusing on their combined potential for therapeutic interventions. Senescent cells display distinct epigenetic signatures, such as DNA hypermethylation and histone modifications, which can be targeted to enhance senolytic efficacy. Epigenetic reprogramming strategies, such as induced pluripotent stem cells, may further complement senolytics by rejuvenating aged cells. Integrating epigenetic modulation with senolytic therapy offers a dual approach to improving healthspan and mitigating age-related pathologies. This narrative review underscores the need for continued research into the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions and suggests future directions for therapeutic development, including clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and combination therapies that synergistically target aging processes.

Unlocking the biochemical secrets of longevity: balancing healthspan and lifespan

In an era of rising global life expectancies, research focuses on enhancing the quality of extended years. This review examines the link between mitochondrial function and aging, highlighting the importance of healthspan alongside lifespan. This involves significant human and economic challenges, with longer lifespans often accompanied by reduced well-being. Addressing mitochondrial decline, exploring targeted interventions, and understanding the complexities of research models are vital for advancing our knowledge in this field. Additionally, promoting physical exercise and adopting personalized supplementation strategies based on individual needs can contribute to healthy aging. The insights from this Perspective article offer a hopeful outlook for future advances in extending both lifespan and healthspan, aiming to improve the overall quality of life in aging populations.

Centenarian hippocampus displays high levels of astrocytic metallothioneins

The hippocampus is a brain area linked to cognition. The mechanisms that maintain cognitive activity in humans are poorly understood. Centenarians display extreme longevity which is generally accompanied by better quality of life, lower cognitive impairment, and reduced incidence of pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases. We performed transcriptomic studies in hippocampus samples from individuals of different ages (centenarians [≥97 years], old, and young) and identified a differential gene expression pattern in centenarians compared to the other two groups. In particular, several isoforms of metallothioneins (MTs) were highly expressed in centenarians. Moreover, we identified that MTs were mainly expressed in astrocytes. Functional studies in human primary astrocytes revealed that MT1 and MT3 are necessary for their homeostasis maintenance. Overall, these results indicate that the expression of MTs specifically in astrocytes is a mechanism for protection during aging.

Circulating microRNA profile of long-lived Okinawans identifies novel potential targets for optimizing lifespan and health span

Nonagenarians and centenarians serve as successful examples of aging and extended longevity, showcasing robust regulation of biological mechanisms and homeostasis. Given that human longevity is a complex field of study that navigates molecular and biological mechanisms influencing aging, we hypothesized that microRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs implicated in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, are differentially regulated in the circulatory system of young, middle-aged, and nonagenarian individuals. We sequenced circulating microRNAs in Okinawan males and females <40, 50-80, and >90 years of age accounting for FOXO3 genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2802292 (TT - common vs. GT - longevity) and validated the findings through RT-qPCR. We report five microRNAs exclusively upregulated in both male and female nonagenarians with the longevity genotype, play predictive functional roles in TGF-β, FoxO, AMPK, Pi3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways. Our findings suggest that these microRNAs upregulated in nonagenarians may provide novel insight into enhanced lifespan and health span. This discovery warrants further exploration into their roles in human aging and longevity.

Investigating the shared genetic architecture between frailty and insomnia

Background

The epidemiological association between frailty and insomnia is well established, yet the presence of a common genetic etiology is still uncertain. Further exploration is needed to ascertain the causal relationship between frailty and insomnia.

Methods

Utilizing data obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summaries, we utilized the linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to determine the genetic correlation existing between frailty and insomnia. The determination of causality was achieved through the application of two-sample Mendelian randomization. We investigated the enrichment of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at various tissue types utilizing stratified LD score regression (S-LDSC) and multimarker analysis of genome annotation (MAGMA). Common risk SNPs were identified using Multi-Trait Analysis of GWAS (MTAG) and Cross-Phenotype Association (CPASSOC). We further investigated the expression profiles of risk genes in tissues using Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization(SMR) based on pooled data, to explore potential functional genes.

Results

Our findings indicated a significant genetic correlation between frailty and insomnia, highlighting SNPs sharing risk (rs34290943, rs10865954), with a pronounced correlation in the localized genomic region 3p21.31. Partitioned genetic analysis revealed 24 functional elements significantly associated with both frailty and insomnia. Furthermore, mendelian randomization revealed a causal connection between frailty and insomnia. The genetic correlation between frailty and insomnia showed enrichment in 11 brain regions (S-LDSC) and 9 brain regions (MAGMA), where four functional genes (RMB6, MST1R, RF123, and FAM212A) were identified.

Conclusion

This study suggests the existence of a genetic correlation and common risk genes between frailty and insomnia, contributing to a deeper comprehension of their pathogenesis and assists in identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Genomic Instability and Epigenetic Changes during Aging

Aging is considered the deterioration of physiological functions along with an increased mortality rate. This scientific review focuses on the central importance of genomic instability during the aging process, encompassing a range of cellular and molecular changes that occur with advancing age. In particular, this revision addresses the genetic and epigenetic alterations that contribute to genomic instability, such as telomere shortening, DNA damage accumulation, and decreased DNA repair capacity. Furthermore, the review explores the epigenetic changes that occur with aging, including modifications to histones, DNA methylation patterns, and the role of non-coding RNAs. Finally, the review discusses the organization of chromatin and its contribution to genomic instability, including heterochromatin loss, chromatin remodeling, and changes in nucleosome and histone abundance. In conclusion, this review highlights the fundamental role that genomic instability plays in the aging process and underscores the need for continued research into these complex biological mechanisms.

MicroRNA biogenesis pathway alterations in aging

Aging is characterized by genomic instability and dysregulation of gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. This work explores the impact of dysregulated miRNA biogenesis on the aging process. During aging, alterations in the transcription of primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) occur due to genomic changes, DNA damage, and epigenetic modifications. The microprocessor complex, comprising DGCR8 and Drosha proteins, is vital for pri-miRNA processing. Age-related changes in this complex affect miRNA biogenesis and miRNA expression profiles, linking these alterations with age-related conditions. Conversely, interventions like caloric restriction and mTOR inhibition enhance microprocessor activity, suggesting a connection between microprocessor function, aging-related pathways, and lifespan extension. Exportin-5 mediates the transport of pre-miRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Although the role of miRNA export in aging is not well understood, accelerated export of pre-miRNAs is observed in response to DNA damage, and nucleocytoplasmic transport has been linked to cellular senescence. Dicer is responsible for processing pre-miRNAs into mature miRNAs. Reduced Dicer expression during aging is reported in various organisms and tissues and is associated with premature aging phenotypes. Conversely, the upregulation of Dicer improves stress resistance and metabolic adaptations induced by caloric restriction and exercise training. Understanding the role of miRNA biogenesis disruption in aging provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. Targeting this pathway may hold promise for therapeutic strategies and contribute to healthy aging.

The regulation of Insulin/IGF-1 signaling by miR-142-3p associated with human longevity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to modulate life span in the invertebrates C. elegans and Drosophila by targeting conserved pathways of aging, such as insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). However, a role for miRNAs in modulating human longevity has not been fully explored. Here we investigated novel roles of miRNAs as a major epigenetic component of exceptional longevity in humans. By profiling the miRNAs in B-cells from Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians and 70-year-old controls without a longevity history, we found that the majority of differentially expressed miRNAs were upregulated in centenarians and predicted to modulate the IIS pathway. Notably, decreased IIS activity was found in B cells from centenarians who harbored these upregulated miRNAs. miR-142-3p, the top upregulated miRNA, was verified to dampen the IIS pathway by targeting multiple genes including GNB2, AKT1S1, RHEB and FURIN . Overexpression of miR-142-3p improved the stress resistance under genotoxicity and induced the impairment of cell cycle progression in IMR90 cells. Furthermore, mice injected with a miR-142-3p mimic showed reduced IIS signaling and improved longevity-associated phenotypes including enhanced stress resistance, improved diet/aging-induced glucose intolerance, and longevity-associated change of metabolic profile. These data suggest that miR-142-3p is involved in human longevity through regulating IIS-mediated pro-longevity effects. This study provides strong support for the use of miR-142-3p as a novel therapeutic to promote longevity or prevent aging/aging-related diseases in human.

Effect of Familial Longevity on Frailty and Sarcopenia: A Case-Control Study

Familial longevity confers advantages in terms of health, functionality, and longevity. We sought to assess potential differences in frailty and sarcopenia in older adults according to a parental history of extraordinary longevity. A total of 176 community-dwelling subjects aged 65-80 years were recruited in this observational case-control study, pair-matched 1:1 for gender, age, and place of birth and residence: 88 centenarians' offspring (case group) and 88 non-centenarians' offspring (control group). The main variables were frailty and sarcopenia based on Fried's phenotype and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definitions, respectively. Sociodemographics, comorbidities, clinical and functional variables, the presence of geriatric syndromes, and laboratory parameters were also collected. Related sample tests were applied, and conditional logistic regression was performed. Cases had a higher percentage of robust patients (31.8% vs. 15.9%), lower percentages of frailty (9.1% vs. 21.6%) and pre-frailty (59.1% vs. 62.5%) (p = 0.001), and lower levels of IL-6 (p = 0.044) than controls. The robust adjusted OR for cases was 3.00 (95% CI = 1.06-8.47, p = 0.038). No significant differences in muscle mass were found. Familial longevity was also associated with less obesity, insomnia, pain, and polypharmacy and a higher education level and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The results suggest an inherited genetic component in the frailty phenotype, while the sarcopenia association with familial longevity remains challenging.

Ageing at Molecular Level: Role of MicroRNAs

The progression of age triggers a vast number of diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Regardless of our plentiful knowledge about age-related diseases, little is understood about molecular pathways that associate the ageing process with various diseases. Several cellular events like senescence, telomere dysfunction, alterations in protein processing, and regulation of gene expression are common between ageing and associated diseases. Accumulating information on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) suggests targeting miRNAs can aid our understanding of the interplay between ageing and associated diseases. In the present chapter, we have attempted to explore the information available on the role of miRNAs in ageing of various tissues/organs and diseases and understand the molecular mechanism of ageing.

Forensic age estimation from human blood using age-related microRNAs and circular RNAs markers

Aging is a complicated process characterized by progressive and extensive changes in physiological homeostasis at the organismal, tissue, and cellular levels. In modern society, age estimation is essential in a large variety of legal rights and duties. Accumulating evidence suggests roles for microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in regulating numerous processes during aging. Here, we performed circRNA sequencing in two age groups and analyzed microarray data of 171 healthy subjects (17-104 years old) downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress databases with integrated bioinformatics methods. A total of 1,403 circular RNAs were differentially expressed between young and old groups, and 141 circular RNAs were expressed exclusively in elderly samples while 10 circular RNAs were expressed only in young subjects. Based on their expression pattern in these two groups, the circular RNAs were categorized into three classes: age-related expression between young and old, age-limited expression-young only, and age-limited expression-old only. Top five expressed circular RNAs among three classes and a total of 18 differentially expressed microRNAs screened from online databases were selected to validate using RT-qPCR tests. An independent set of 200 blood samples (20-80 years old) was used to develop age prediction models based on 15 age-related noncoding RNAs (11 microRNAs and 4 circular RNAs). Different machine learning algorithms for age prediction were applied, including regression tree, bagging, support vector regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), and XGBoost. Among them, random forest regression model performed best in both training set (mean absolute error = 3.68 years, r = 0.96) and testing set (MAE = 6.840 years, r = 0.77). Models using one single type of predictors, circular RNAs-only or microRNAs-only, result in bigger errors. Smaller prediction errors were shown in males than females when constructing models according to different-sex separately. Putative microRNA targets (430 genes) were enriched in the cellular senescence pathway and cell homeostasis and cell differentiation regulation, indirectly indicating that the microRNAs screened in our study were correlated with development and aging. This study demonstrates that the noncoding RNA aging clock has potential in predicting chronological age and will be an available biological marker in routine forensic investigation to predict the age of biological samples.

Small extracellular vesicles from young adipose-derived stem cells prevent frailty, improve health span, and decrease epigenetic age in old mice

Aging is associated with an increased risk of frailty, disability, and mortality. Strategies to delay the degenerative changes associated with aging and frailty are particularly interesting. We treated old animals with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) of young animals, and we found an improvement in several parameters usually altered with aging, such as motor coordination, grip strength, fatigue resistance, fur regeneration, and renal function, as well as an important decrease in frailty. ADSC-sEVs induced proregenerative effects and a decrease in oxidative stress, inflammation, and senescence markers in muscle and kidney. Moreover, predicted epigenetic age was lower in tissues of old mice treated with ADSC-sEVs and their metabolome changed to a youth-like pattern. Last, we gained some insight into the microRNAs contained in sEVs that might be responsible for the observed effects. We propose that young sEV treatment can promote healthy aging.

Circulating miR-181a as a novel potential plasma biomarker for multimorbidity burden in the older population

Background

Chronic low-level inflammation is thought to play a role in many age-related diseases and to contribute to multimorbidity and to the disability related to this condition. In this framework, inflamma-miRs, an important subset of miRNA able to regulate inflammation molecules, appear to be key players. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of the inflamma-miR-181a in relation to age, parameters of health status (clinical, physical, and cognitive) and indices of multimorbidity in a cohort of 244 subjects aged 65- 97.

Methods

MiR-181a was isolated from plasma according to standardized procedures and its expression levels measured by qPCR. Correlation tests and multivariate regression analyses were applied on gender-stratified groups.

Results

MiR-181a levels resulted increased in old men, and significantly correlated with worsened blood parameters of inflammation (such as low levels of albumin and bilirubin and high lymphocyte content), particularly in females. Furthermore, we found miR-181a positively correlated with the overall multimorbidity burden, measured by CIRS Comorbidity Score, in both genders.

Conclusions

These data support a role of miR-181a in age-related chronic inflammation and in the development of multimorbidity in older adults and indicate that the routes by which this miRNA influence health status are likely to be gender specific. Based on our results, we suggest that miR-181a is a promising biomarker of health status of the older population.

Levels of the inflamma-miR-181a correlate with multimorbidity burden in older people.

MiR-181a levels correlate with blood inflammation markers in a gender-specific manner.

MiR-181a is positively correlated with age in males but not in females.

The paths by which miR-181a can influence health status likely differ between genders.

Biomarkers of Frailty: miRNAs as Common Signatures of Impairment in Cognitive and Physical Domains

The past years have seen an increasing concern about frailty, owing to the growing number of elderly people and the major impact of this syndrome on health and social care. The identification of frail people passes through the use of different tests and biomarkers, whose concerted analysis helps to stratify the populations of patients according to their risk profile. However, their efficiency in prognosis and their capability to reflect the multisystemic impairment of frailty is discussed. Recent works propose the use of miRNAs as biological hallmarks of physiological impairment in different organismal districts. Changes in miRNAs expression have been described in biological processes associated with phenotypic outcomes of frailty, opening intriguing possibilities for their use as biomarkers of fragility. Here, with the aim of finding reliable biomarkers of frailty, while considering its complex nature, we revised the current literature on the field, for uncovering miRNAs shared across physical and cognitive frailty domains. By applying in silico analyses, we retrieved the top-ranked shared miRNAs and their targets, finally prioritizing the most significant ones. From this analysis, ten miRNAs emerged which converge into two main biological processes: inflammation and energy homeostasis. Such markers, if validated, may offer promising capabilities for early diagnosis of frailty in the elderly population.

Functional transcriptomic analysis of centenarians' offspring reveals a specific genetic footprint that may explain that they are less frail than age-matched non-centenarians' offspring

Centenarians exhibit extreme longevity and compression of morbidity and display a unique genetic signature. Centenarians' offspring seem to inherit centenarians' compression of morbidity, as measured by lower rates of age-related pathologies. We aimed to ascertain whether centenarians' offspring are less frail and whether they are endowed with a "centenarian genetic footprint" in a case-control study, matched 1:1 for gender, age ±5 years, and place of birth and residence. Cases must have a living parent aged 97 years or older, aged 65-80 years, community-dwelling, not suffering from a terminal illness, or less than 6 months of life expectancy. Controls had to meet the same criteria as cases except for the age of death of their parents (not older than 89 years). Centenarians were individuals 97 years or older. Frailty phenotype was determined by Fried's Criteria. We collected plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 63 centenarians, 88 centenarians' offspring, and 88 non-centenarians' offspring. miRNA expression and mRNA profiles were performed by the GeneChip miRNA 4.0 Array (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and GeneChip Clariom S Human Array (Thermo Fisher Scientific), respectively. We found a lower incidence of frailty among centenarians' offspring when compared to their contemporaries' non- centenarians' offspring (p <0.01). Both miRNA and mRNA expression patterns in centenarians' offspring were more like those of centenarians than those of non-centenarians' offspring (p <0.01). in conclusion, centenarians' offspring are less frail than age-matched non-centenarians' offspring, and this may be explained by their unique genetic endowment.

Early downregulation of hsa-miR-144-3p in serum from drug-naïve Parkinson's disease patients

Advanced age represents one of the major risk factors for Parkinson's Disease. Recent biomedical studies posit a role for microRNAs, also known to be remodelled during ageing. However, the relationship between microRNA remodelling and ageing in Parkinson's Disease, has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to unravel the relevance of microRNAs as biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease within the ageing framework. We employed Next Generation Sequencing to profile serum microRNAs from samples informative for Parkinson's Disease (recently diagnosed, drug-naïve) and healthy ageing (centenarians) plus healthy controls, age-matched with Parkinson's Disease patients. Potential microRNA candidates markers, emerging from the combination of differential expression and network analyses, were further validated in an independent cohort including both drug-naïve and advanced Parkinson's Disease patients, and healthy siblings of Parkinson's Disease patients at higher genetic risk for developing the disease. While we did not find evidences of microRNAs co-regulated in Parkinson's Disease and ageing, we report that hsa-miR-144-3p is consistently down-regulated in early Parkinson's Disease patients. Moreover, interestingly, functional analysis revealed that hsa-miR-144-3p is involved in the regulation of coagulation, a process known to be altered in Parkinson's Disease. Our results consistently show the down-regulation of hsa-mir144-3p in early Parkinson's Disease, robustly confirmed across a variety of analytical and experimental analyses. These promising results ask for further research to unveil the functional details of the involvement of hsa-mir144-3p in Parkinson's Disease.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and miRNA Impairment in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Aging is a physiological process defined by decreased cellular and tissue functions. Reduced capacity of protein degradation is one of the important hallmarks of aging that may lead to misfolded protein accumulation and progressive loss of function in organ systems. Recognition of unfolded/misfolded protein aggregates via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensors activates an adaptive mechanism, the unfolded protein response (UPR). The initial step of UPR is defined by chaperone enhancement, ribosomal translation suppression, and misfolded protein degradation, while prolonged ER stress triggers apoptosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs affecting various signaling pathways through degradation or translational inhibition of targeted mRNAs. Therefore, UPR and miRNA impairment in aging and age-related diseases is implicated in various studies. This review will highlight the recent insights in ER stress–miRNAs alterations during aging and age-related diseases, including metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases and several cancers.

MiR-29a Increase in Aging May Function as a Compensatory Mechanism Against Cardiac Fibrosis Through SERPINH1 Downregulation

Deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) profile has been reportedly linked to the aging process, which is a dominant risk factor for many pathologies. Among the miRNAs with documented roles in aging-related cardiac diseases, miR-18a, -21a, -22, and -29a were mainly associated with hypertrophy and/or fibrosis; however, their relationship to aging was not fully addressed before. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the variations in the expression levels of these miRNAs in the aging process. To this aim, multiple organs were harvested from young (2–3-months-old), old (16–18-months-old), and very old (24–25-months-old) mice, and the abundance of the miRNAs was evaluated by quantitative real-time (RT)-PCR. Our studies demonstrated that miR-21a, miR-22, and miR-29a were upregulated in the aged heart. Among them, miR-29a was highly expressed in many other organs, i.e., the brain, the skeletal muscle, the pancreas, and the kidney, and its expression was further upregulated during the natural aging process. Western blot, immunofluorescence, and xCELLigence analyses concurrently indicated that overexpression of miR-29a in the muscle cells decreased the collagen levels as well as cell migration and proliferation. Computational prediction analysis and overexpression studies identified SERPINH1, a specific chaperone of procollagens, as a potential miR-29a target. Corroborating to this, significantly downregulated SERPINH1 levels were found in the skeletal muscle, the heart, the brain, the kidney, and the pancreas harvested from very old animals, thereby indicating the role of the miR-29a-SERPINH1 axis in the aging process. In vitro analysis of miR-29a effects on fibroblast and cardiac muscle cells pointed toward a protective role of miR-29a on aging-related fibrosis, by reducing cell migration and proliferation. In conclusion, our study indicates an adaptive increase of miR-29 in the natural aging process and suggests its role as a transcriptional repressor of SERPINH1, with a potential therapeutic value against adverse matrix remodeling and aging-associated tissue fibrosis.

Methodological Proposal for Strength and Power Training in Older Athletes: A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Within the adult population, it is not uncommon to meet older athletes who challenge the negative stereotypes associated with aging. Although their physical performance is superior to their sedentary counterparts, they are not immune to impaired neuromuscular function, leading to a decreased physical capacity and an increased risk of injuries. Despite the abundant information about the benefits of strength/power training in advanced ages, there are no methodological proposals that guide physical activity professionals to program this type of training.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to review the factors related to the decrease in sports performance within older athletes and the benefits of a strength/power program in order to provide a methodological proposal to organize training in this population.

METHODS

This is a review article. First, databases from PubMed, Science Direct, and SPORTSDiscus and search engines, namely Google Scholar and Scielo, were reviewed, using standard keywords such as strength and power training, evaluation of physical performance, neuromuscular function, and risk of injury in the elderly athlete. All related articles published during the period 1963 to 2020 were considered. A total of 1837 documents were found. By removing 1715 unrelated documents, 122 articles were included in the study after revision control.

RESULTS

Strength/power training is key to alleviating the loss of performance in older athletes and the benefits in neuromuscular function, which helps reduce the rate of serious injuries, maintaining sports practice for a longer period of time. In order to design an appropriate program, a prior evaluation of the individual's physical-technical level must be carried out, respecting the biologicalpedagogical principles and safety regulations.

CONCLUSION

The methodological proposal delivered in this review can serve as a technical guide for physical activity professionals, which will be able to structure the strength/power training and thus preserve the sports practice in older athletes for a longer time.

The Potential Role of miRNAs in Cognitive Frailty

Frailty is an aging related condition, which has been defined as a state of enhanced vulnerability to stressors, leading to a limited capacity to meet homeostatic demands. Cognitive impairment is also frequent in older people, often accompanying frailty. Age is the main independent risk factor for both frailty and cognitive impairment, and compelling evidence suggests that similar age-associated mechanisms could underlie both clinical conditions. Accordingly, it has been suggested that frailty and cognitive impairment share common pathways, and some authors proposed "cognitive frailty" as a single complex phenotype. Nevertheless, so far, no clear common underlying pathways have been discovered for both conditions. microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key fine-tuning regulators in most physiological processes, as well as pathological conditions. Importantly, miRNAs have been proposed as both peripheral biomarkers and potential molecular factors involved in physiological and pathological aging. In this review, we discuss the evidence linking changes of selected miRNAs expression with frailty and cognitive impairment. Overall, miR-92a-5p and miR-532-5p, as well as other miRNAs implicated in pathological aging, should be investigated as potential biomarkers (and putative molecular effectors) of cognitive frailty.

Centenarians as models of healthy aging: Example of REST

Centenarians are a group of individuals exhibiting extreme longevity, who are characterized by a remarkable compression of morbidity. Therefore, centenarians have been postulated as a model of healthy aging. Different approaches have been used to decipher the biology and genetics of centenarians in order to identify key anti-aging pathways. The majority of studies have taken advantage of blood samples to perform their analysis. Besides, a recent study in human brain samples deciphered the transcription factor REST (Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor) as an important player of extreme longevity and cognitive activity. This study goes from human to animal models and revealed that REST acts as an epigenetic regulator of neuronal homeostasis, to control aging and longevity. The aim of this view point is to summarize recent literature describing genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as molecular pathways associated with centenarians and the biology of aging. We will pay particular attention to the impact of REST in centenarians and longevity.

Circulating miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p characterize the human aging process and their isomiRs associate with healthy status at extreme ages

Blood circulating microRNAs (c-miRs) are potential biomarkers to trace aging and longevity trajectories to identify molecular targets for anti-aging therapies. Based on a cross-sectional study, a discovery phase was performed on 12 donors divided into four groups: young, old, healthy, and unhealthy centenarians. The identification of healthy and unhealthy phenotype was based on cognitive performance and capabilities to perform daily activities. Small RNA sequencing identified 79 differentially expressed c-miRs when comparing young, old, healthy centenarians, and unhealthy centenarians. Two miRs, that is, miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p, were found increased at old age but decreased at extreme age, as confirmed by RT-qPCR in 49 donors of validation phase. The significant decrease of those miR levels in healthy compared to unhealthy centenarians appears to be due to the presence of isomiRs, not detectable with RT-qPCR, but only with a high-resolution technique such as deep sequencing. Bioinformatically, three main common targets of miR-19a/b-3p were identified, that is, SMAD4, PTEN, and BCL2L11, converging into the FoxO signaling pathway, known to have a significant role in aging mechanisms. For the first time, this study shows the age-related increase of plasma miR-19a/b-3p in old subjects but a decrease in centenarians. This decrease is more pronounced in healthy centenarians and was confirmed by the modified pattern of isomiRs comparing healthy and unhealthy centenarians. Thus, our study paves the way for functional studies using c-miRs and isomiRs as additional parameter to track the onset of aging and age-related diseases using new potential biomarkers.

Circulating microRNA profile in humans and mice with congenital GH deficiency

Reduced inflammation, increased insulin sensitivity, and protection against cancer are shared between humans and mice with GH/IGF1 deficiency. Beyond hormone levels, miRNAs are important regulators of metabolic changes associated with healthy aging. We hypothesized that GH deficiency in humans alters the abundance of circulating miRNAs and that a subset of those miRNAs may overlap with those found in GH-deficient mice. In this study, subjects with untreated congenital isolated GH deficiency (IGHD; n = 23) and control subjects matched by age and sex (n = 23) were recruited and serum was collected for miRNA sequencing. Serum miRNAs from young (6 month) and old (22 month) Ames dwarf (df/df) mice with GH deficiency and their WT littermates (n = 5/age/genotype group) were used for comparison. We observed 14 miRNAs regulated with a genotype by age effect and 19 miRNAs regulated with a genotype effect independent of age in serum of IGHD subjects. These regulated miRNAs are known for targeting pathways associated with longevity such as mTOR, insulin signaling, and FoxO. The aging function was overrepresented in IGHD individuals, mediated by hsa-miR-31, hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-30e, hsa-miR-100, hsa-miR-181b-2, hsa-miR-195, and hsa-miR-181b-1, which target the FoxO and mTOR pathways. Intriguingly, miR-181b-5p, miR-361-3p, miR-144-3p, and miR-155-5p were commonly regulated in the serum of humans and GH-deficient mice. In vitro assays confirmed target genes for the main up-regulated miRNAs, suggesting miRNAs regulated in IGHD individuals can regulate the expression of age-related genes. These findings indicate that systemic miRNAs regulated in IGHD individuals target pathways involved in aging in both humans and mice.

Non-Coding RNAs Steering the Senescence-Related Progress, Properties, and Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The thirst to postpone and even reverse aging progress has never been quenched after all these decades. Unequivocally, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with extraordinary abilities such as self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation, deserve the limelight in this topic. Though having several affable clinical traits, MSCs going through senescence would, on one hand, contribute to age-related diseases and, on the other hand, lead to compromised or even counterproductive therapeutical outcomes. Notably, increasing evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) could invigorate various regulatory processes. With even a slight dip or an uptick of expression, ncRNAs would make a dent in or even overturn cellular fate. Thereby, a systematic illustration of ncRNAs identified so far to steer MSCs during senescence is axiomatically an urgent need. In this review, we introduce the general properties and mechanisms of senescence and its relationship with MSCs and illustrate the ncRNAs playing a role in the cellular senescence of MSCs. It is then followed by the elucidation of ncRNAs embodied in extracellular vesicles connecting senescent MSCs with other cells and diversified processes in and beyond the skeletal system. Last, we provide a glimpse into the clinical methodologies of ncRNA-based therapies in MSC-related fields. Hopefully, the intricate relationship between senescence and MSCs will be revealed one day and our work could be a crucial stepping-stone toward that future.

Age-Related Immune Profile of the T Cell Receptor Repertoire, Thymic Recent Output Function, and miRNAs

Background

T cell immunity plays a central role in the body's defense system, including maintaining homeostasis and preventing tumorigenesis and viral infection. Immune system functions degenerate with age, leading to immune senescence. Physiologically, immune senescence is characterized by a decrease in T cell receptor diversity, naive T cell deficiency, and alterations in T cell immune-related miRNAs. However, little is known about the characteristics of T cell immunosenescence in Chinese individuals.

Results

A significant decrease in the miR-17, miR-92a, and miR-181a levels in PBMCs was detected with age. The miR-92a and miR-181a levels were upregulated in CBMCs when comparing healthy individuals to group I (0~9 years), whereas miR-17 was downregulated. The sjTREC level in PBMCs was negatively correlated with age, and a sharp decrease in sjTRECs was found between groups I and II (10~19 years). Twenty-four TCR Vβ subfamilies could be detected in most samples, and most displayed polyclonality, while skewed expression of the Vβ subfamilies as well as an increased oligoclonal tendency was found with age. Similarly, the frequencies of the TCR Vγ and Vδ subfamilies decreased with age, and the alteration in clonality appeared to be stable at different ages.

Conclusion

We made the novel observation of T cell immunosenescence with age in Chinese individuals, which may provide information for immune targets to enhance the T cell immune response in immunotherapy settings for elderly patients.

Epigenetic changes during ageing and their underlying mechanisms

As life expectancy increases worldwide, ageing and age-related diseases arise as a major issue for societies around the globe. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the ageing process is thus instrumental for the development of efficient interventions aimed to prevent and treat age-related conditions. Current knowledge in the biogerontology field points to epigenetics as a critical component of the ageing process, not only by serving as a bona-fide marker of biological age but also by controlling and conferring inheritability to cellular and organismal ageing. This is reflected by a myriad of evidences demonstrating the relationship between DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and small non-coding RNAs and several age-related phenotypes. Given the reversibility of epigenetic alterations, epigenetic reprogramming may also be envisioned as a potential approach to treat age-related disorders. Here we review how different types of epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the ageing process. In addition, we highlight how interventions modulate epigenetics and thus promote health- and lifespan.

Centenarians: An excellent example of resilience for successful ageing

Centenarians are remarkable not only because of their prolonged life, but also because they compress morbidity until the very last moments of their lives, thus being proposed as a model of successful, extraordinary ageing. From the medical viewpoint, centenarians do not escape the physiological decline or the age-related diseases or syndromes (i.e. frailty), but the rate of such processes is slow enough to be counterbalanced by their increased intrinsic capacity to respond to minor stresses of daily life (i.e. resilience). These new concepts are reviewed in this paper. Allostatic stresses lead to a chronic low-grade inflammation that has led to the proposal of the "inflammaging" theory of ageing and frailty. The biology of centenarians, described in this review, provides us with clues for intervention to promote healthy ageing in the general population. One of the major reasons for this healthy ageing has to do with the genetic signature that is specific for centenarians and certainly different from octogenarians who do not enjoy the extraordinary qualities of centenarians.

Long noncoding RNA (MEG3) in urinal exosomes functions as a biomarker for the diagnosis of Hunner-type interstitial cystitis (HIC)

BACKGROUND

Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR7) is functionally involved in the pathogenesis of Hunner-type interstitial cystitis (HIC). In addition, maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) is implicated in many urethral diseases. In this study, we aimed to verify the hypothesis that exosomal MEG3 in urine can be used as a novel diagnostic biomarker for HIC.

METHODS

Electron microscopy was utilized to observe the distribution of urinary exosomes between the case group and the control group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was utilized to compare the diagnostic values of MEG3 and miR-19a-3p. Computational analysis and luciferase assay were conducted to identify the correlation between MEG3 and miR-19a-3p as well as between TLR7 and miR-19a-3p. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to establish the signaling pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of HIC.

RESULTS

When age and gender distributions are excluded, urinary exosomes were equally distributed between case and control groups. The area under the curve of MEG3 was larger than that of miR-19a-3p, indicating that MEG3 has a better value in the diagnosis of HIC. In addition, patients with HIC showed elevated MEG3 expression and inhibited miR-19a-3p expression, thus establishing a negative correlation between MEG3 and miR-19a-3p. MEG3 and TLR7 were both identified as targets of miR-19a-3p, establishing a MEG3/miR-19a-3p/TLR7 signaling pathway, in which MEG3 enhances the expression of TLR7 via inhibiting the expression of miR-19a-3p.

CONCLUSION

MEG3 level was upregulated in patients with HIC. In addition, MEG3 downregulated miR-19a-3p expression while upregulating TLR7 expression. Furthermore, MEG3 contributes to the pathogenesis of HIC. Therefore, exosomal MEG3 in urine can be used as a biomarker for HIC diagnosis.

Genetic background, epigenetic factors and dietary interventions which influence human longevity

Longevity is mainly conditioned by genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Different genetic modifications seem to be positively associated to longevity, including SNPs in SIRT1, APOE, FOXO3A, ACE, ATM, NOS1 and NOS2 gene. Epigenetic changes as DNA hyper- and hypo-methylation influence significantly human longevity by activating/deactivating different genes involved in physiological mechanisms. Several studies have confirmed that centenarians have a lower DNA methylation content compared to young subjects, which showed more homogeneously methylated DNA region. Also the up-regulation of miR-21 seems to be more associated with longevity in different populations of long-lived subjects, suggesting its role as potential epigenetic biomarkers. A non-pharmacological treatment that seems to contrast age-related diseases and promote longevity is represented by dietary intervention. It has been evaluated the effects of dietary restriction of both single nutrients or total calories to extend lifespan. However, in daily practice it is very difficult to guarantee adherence/compliance of the subjects to dietary restriction and at the same time avoid dangerous nutritional deficiencies. As consequence, the attention has focused on a variety of substances both drugs and natural compounds able to mime the beneficial effects of caloric restriction, including resveratrol, quercetin, rapamycin, metformin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose.

Genetic and epigenetic regulation of human aging and longevity

Here we summarize the latest data on genetic and epigenetic contributions to human aging and longevity. Whereas environmental and lifestyle factors are important at younger ages, the contribution of genetics appears more important in reaching extreme old age. Genome-wide studies have implicated ~57 gene loci in lifespan. Epigenomic changes during aging profoundly affect cellular function and stress resistance. Dysregulation of transcriptional and chromatin networks is likely a crucial component of aging. Large-scale bioinformatic analyses have revealed involvement of numerous interaction networks. As the young well-differentiated cell replicates into eventual senescence there is drift in the highly regulated chromatin marks towards an entropic middle-ground between repressed and active, such that genes that were previously inactive "leak". There is a breakdown in chromatin connectivity such that topologically associated domains and their insulators weaken, and well-defined blocks of constitutive heterochromatin give way to generalized, senescence-associated heterochromatin, foci. Together, these phenomena contribute to aging.

Prolonged Waking and Recovery Sleep Affect the Serum MicroRNA Expression Profile in Humans

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, abundant, non-coding RNA fragments that regulate gene expression and silencing at the post-transcriptional level. The miRNAs each control various downstream targets and play established roles in different biological processes. Given that miRNAs were recently proposed to contribute to the molecular control of sleep-wake regulation in animal models and narcoleptic patients, we investigated the impact of acute sleep deprivation on blood miRNA expression in healthy adult men of two different age groups. Twenty-two young (mean age: 24 ± 3 years) and nine older (65 ± 1 years) volunteers completed a controlled in-lab study, consisting of 8 h baseline sleep, followed by 40 h of extended wakefulness, and a 10-h recovery sleep opportunity. At the same circadian time in all three conditions (at 4:23 p.m. ± 23 min), qPCR expression profiling of 86 miRNAs was performed in blood serum. Thirteen different miRNAs could be reliably quantified and were analyzed using mixed-model ANOVAs. It was found that miR-30c and miR-127 were reliably affected by previous sleep and wakefulness, such that expression of these miRNAs was upregulated after extended wakefulness and normalized after recovery sleep. Together with previous findings in narcolepsy patients, our preliminary data indicate that miR-30c and its target proteins may provide a biomarker of elevated sleep debt in humans.

General Practitioners Records Are Epidemiological Predictors of Comorbidities: An Analytical Cross-Sectional 10-Year Retrospective Study

Background. Comorbidity represents the co-occurrence of pathological conditions in the same individual, and presents with very complex patterns. In most cases, reference data for the study of various types of comorbidities linked to complex diseases are those of hospitalized patients. Such patients may likely require cure due to acute conditions. We consider the emerging role of EHR (Electronic Healthcare Records), and study comorbidity patterns in a general population, focusing on diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Methods. We propose a cross-sectional 10-year retrospective study of 14,958 patients and 1,728,736 prescriptions obtained from family doctors, and thus refer to these data as General Practitioner Records (GPR). We then choose networks as the tools to analyze the diabetes comorbidity patterns, distinguished by both prescription type and main patient characteristics (age, gender). Results. As expected, comorbidity increases with patients’ age, and the network representations allow the assessment of associations between morbidity groups. The specific morbidities present in the diabetic population justify the higher comorbidity patterns observed in the target group compared to the non-diabetic population. Conclusions. GPR are usually combined with other data types in EHR studies, but we have shown that prescription data have value as standalone predictive tools, useful to anticipate trends observed at epidemiological level on large populations. This study is thus relevant to policy makers seeking inference tools for an efficient use of massive administrative database resources, and suggests a strategy for detecting comorbidities and investigating their evolution.

DICER1: A Key Player in Rheumatoid Arthritis, at the Crossroads of Cellular Stress, Innate Immunity, and Chronic Inflammation in Aging

Loss-of-function or knockout mouse models have established a fundamental role for the RNAse III enzyme DICER1 in development and tissue morphogenesis and/or homeostasis. These functions are currently assumed to result mainly from the DICER1-dependent biogenesis of microRNAs which exhibit important gene expression regulatory properties. However, non-canonical DICER1 functions have recently emerged. These include interaction with the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway and the processing of cytotoxic non-coding RNAs, suggesting that DICER1 might also participate in the regulation of major cellular processes through miRNA-independent mechanisms. Recent findings indicated that reduced Dicer1 expression, which correlates with worsened symptoms in mouse models of joint inflammation, is also noted in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) harvested from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, as opposed to FLS cultured from biopsies of osteoarthritic patients. In addition, low DICER1 levels are associated with the establishment of cellular stress and its associated responses, such as cellular senescence. Senescent and/or stressed cells are associated with an inflammatory secretome (cytokines and chemokines), as well as with "find-me" and "eat-me" signals which will attract and activate the innate immune compartment (NK cells, macrophages, and neutrophils) to be eliminated. Failure of this immunosurveillance mechanism and improper restauration of homeostasis could lead to the establishment of a systemic and chronic inflammatory state. In this review, we suggest that reduced DICER1 expression contributes to a vicious cycle during which accumulating inflammation and premature senescence, combined to inadequate innate immunity responses, creates the appropriate conditions for the initiation and/or progression of autoimmune-autoinflammatory diseases, such as RA.

Centenarians Overexpress Pluripotency-Related Genes

Human mesenchymal cells can become pluripotent by the addition of Yamanaka factors OCT3/4, SOX2, c-MYC, KLF4. We have recently reported that centenarians overexpress BCL-xL, which has been shown to improve pluripotency; thus, we aimed to determine the expression of pluripotency-related genes in centenarians. We recruited 22 young, 32 octogenarian, and 47 centenarian individuals and determined the mRNA expression of Yamanaka factors and other stemness-related cell surface marker genes (VIM, BMP4, NCAM, BMPR2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We found that centenarians overexpress OCT3/4, SOX2, c-MYC, VIM, BMP4, NCAM, and BMPR2, when compared with octogenarians (p < .05). We further tested the functional role of BCL-xL in centenarians’ ability to express pluripotency-related genes: lymphocytes from octogenarians transduced with BCL-xL overexpressed SOX2, c-MYC, and KLF4. We conclude that centenarians overexpress Yamanaka Factors and other stemness-related cell surface marker genes, which may contribute to their successful aging.

Functional similarities of microRNAs across different types of tissue stem cells in aging

Restoration of tissue homeostasis by controlling stem cell aging is a promising therapeutic approach for geriatric disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying age-related dysfunctions of specific types of adult tissue stem cells (TSCs) have been studied, and various microRNAs were recently reported to be involved. However, the central roles of microRNAs in stem cell aging remain unclear. Interest in this area was sparked by murine heterochronic parabiosis experiments, which demonstrated that systemic factors can restore the functions of TSCs. Age-related changes in secretion profiles, termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, have attracted attention, and several pro- and anti-aging factors have been identified. On the other hand, many microRNAs are linked with the age-dependent dysregulations of various physiological processes, including “stem cell aging.” This review summarizes microRNAs that appear to play common roles in stem cell aging.

Progressive changes in non-coding RNA profile in leucocytes with age

It has been observed that immune cell deterioration occurs in the elderly, as well as a chronic low-grade inflammation called inflammaging. These cellular changes must be driven by numerous changes in gene expression and in fact, both protein-coding and non-coding RNA expression alterations have been observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from elder people. In the present work we have studied the expression of small non-coding RNA (microRNA and small nucleolar RNA -snoRNA-) from healthy individuals from 24 to 79 years old. We have observed that the expression of 69 non-coding RNAs (56 microRNAs and 13 snoRNAs) changes progressively with chronological age. According to our results, the age range from 47 to 54 is critical given that it is the period when the expression trend (increasing or decreasing) of age-related small non-coding RNAs is more pronounced. Furthermore, age-related miRNAs regulate genes that are involved in immune, cell cycle and cancer-related processes, which had already been associated to human aging. Therefore, human aging could be studied as a result of progressive molecular changes, and different age ranges should be analysed to cover the whole aging process.

Menopause and adipose tissue: miR-19a-3p is sensitive to hormonal replacement

Tissue-specific effects of 17β-estradiol are delivered via both estrogen receptors and microRNAs (miRs). Menopause is known to affect the whole-body fat distribution in women. This investigation aimed at identifying menopause- and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)-associated miR profiles and miR targets in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue and serum from the same women. A discovery phase using array technology was performed in 13 women, including monozygotic twin pairs discordant for HRT and premenopausal young controls. Seven miRs, expressed in both adipose tissue and serum, were selected for validation phase in 34 women from a different cohort. An age/menopause-related increase of miRs-16-5p, -451a, -223-3p, -18a-5p, -19a-3p,-486-5p and -363-3p was found in the adipose tissue, but not in serum. MiR-19a-3p, involved in adipocyte development and estrogen signaling, resulted to be higher in HRT users in comparison with non-users. Among the identified targets, AKT1, BCL-2 and BRAF proteins showed lower expression in both HRT and No HRT users in comparison with premenopausal women. Unexpectedly, ESR1 protein expression was not modified although its mRNA was lower in No HRT users compared to premenopausal women and HRT users. Thus, both HRT and menopause appear to affect adipose tissue homeostasis via miR-mediated mechanism.

Human exceptional longevity: transcriptome from centenarians is distinct from septuagenarians and reveals a role of Bcl-xL in successful aging

Centenarians not only enjoy an extraordinary aging, but also show a compression of morbidity. Using functional transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) we identified 1721 mRNAs differentially expressed by centenarians when compared with septuagenarians and young people. Sub-network analysis led us to identify Bcl-xL as an important gene up-regulated in centenarians. It is involved in the control of apoptosis, cellular damage protection and also in modulation of immune response, all associated to healthy aging. Indeed, centenarians display lower plasma cytochrome C levels, higher mitochondrial membrane potential and also less cellular damage accumulation than septuagenarians. Leukocyte chemotaxis and NK cell activity are significantly impaired in septuagenarians compared with young people whereas centenarians maintain them. To further ascertain the functional role of Bcl-xL in cellular aging, we found that lymphocytes from septuagenarians transduced with Bcl-xL display a reduction in senescent-related markers. Finally, to demonstrate the role of Bcl-xL in longevity at the organism level, C. elegans bearing a gain of function mutation in the Bcl-xL ortholog ced-9, showed a significant increase in mean and maximal life span. These results show that mRNA expression in centenarians is unique and reveals that Bcl-xL plays an important role in exceptional aging.

A serum miRNA profile of human longevity: findings from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA)

In C. elegans, miRNAs are genetic biomarkers of aging. Similarly, multiple miRNAs are differentially expressed between younger and older persons, suggesting that miRNA-regulated biological mechanisms affecting aging are evolutionarily conserved. Previous human studies have not considered participants' lifespans, a key factor in identifying biomarkers of aging. Using PCR arrays, we measured miRNA levels from serum samples obtained longitudinally at ages 50, 55, and 60 from 16 non-Hispanic males who had documented lifespans from 58 to 92. Numerous miRNAs showed significant changes in expression levels. At age 50, 24 miRNAs were significantly upregulated, and 73 were significantly downregulated in the long-lived subgroup (76-92 years) as compared with the short-lived subgroup (58-75 years). In long-lived participants, the most upregulated was miR-373-5p, while the most downregulated was miR-15b-5p. Longitudinally, significant Pearson correlations were observed between lifespan and expression of nine miRNAs (p value<0.05). Six of these nine miRNAs (miR-211-5p, 374a-5p, 340-3p, 376c-3p, 5095, 1225-3p) were also significantly up- or downregulated when comparing long-lived and short-lived participants. Twenty-four validated targets of these miRNAs encoded aging-associated proteins, including PARP1, IGF1R, and IGF2R. We propose that the expression profiles of the six miRNAs (miR-211-5p, 374a-5p, 340-3p, 376c-3p, 5095, and 1225-3p) may be useful biomarkers of aging.

[Regulation of the expression of coenzyme Q-synthesis complex during ageing]

INTRODUCTION

Coenzyme Q is an essential component in the activity of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Its synthesis involves, at least, a complex of ten different proteins. In this study, an attempt is made to determine the evolution of the expression of the genes involved in coenzyme Q synthesis during mouse ageing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The messenger RNA (mRNA) of different organs, such as brain, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle from young (8 months), mature (18 months), and old (24 months) mice was extracted by using Trizol and was then analysed by real time PCR (qPCR) using specific primers for all the known components of the coenzyme Q-synthesis complex (COQ genes).

RESULTS

Liver showed the highest age-dependent changes in mRNA levels of the different components of Q-synthesis complex, affecting the extent of the variation as well as the significance of the change. In most of the cases, mRNA levels of the different components were higher in mature animals compared to young and old animals. When mRNAs of young and old animals were compared, only minor reductions of mRNA levels were found. Kidney showed a pattern similar to that found in liver as regards the changes in expression, although with lower increases in mature animals than those observed in the liver. Brain and skeletal muscle showed low variations, with muscle being the tissue with less changes, although a pattern similar to that found in liver and kidney was found, with slight increases in mature animals.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study indicate that ageing is an important factor affecting COQ gene expression, but its effect depends on the organ, and that mature animals show higher levels of mRNA than young and old animals. Taken into consideration the importance of coenzyme Q in cell metabolism and ageing, a more detailed study is needed to understand the gene regulation of the coenzyme Q-synthesis mechanisms during ageing.

Cancer and Aging - the Inflammatory Connection

Aging and cancer are highly correlated biological phenomena. Various cellular processes such as DNA damage responses and cellular senescence that serve as tumor suppressing mechanisms throughout life result in degenerative changes and contribute to the aging phenotype. In turn, aging is considered a pro-tumorigenic state, and constitutes the single most important risk factor for cancer development. However, the causative relations between aging and cancer is not straight forward, as these processes carry contradictory hallmarks; While aging is characterized by tissue degeneration and organ loss of function, cancer is a state of sustained cellular proliferation and gain of new functions. Here, we review the molecular and cellular pathways that stand in the base of aging related cancer. Specifically, we deal with the inflammatory perspective that link these two processes, and suggest possible molecular targets that may be exploited to modify their courses.

Circulating miRNAs and miRNA shuttles as biomarkers: Perspective trajectories of healthy and unhealthy aging

Human aging is a lifelong process characterized by a continuous trade-off between pro-and anti-inflammatory responses, where the best-adapted and/or remodeled genetic/epigenetic profile may develop a longevity phenotype. Centenarians and their offspring represent such a phenotype and their comparison to patients with age-related diseases (ARDs) is expected to maximize the chance to unravel the genetic makeup that better associates with healthy aging trajectories. Seemingly, such comparison is expected to allow the discovery of new biomarkers of longevity together with risk factor for the most common ARDs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and their shuttles (extracellular vesicles in particular) are currently conceived as those endowed with the strongest ability to provide information about the trajectories of healthy and unhealthy aging. We review the available data on miRNAs in aging and underpin the evidence suggesting that circulating miRNAs (and cognate shuttles), especially those involved in the regulation of inflammation (inflamma-miRs) may constitute biomarkers capable of reliably depicting healthy and unhealthy aging trajectories.

microRNA in Cardiovascular Aging and Age-Related Cardiovascular Diseases

Over the last decades, life expectancy has significantly increased although several chronic diseases persist in the population, with aging as the leading risk factor. Despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment, many elderlies suffer from cardiovascular problems that are much more frequent in an older, more fragile organism. In the long term, age-related cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) contribute to the decline of quality of life and ability to perform normal activities of daily living. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level in both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we will focus on the role of miRNAs in aging and age-related CVDs as heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus. miRNAs are key regulators of complex biological mechanisms, representing an exciting potential therapeutic target in CVDs. Moreover, one major challenge in geriatric medicine is to find reliable biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of the response to specific drugs. miRNAs represent a very promising tool due to their stability in the circulation and unique signature in CVDs. However, further studies are needed to investigate their translational potential in the real clinical practice.

Low expression of CD39 and CD73 genes in centenarians compared with octogenarians

Ageing involves a progressive decline of the body’s regulatory systems including immune system. Adenosine regulates immune function by interaction with its receptors, mainly adenosine A2A receptor, present on the surface of immune cells. Furthermore, cellular response to this nucleoside is highly dependent on its extracellular concentration that is regulated by ecto-enzymes such as CD39 and CD73. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of age on adenosine A2A receptor, CD39 and CD73 gene expression. Changes in mRNA were measured by quantitative PCR from peripheral blood of young, middle-aged and older adults as well as centenarians. Centenarians showed a prominent decrease of CD39 and CD73 mRNA in comparison with older adults. Regarding to adenosine A2A receptor, we detected two subgroups of centenarians with high and low level of transcript. Additionally, adenosine A2A receptor mRNA level of centenarians, did not correlate with their cognitive impairment. In summary, our pilot study suggests that unlike of adenosine A2A receptor, the level of CD39 as well as CD73 mRNA could be a hallmark of successful human ageing.