Age-related changes in the cellular composition and epithelial organization of the mouse trachea

[Physiology of aging: An update and genetic point of view]

Aging is a physiological process resulting from the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage over time, leading to a gradual decline in overall physical and mental health. Throughout this temporal continuum, various physiological alterations occur in the organism, modifying the individual's response to multiple stimuli and adverse factors. At the same time, an increasingly significant manifestation of genetic modifications is observed, which are intrinsically interconnected with the dynamics of these adaptive processes. The geriatric population is characterized by its high prevalence in hospital settings, particularly in critical care units, where admissions from this group account for nearly 50% of total admissions. Thus, acquiring and updating knowledge is relevant and necessary to ensure a more effective therapeutic approach for geriatric patients.

Sirt6 Mono-ADP-Ribosylates YY1 to Promote Dystrophin Expression for Neuromuscular Transmission

The degeneration of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and the decline in motor function are common features of aging, but the underlying mechanisms have remained largely unclear. This study reveals that Sirt6 is reduced in aged mouse muscles. Ablation of Sirt6 in skeletal muscle causes a reduction of Dystrophin levels, resulting in premature NMJ degeneration, compromised neuromuscular transmission, and a deterioration in motor performance. Mechanistic studies show that Sirt6 negatively regulates the stability of the Dystrophin repressor YY1 (Yin Yang 1). Specifically, Sirt6 mono-ADP-ribosylates YY1, causing its disassociation from the Dystrophin promoter and allowing YY1 to bind to the SMURF2 E3 ligase, leading to its degradation. Importantly, supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) enhances the mono-ADP-ribosylation of YY1 and effectively delays NMJ degeneration and the decline in motor function in elderly mice. These findings provide valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms underlying NMJ degeneration during aging. Targeting Sirt6 could be a potential therapeutic approach to mitigate the detrimental effects on NMJ degeneration and improve motor function in the elderly population.

A cellular identity crisis? Plasticity changes during aging and rejuvenation

Cellular plasticity in adult multicellular organisms is a protective mechanism that allows certain tissues to regenerate in response to injury. Considering that aging involves exposure to repeated injuries over a lifetime, it is conceivable that cell identity itself is more malleable-and potentially erroneous-with age. In this review, we summarize and critically discuss the available evidence that cells undergo age-related shifts in identity, with an emphasis on those that contribute to age-associated pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Specifically, we focus on reported instances of programs associated with dedifferentiation, biased differentiation, acquisition of features from alternative lineages, and entry into a preneoplastic state. As some of the most promising approaches to rejuvenate cells reportedly also elicit transient changes to cell identity, we further discuss whether cell state change and rejuvenation can be uncoupled to yield more tractable therapeutic strategies.

Aging in chronic lung disease: Will anti-aging therapy be the key to the cure?

Chronic lung disease is the third leading cause of death globally, imposing huge burden of death, disability and healthcare costs. However, traditional pharmacotherapy has relatively limited effects in improving the cure rate and reducing the mortality of chronic lung disease. Thus, new treatments are urgently needed for the prevention and treatment of chronic lung disease. It is particularly noteworthy that, multiple aging-related phenotypes were involved in the occurrence and development of chronic lung disease, such as blocked proliferation, telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic alterations, altered nutrient perception, stem cell exhaustion, chronic inflammation, etc. Consequently, senescent cells induce a series of pathological changes in the lung, such as immune dysfunction, airway remodeling, oxidative stress and regenerative dysfunction, which is a critical issue that needs special attention in chronic lung diseases. Therefore, anti-aging interventions may bring new insights into the treatment of chronic lung diseases. In this review, we elaborate the involvement of aging in chronic lung disease and further discuss the application and prospects of anti-aging therapy.

Airway Serous Cells: A Comparative Study of Spatial Distribution and Abundance among Species

The conducting airways of the respiratory system play a crucial role in filtering, humidifying, and directing air into the lungs. Among the specialized cell types within these airways, airway serous cells are notable for their secretion of watery, protein-rich fluids and enzymes, which contribute to maintaining airway surface liquid homeostasis and defending against pathogens. However, the distribution and abundance of serous cells across different species in the conducting airways remain poorly understood. In this study, we addressed this gap by investigating the spatial distribution of the airway serous cell-specific marker BPI fold containing family A member 1 (BPIFA1) in humans, pigs, and mice. Our findings demonstrate significant variations in the distribution and abundance of serous cells among these species, potentially reflecting their different respiratory anatomy and evolutionary adaptations to diverse environmental challenges and respiratory demands. In humans and pigs, airway serous cells are predominantly found in the submucosal glands of the trachea and segmental bronchi, frequently overlapping with lysozyme-positive secretory cells. In contrast, rodents like mice exhibit a distinct pattern where serous cells are scarce in submucosal glands. Instead, rodent serous cells are primarily located at the epithelial surface from the trachea to the main bronchi, where many co-express the Club cell-specific protein SCGB1A1. The abundance of serous cells diminishes progressively in the intrapulmonary airways. Given that rodent models are widely utilized in respiratory research, understanding anatomical and cellular differences in airway serous cells is critical for interpreting experimental outcomes and translating findings to human respiratory diseases and therapeutic strategies. This comparative analysis enhances our understanding of airway biology across species and informs the selection and interpretation of animal models in respiratory studies.

Premalignant Progression in the Lung: Knowledge Gaps and Novel Opportunities for Interception of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement

Rationale: Despite significant advances in precision treatments and immunotherapy, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. To reduce incidence and improve survival rates, a deeper understanding of lung premalignancy and the multistep process of tumorigenesis is essential, allowing timely and effective intervention before cancer development. Objectives: To summarize existing information, identify knowledge gaps, formulate research questions, prioritize potential research topics, and propose strategies for future investigations into the premalignant progression in the lung. Methods: An international multidisciplinary team of basic, translational, and clinical scientists reviewed available data to develop and refine research questions pertaining to the transformation of premalignant lung lesions to advanced lung cancer. Results: This research statement identifies significant gaps in knowledge and proposes potential research questions aimed at expanding our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the progression of premalignant lung lesions to lung cancer in an effort to explore potential innovative modalities to intercept lung cancer at its nascent stages. Conclusions: The identified gaps in knowledge about the biological mechanisms of premalignant progression in the lung, together with ongoing challenges in screening, detection, and early intervention, highlight the critical need to prioritize research in this domain. Such focused investigations are essential to devise effective preventive strategies that may ultimately decrease lung cancer incidence and improve patient outcomes.

Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis-Key Players in the Lung Aging Process

Currently, the global lifespan has increased, resulting in a higher proportion of the population over 65 years. Changes that occur in the lung during aging increase the risk of developing acute and chronic lung diseases, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer. During normal tissue homeostasis, cell proliferation and apoptosis create a dynamic balance that constitutes the physiological cell turnover. In basal conditions, the lungs have a low rate of cell turnover compared to other organs. During aging, changes in the rate of cell turnover in the lung are observed. In this work, we review the literature that evaluates the role of molecules involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis in lung aging and in the development of age-related lung diseases. The list of molecules that regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, or both processes in lung aging includes TNC, FOXM1, DNA-PKcs, MicroRNAs, BCL-W, BCL-XL, TCF21, p16, NOX4, NRF2, MDM4, RPIA, DHEA, and MMP28. However, despite the studies carried out to date, the complete signaling pathways that regulate cell turnover in lung aging are still unknown. More research is needed to understand the changes that lead to the development of age-related lung diseases.

Lung repair and regeneration: Advanced models and insights into human disease

The respiratory system acts as both the primary site of gas exchange and an important sensor and barrier to the external environment. The increase in incidences of respiratory disease over the past decades has highlighted the importance of developing improved therapeutic approaches. This review will summarize recent research on the cellular complexity of the mammalian respiratory system with a focus on gas exchange and immunological defense functions of the lung. Different models of repair and regeneration will be discussed to help interpret human and animal data and spur the investigation of models and assays for future drug development.

ECM and epithelial stem cells: the scaffold of destiny

Adult stem cells play a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and promoting longevity. The intricate organization and presence of common markers among adult epithelial stem cells in the intestine, lung, and skin serve as hallmarks of these cells. The specific location pattern of these cells within their respective organs highlights the significance of the niche in which they reside. The extracellular matrix (ECM) not only provides physical support but also acts as a reservoir for various biochemical and biophysical signals. We will consider differences in proliferation, repair, and regenerative capacities of the three epithelia and review how environmental cues emerging from the niche regulate cell fate. These cues are transduced via mechanosignaling, regulating gene expression, and bring us to the concept of the fate scaffold. Understanding both the analogies and discrepancies in the mechanisms that govern stem cell fate in various organs can offer valuable insights for rejuvenation therapy and tissue engineering.

A genomic perspective of the aging human and mouse lung with a focus on immune response and cellular senescence

BACKGROUND

The aging lung is a complex process and influenced by various stressors, especially airborne pathogens and xenobiotics. Additionally, a lifetime exposure to antigens results in structural and functional changes of the lung; yet an understanding of the cell type specific responses remains elusive. To gain insight into age-related changes in lung function and inflammaging, we evaluated 89 mouse and 414 individual human lung genomic data sets with a focus on genes mechanistically linked to extracellular matrix (ECM), cellular senescence, immune response and pulmonary surfactant, and we interrogated single cell RNAseq data to fingerprint cell type specific changes.

RESULTS

We identified 117 and 68 mouse and human genes linked to ECM remodeling which accounted for 46% and 27%, respectively of all ECM coding genes. Furthermore, we identified 73 and 31 mouse and human genes linked to cellular senescence, and the majority code for the senescence associated secretory phenotype. These cytokines, chemokines and growth factors are primarily secreted by macrophages and fibroblasts. Single-cell RNAseq data confirmed age-related induced expression of marker genes of macrophages, neutrophil, eosinophil, dendritic, NK-, CD4+, CD8+-T and B cells in the lung of aged mice. This included the highly significant regulation of 20 genes coding for the CD3-T-cell receptor complex. Conversely, for the human lung we primarily observed macrophage and CD4+ and CD8+ marker genes as changed with age. Additionally, we noted an age-related induced expression of marker genes for mouse basal, ciliated, club and goblet cells, while for the human lung, fibroblasts and myofibroblasts marker genes increased with age. Therefore, we infer a change in cellular activity of these cell types with age. Furthermore, we identified predominantly repressed expression of surfactant coding genes, especially the surfactant transporter Abca3, thus highlighting remodeling of surfactant lipids with implications for the production of inflammatory lipids and immune response.

CONCLUSION

We report the genomic landscape of the aging lung and provide a rationale for its growing stiffness and age-related inflammation. By comparing the mouse and human pulmonary genome, we identified important differences between the two species and highlight the complex interplay of inflammaging, senescence and the link to ECM remodeling in healthy but aged individuals.

Inflammation and aging: signaling pathways and intervention therapies

Aging is characterized by systemic chronic inflammation, which is accompanied by cellular senescence, immunosenescence, organ dysfunction, and age-related diseases. Given the multidimensional complexity of aging, there is an urgent need for a systematic organization of inflammaging through dimensionality reduction. Factors secreted by senescent cells, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), promote chronic inflammation and can induce senescence in normal cells. At the same time, chronic inflammation accelerates the senescence of immune cells, resulting in weakened immune function and an inability to clear senescent cells and inflammatory factors, which creates a vicious cycle of inflammation and senescence. Persistently elevated inflammation levels in organs such as the bone marrow, liver, and lungs cannot be eliminated in time, leading to organ damage and aging-related diseases. Therefore, inflammation has been recognized as an endogenous factor in aging, and the elimination of inflammation could be a potential strategy for anti-aging. Here we discuss inflammaging at the molecular, cellular, organ, and disease levels, and review current aging models, the implications of cutting-edge single cell technologies, as well as anti-aging strategies. Since preventing and alleviating aging-related diseases and improving the overall quality of life are the ultimate goals of aging research, our review highlights the critical features and potential mechanisms of inflammation and aging, along with the latest developments and future directions in aging research, providing a theoretical foundation for novel and practical anti-aging strategies.

KRT5+/p63+ Stem Cells Undergo Senescence in the Human Lung with Pathological Aging

Adult lungs present high cellular plasticity against stress and injury, mobilizing stem/progenitor populations from conducting airways to maintain tissue homeostasis and gas exchange in alveolar spaces. With aging, pulmonary functional and structural deterioration occurs, mainly in pathological conditions, which is associated with impaired stem cell activity and increased senescence in mice. However, the impact of these processes underlying lung physiopathology in relation to aging has not been explored in humans. In this work, we analyzed stem cell (SOX2, p63, KRT5), senescence (p16^INK4A, p21^CIP, Lamin B1) and proliferative (Ki67) markers in lung samples from young and aged individuals, with and without pulmonary pathology. We identified a reduction in SOX2⁺ cells but not p63⁺ and KRT5⁺ basal cells in small airways with aging. In alveoli, we revealed the presence of triple SOX2⁺, p63⁺ and KRT5⁺ cells specifically in aged individuals diagnosed with pulmonary pathologies. Notably, p63⁺ and KRT5⁺ basal stem cells displayed colocalization with p16^INK4A and p21^CIP, as well as with low Lamin B1 staining in alveoli. Further studies revealed that senescence and proliferation markers were mutually exclusive in stem cells with a higher percentage colocalizing with senescence markers. These results provide new evidence of the activity of p63⁺/KRT5⁺ stem cells on human lung regeneration and point out that regeneration machinery in human lung is activated under stress due to aging, but fails to repair in pathological cases, as stem cells would likely become senescent.

Biomarkers of aging

Aging biomarkers are a combination of biological parameters to (i) assess age-related changes, (ii) track the physiological aging process, and (iii) predict the transition into a pathological status. Although a broad spectrum of aging biomarkers has been developed, their potential uses and limitations remain poorly characterized. An immediate goal of biomarkers is to help us answer the following three fundamental questions in aging research: How old are we? Why do we get old? And how can we age slower? This review aims to address this need. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of biomarkers developed for cellular, organ, and organismal levels of aging, comprising six pillars: physiological characteristics, medical imaging, histological features, cellular alterations, molecular changes, and secretory factors. To fulfill all these requisites, we propose that aging biomarkers should qualify for being specific, systemic, and clinically relevant.

Transcriptomic profiles of age-related genes in female trachea and bronchus

Background: Studies demonstrated that age-related cellular and functional changes of airway significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of many airway diseases. However, our understanding on the age-related molecular alterations of human airway remains inadequate.

Methods: Airway (trachea and bronchus) brushing specimens were collected from 14 healthy, female non-smokers with ages ranging from 20 to 60 years. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on all the specimens (n = 28). Airway cell types and their relative proportions were estimated using CIBERSORTx. The cell type proportions were compared between the younger (age 20–40) and elder group (age 40–60) in the trachea and bronchus respectively. The linear association between cell type proportion and age was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two age groups were identified using DESeq2. Three kinds of enrichment analysis of the age-related DEGs were performed, including Gene ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and disease enrichment analysis.

Results: Sixteen and thirteen cell types were separately identified in tracheal and bronchial brushings, with the airway epithelial cells (including suprabasal, submucosal gland (SMG) goblet, serous, secretory, multiciliated, cycling.basal, basal cells) accounting for 85.1% in the trachea and 92.5% in the bronchus. The lymphatic cell and NK cells had a higher abundance ratio in the trachea, compared with the bronchus. The proportion of basal cells was negatively related to age both in the trachea and bronchus. Thirty-one and fifty-two age-related DEGs (p < 0.1) were identified in the trachea and bronchus, respectively. Among them, five common DEGs (CXCL2, CXCL8, TCIM, P4HA3, AQP10) were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis showed both tracheal and bronchial age-related DEGs were primarily involved in immune regulatory signaling pathways (TNF, NF-kappa B, IL-17 et al.). Disease enrichment analysis suggested that tracheal age-related DEGs significantly related to asthmatic pulmonary eosinophilia, and chronic airflow obstruction et al., and that bronchial age-related DEGs were enriched in airflow obstruction, bronchiectasis, pulmonary emphysema, and low respiratory tract infection et al.

Conclusion: We found the proportion of basal cells decreased with age in both the trachea and bronchus, suggesting a weakening of their self-renew ability with age. We identified transcriptomic signature genes associated with the early aging process of the human trachea and bronchus, and provided evidence to support that changes in their immune regulatory function may play critical roles in age-related airway diseases.

Simple Models of Lung Development

Models are essential to further our understanding of lung development and regeneration and to facilitate identification and testing of potential treatments for lung diseases. A wide variety of rodent and human models are available that recapitulate one or more stages of lung development. This chapter describes the existing 'simple' in vitro, in silico and ex vivo models of lung development. We define which stage(s) of development each model recapitulates and highlight their pros and cons.

Role of autophagy in lung diseases and ageing

The lungs face ongoing chemical, mechanical, biological, immunological and xenobiotic stresses over a lifetime. Advancing age progressively impairs lung function. Autophagy is a "housekeeping" survival strategy involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes in all eukaryotic cells. Autophagic activity decreases with age in several species, whereas its basic activity extends throughout the lifespan of most animals. Dysregulation of autophagy has been proven to be closely related to the pathogenesis of several ageing-related pulmonary diseases. This review summarises the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases associated with or occurring in the context of ageing, including acute lung injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis, and describes its potential as a therapeutic target.

The landscape of aging

Aging is characterized by a progressive deterioration of physiological integrity, leading to impaired functional ability and ultimately increased susceptibility to death. It is a major risk factor for chronic human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological degeneration, and cancer. Therefore, the growing emphasis on "healthy aging" raises a series of important questions in life and social sciences. In recent years, there has been unprecedented progress in aging research, particularly the discovery that the rate of aging is at least partly controlled by evolutionarily conserved genetic pathways and biological processes. In an attempt to bring full-fledged understanding to both the aging process and age-associated diseases, we review the descriptive, conceptual, and interventive aspects of the landscape of aging composed of a number of layers at the cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, and organismal levels.

Cell-intrinsic differences between human airway epithelial cells from children and adults

The airway epithelium is a protective barrier that is maintained by the self-renewal and differentiation of basal stem cells. Increasing age is a principle risk factor for chronic lung diseases, but few studies have explored age-related molecular or functional changes in the airway epithelium. We retrieved epithelial biopsies from histologically normal tracheobronchial sites from pediatric and adult donors and compared their cellular composition and gene expression profile (in laser capture-microdissected whole epithelium, fluorescence-activated cell-sorted basal cells, and basal cells in cell culture). Histologically, pediatric and adult tracheobronchial epithelium was similar in composition. We observed age-associated changes in RNA sequencing studies, including higher interferon-associated gene expression in pediatric epithelium. In cell culture, pediatric cells had higher colony formation ability, sustained in vitro growth, and outcompeted adult cells in a direct competitive proliferation assay. Our results demonstrate cell-intrinsic differences between airway epithelial cells from children and adults in both homeostatic and proliferative states.

Intersection of Inflammation and Senescence in the Aging Lung Stem Cell Niche

Aging is the final stage of development with stereotyped changes in tissue morphology. These age-related changes are risk factors for a multitude of chronic lung diseases, transcending the diverse pathogenic mechanisms that have been studied in disease-specific contexts. Two of the hallmarks of aging include inflammation and cellular senescence, which have been attributed as drivers of age-related organ decline. While these two age-related processes are often studied independently in the same tissue, there appears to be a reciprocal relationship between inflammation and senescence, which remodels the aging tissue architecture to increase susceptibility to chronic diseases. This review will attempt to address the "chicken or the egg" question as to whether senescence drives inflammation in the aging lung, or vice versa, and whether the causality of this relationship has therapeutic implications for age-related lung diseases.

Role of air pollutants in airway epithelial barrier dysfunction in asthma and COPD

Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants is a major contributor to the development and progression of obstructive airway diseases, including asthma and COPD. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of obstructive lung diseases upon exposure to inhaled pollutants will lead to novel insights into the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of these diseases. The respiratory epithelial lining forms a robust physicochemical barrier protecting the body from inhaled toxic particles and pathogens. Inhalation of airborne particles and gases may impair airway epithelial barrier function and subsequently lead to exaggerated inflammatory responses and airway remodelling, which are key features of asthma and COPD. In addition, air pollutant-induced airway epithelial barrier dysfunction may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, thereby increasing the risk of exacerbations and thus triggering further inflammation. In this review, we discuss the molecular and immunological mechanisms involved in physical barrier disruption induced by major airborne pollutants and outline their implications in the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD. We further discuss the link between these pollutants and changes in the lung microbiome as a potential factor for aggravating airway diseases. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention to restore airway epithelial integrity in asthma and COPD.

Exposure to air pollution induces airway epithelial barrier dysfunction through several mechanisms including increased oxidative stress, exaggerated cytokine responses and impaired host defence, which contributes to development of asthma and COPD. https://bit.ly/3DHL1CA

Short palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) level determines steroid-resistant airway inflammation in aging

Asthma and its heterogeneity change with age. Increased airspace neutrophil numbers contribute to severe steroid-resistant asthma exacerbation in the elderly, which correlates with the changes seen in adults with asthma. However, whether that resembles the same disease mechanism and pathophysiology in aged and adults is poorly understood. Here, we sought to address the underlying molecular mechanism of steroid-resistant airway inflammation development and response to corticosteroid (Dex) therapy in aged mice. To study the changes in inflammatory mechanism, we used a clinically relevant treatment model of house-dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic asthma and investigated lung adaptive immune response in adult (20-22 wk old) and aged (80-82 wk old) mice. Our result indicates an age-dependent increase in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), mixed granulomatous airway inflammation comprising eosinophils and neutrophils, and Th1/Th17 immune response with progressive decrease in frequencies and numbers of HDM-bearing dendritic cells (DC) accumulation in the draining lymph node (DLn) of aged mice as compared with adult mice. RNA-Seq experiments of the aged lung revealed short palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) as one of the steroid-responsive genes, which progressively declined with age and further by HDM-induced inflammation. Moreover, we found increased glycolytic reprogramming, maturation/activation of DCs, the proliferation of OT-II cells, and Th2 cytokine secretion with recombinant SPLUNC1 (rSPLUNC1) treatment. Our results indicate a novel immunomodulatory role of SPLUNC1 regulating metabolic adaptation/maturation of DC. An age-dependent decline in the SPLUNC1 level may be involved in developing steroid-resistant airway inflammation and asthma heterogeneity.

Redox Dysregulation in Aging and COPD: Role of NOX Enzymes and Implications for Antioxidant Strategies

With a rapidly growing elderly human population, the incidence of age-related lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continues to rise. It is widely believed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in ageing and in age-related disease, and approaches of antioxidant supplementation have been touted as useful strategies to mitigate age-related disease progression, although success of such strategies has been very limited to date. Involvement of ROS in ageing is largely attributed to mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired adaptive antioxidant responses. NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes represent an important enzyme family that generates ROS in a regulated fashion for purposes of oxidative host defense and redox-based signalling, however, the associations of NOX enzymes with lung ageing or age-related lung disease have to date only been minimally addressed. The present review will focus on our current understanding of the impact of ageing on NOX biology and its consequences for age-related lung disease, particularly COPD, and will also discuss the implications of altered NOX biology for current and future antioxidant-based strategies aimed at treating these diseases.

Factors Associated with Age-Related Changes in Non-Smoking Urban Men and Women in China Determined by Low-Dose Computed Tomography Imaging

Background

Respiratory function usually worsens in the elderly with aging. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate tracheal changes caused by “normal aging” through use of low-dose CT (LDCT) in non-smoking asymptomatic urban residents and the related factors influencing tracheal changes.

Material/Methods

A total of 733 Chinese subjects who underwent LDCT were recruited. The trachea shape, width, and calcification degree of the tracheal wall were measured and compared between males and females and among different age groups. The effects of age, sex, trachea morphology, BMI, BP, GLU, TC, TG, HDL, and LDL on the width and calcification of tracheal wall were analyzed by multiple linear regression.

Results

Significant sex differences in trachea shape were found, as type II and type I were found mainly in the males and females, respectively. The values of anterior-posterior inner diameter (AP), left-right inner diameter (LR), width, and calcification score of tracheae in the males were higher than that in the females. In both males and females, trachea AP, wall width, and calcification scores increased with age, but this trend was not observed in tracheal LR. Age, sex, and trachea shape had significant effects on the width and calcification scores of tracheal walls, and trachea calcification was one of the factors influencing tracheal wall width.

Conclusions

Tracheal aging can be evaluated by measuring trachea shape, thickness, and the degree of calcification of the tracheal wall by LDCT, while sex and age should be taken into consideration comprehensively for judging normal trachea aging. In addition, obesity may aggravate trachea aging.

The diversity of adult lung epithelial stem cells and their niche in homeostasis and regeneration

The adult lung, a workhorse for gas exchange, is continually subjected to a barrage of assaults from the inhaled particles and pathogens. Hence, homeostatic maintenance is of paramount importance. Epithelial stem cells interact with their particular niche in the adult lung to orchestrate both natural tissue rejuvenation and robust post-injury regeneration. Advances in single-cell sequencing, lineage tracing, and living tissue imaging have deepened our understanding about stem cell heterogeneities, transition states, and specific cell lineage markers. In this review, we provided an overview of the known stem/progenitor cells and their subpopulations in different regions of the adult lung, and explored the regulatory networks in stem cells and their respective niche which collectively coordinated stem cell quiescence and regeneration states. We finally discussed relationships between dysregulated stem cell function and lung disease.

The aging lung: Physiology, disease, and immunity

The population is aging at a rate never seen before in human history. As the number of elderly adults grows, it is imperative we expand our understanding of the underpinnings of aging biology. Human lungs are composed of a unique panoply of cell types that face ongoing chemical, mechanical, biological, immunological, and xenobiotic stress over a lifetime. Yet, we do not fully appreciate the mechanistic drivers of lung aging and why age increases the risk of parenchymal lung disease, fatal respiratory infection, and primary lung cancer. Here, we review the molecular and cellular aspects of lung aging, local stress response pathways, and how the aging process predisposes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease. We place these insights into context of the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss how innate and adaptive immunity within the lung is altered with age.

Dysbiosis, malnutrition and enhanced gut-lung axis contribute to age-related respiratory diseases

Older people are at an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or lung infections. Susceptibility to these diseases is partly due to the intrinsic ageing process, characterized by genomic, cellular and metabolic hallmarks and immunosenescence, and is associated with changes in the intestinal microbiota. Importantly, in the lungs, ageing is also associated with a dysbiosis and loss of resilience of the resident microbiota and alterations of the gut-lung axis. Notably, as malnutrition is often observed in the elderly, nutrition is one of the most accessible modifiable factors affecting both senescence and microbiota. This article reviews the changes affecting the lung and its resident microbiota during ageing, as well as the interconnections between malnutrition, senescence, microbiota, gut-lung axis and respiratory health. As the communication along the gut-lung axis becomes more permissive with ageing, this review also explores the evidence that the gut and lung microbiota are key players in the maintenance of healthy lungs, and as such, are potential targets for nutrition-based preventive strategies against lung disease in elderly populations.

Mitochondrial dysfunction in lung ageing and disease

Mitochondrial biology has seen a surge in popularity in the past 5 years, with the emergence of numerous new avenues of exciting mitochondria-related research including immunometabolism, mitochondrial transplantation and mitochondria-microbe biology. Since the early 1960s mitochondrial dysfunction has been observed in cells of the lung in individuals and in experimental models of chronic and acute respiratory diseases. However, it is only in the past decade with the emergence of more sophisticated tools and methodologies that we are beginning to understand how this enigmatic organelle regulates cellular homeostasis and contributes to disease processes in the lung. In this review, we highlight the diverse role of mitochondria in individual lung cell populations and what happens when these essential organelles become dysfunctional with ageing and in acute and chronic lung disease. Although much remains to be uncovered, we also discuss potential targeted therapeutics for mitochondrial dysfunction in the ageing and diseased lung.

Distinct Spatiotemporally Dynamic Wnt-Secreting Niches Regulate Proximal Airway Regeneration and Aging

Our understanding of dynamic interactions between airway basal stem cells (ABSCs) and their signaling niches in homeostasis, injury, and aging remains elusive. Using transgenic mice and pharmacologic studies, we found that Wnt/β-catenin within ABSCs was essential for proliferation post-injury in vivo. ABSC-derived Wnt ligand production was dispensable for epithelial proliferation. Instead, the PDGFRα+ lineage in the intercartilaginous zone (ICZ) niche transiently secreted Wnt ligand necessary for ABSC proliferation. Strikingly, ABSC-derived Wnt ligand later drove early progenitor differentiation to ciliated cells. We discovered additional changes in aging, as glandular-like epithelial invaginations (GLEIs) derived from ABSCs emerged exclusively in the ICZ of aged mice and contributed to airway homeostasis and repair. Further, ABSC Wnt ligand secretion was necessary for GLEI formation, and constitutive activation of β-catenin in young mice induced their formation in vivo. Collectively, these data underscore multiple spatiotemporally dynamic Wnt-secreting niches that regulate functionally distinct phases of airway regeneration and aging.

Distal lung epithelial progenitor cell function declines with age

Tissue stem cell exhaustion is a key hallmark of aging, and in this study, we characterised its manifestation in the distal lung. We compared the lungs of 3- and 22-month old mice. We examined the gross morphological changes in these lungs, the density and function of epithelial progenitor populations and the epithelial gene expression profile. Bronchioles became smaller in their cross-sectional area and diameter. Using long-term EdU incorporation analysis and immunohistochemistry, we found that bronchiolar cell density remained stable with aging, but inferred rates of bronchiolar club progenitor cell self-renewal and differentiation were reduced, indicative of an overall slowdown in cellular turnover. Alveolar Type II progenitor cell density and self-renewal were maintained per unit tissue area with aging, but rates of inferred differentiation into Type I cells, and indeed overall density of Type I cells was reduced. Microarray analysis revealed age-related changes in multiple genes, including some with roles in proliferation and differentiation, and in IGF and TGFβ signalling pathways. By characterising how lung stem cell dynamics change with aging, this study will elucidate how they contribute to age-related loss of pulmonary function, and pathogenesis of common age-related pulmonary diseases.

Gut-Innervating Nociceptor Neurons Regulate Peyer's Patch Microfold Cells and SFB Levels to Mediate Salmonella Host Defense

Gut-innervating nociceptor sensory neurons respond to noxious stimuli by initiating protective responses including pain and inflammation; however, their role in enteric infections is unclear. Here, we find that nociceptor neurons critically mediate host defense against the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm). Dorsal root ganglia nociceptors protect against STm colonization, invasion, and dissemination from the gut. Nociceptors regulate the density of microfold (M) cells in ileum Peyer's patch (PP) follicle-associated epithelia (FAE) to limit entry points for STm invasion. Downstream of M cells, nociceptors maintain levels of segmentous filamentous bacteria (SFB), a gut microbe residing on ileum villi and PP FAE that mediates resistance to STm infection. TRPV1+ nociceptors directly respond to STm by releasing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide that modulates M cells and SFB levels to protect against Salmonella infection. These findings reveal a major role for nociceptor neurons in sensing and defending against enteric pathogens.

Aging and Lung Disease

People worldwide are living longer, and it is estimated that by 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years of age will nearly double. Natural lung aging is associated with molecular and physiological changes that cause alterations in lung function, diminished pulmonary remodeling and regenerative capacity, and increased susceptibility to acute and chronic lung diseases. As the aging population rapidly grows, it is essential to examine how alterations in cellular function and cell-to-cell interactions of pulmonary resident cells and systemic immune cells contribute to a higher risk of increased susceptibility to infection and development of chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. This review provides an overview of physiological, structural, and cellular changes in the aging lung and immune system that facilitate the development and progression of disease.

Alveolar Differentiation Potency of Human Distal Airway Stem Cells Is Associated with Pulmonary Pathological Conditions

Background

This study is aimed at characterizing the human distal airway stem cells (DASCs) and assessing their therapeutic potential in patients with chronic, degenerative lung diseases. These findings will provide a comprehensive understanding for further clinical applications utilizing autologous airway stem cells as therapeutic intervention in respiratory diseases.

Methods

DASCs were isolated from healthy subjects or patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), or interstitial lung disease (ILD). Differentiation capacity, a key property of the stem cells, was studied using a novel monolayer differentiation system. The differentiated cells were evaluated for alveolar and bronchial cell marker expression, and the quantified expression level of differentiated cells was further examined for their relationship with age and pulmonary function of the subjects.

Results and Conclusions

Differentiation of DASCs and tracheal stem cells (TSCs) yielded an alveolus-like structure and a tube-shaped structure, respectively, with distinct marker gene expression. Additionally, single-cell-derived clones showed diverse differentiation fates, even if the clones arise from identical or different individuals. More importantly, the alveolar differentiation potency was higher in DASCs derived from patients than from healthy people. The differentiation efficiency of DASCs also correlates with age in patients with bronchiectasis and ILD.

Heterogeneity of Pulmonary Stem Cells

Epithelial stem cells reside within multiple regions of the lung where they renew various region-specific cells. In addition, there are multiple routes of regeneration after injury through built-in heterogeneity within stem cell populations and through a capacity for cellular plasticity among differentiated cells. These processes are important facets of respiratory tissue resiliency and organism survival. However, this regenerative capacity is not limitless, and repetitive or chronic injuries, environmental stresses, or underlying factors of disease may ultimately lead to or contribute to tissue remodeling and end-stage lung disease. This chapter will review stem cell heterogeneity among pulmonary epithelia in the lower respiratory system, discuss recent findings that may challenge long-held scientific paradigms, and identify several clinically relevant research opportunities for regenerative medicine.

mTORC1 Activation during Repeated Regeneration Impairs Somatic Stem Cell Maintenance

The balance between self-renewal and differentiation ensures long-term maintenance of stem cell (SC) pools in regenerating epithelial tissues. This balance is challenged during periods of high regenerative pressure and is often compromised in aged animals. Here, we show that target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling is a key regulator of SC loss during repeated regenerative episodes. In response to regenerative stimuli, SCs in the intestinal epithelium of the fly and in the tracheal epithelium of mice exhibit transient activation of TOR signaling. Although this activation is required for SCs to rapidly proliferate in response to damage, repeated rounds of damage lead to SC loss. Consistently, age-related SC loss in the mouse trachea and in muscle can be prevented by pharmacologic or genetic inhibition, respectively, of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. These findings highlight an evolutionarily conserved role of TOR signaling in SC function and identify repeated rounds of mTORC1 activation as a driver of age-related SC decline.

Myoepithelial Cells of Submucosal Glands Can Function as Reserve Stem Cells to Regenerate Airways after Injury

Cells demonstrate plasticity following injury, but the extent of this phenomenon and the cellular mechanisms involved remain underexplored. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and lineage tracing, we uncover that myoepithelial cells (MECs) of the submucosal glands (SMGs) proliferate and migrate to repopulate the airway surface epithelium (SE) in multiple injury models. Specifically, SMG-derived cells display multipotency and contribute to basal and luminal cell types of the SMGs and SE. Ex vivo expanded MECs have the potential to repopulate and differentiate into SE cells when grafted onto denuded airway scaffolds. Significantly, we find that SMG-like cells appear on the SE of both extra- and intra-lobular airways of large animal lungs following severe injury. We find that the transcription factor SOX9 is necessary for MEC plasticity in airway regeneration. Because SMGs are abundant and present deep within airways, they may serve as a reserve cell source for enhancing human airway regeneration.

Epigenetic alterations in longevity regulators, reduced life span, and exacerbated aging-related pathology in old father offspring mice

Advanced age is not only a major risk factor for a range of disorders within an aging individual but may also enhance susceptibility for disease in the next generation. In humans, advanced paternal age has been associated with increased risk for a number of diseases. Experiments in rodent models have provided initial evidence that paternal age can influence behavioral traits in offspring animals, but the overall scope and extent of paternal age effects on health and disease across the life span remain underexplored. Here, we report that old father offspring mice showed a reduced life span and an exacerbated development of aging traits compared with young father offspring mice. Genome-wide epigenetic analyses of sperm from aging males and old father offspring tissue identified differentially methylated promoters, enriched for genes involved in the regulation of evolutionarily conserved longevity pathways. Gene expression analyses, biochemical experiments, and functional studies revealed evidence for an overactive mTORC1 signaling pathway in old father offspring mice. Pharmacological mTOR inhibition during the course of normal aging ameliorated many of the aging traits that were exacerbated in old father offspring mice. These findings raise the possibility that inherited alterations in longevity pathways contribute to intergenerational effects of aging in old father offspring mice.

Pulmonary Abnormalities in Young, Light-Use Waterpipe (Hookah) Smokers

RATIONALE

Waterpipes, also called hookahs, are currently used by millions of people worldwide. Despite the increasing use of waterpipe smoking, there is limited data on the health effects of waterpipe smoking and there are no federal regulations regarding its use.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of waterpipe smoking on the human lung using clinical and biological parameters in young, light-use waterpipe smokers.

METHODS

We assessed young, light-use, waterpipe-only smokers in comparison with lifelong nonsmokers using clinical parameters of cough and sputum scores, lung function, and chest high-resolution computed tomography as well as biological parameters of lung epithelial lining fluid metabolome, small airway epithelial (SAE) cell differential and transcriptome, alveolar macrophage transcriptome, and plasma apoptotic endothelial cell microparticles.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Compared with nonsmokers, waterpipe smokers had more cough and sputum as well as a lower lung diffusing capacity, abnormal epithelial lining fluid metabolome profile, increased proportions of SAE secretory and intermediate cells, reduced proportions of SAE ciliated and basal cells, markedly abnormal SAE and alveolar macrophage transcriptomes, and elevated levels of apoptotic endothelial cell microparticles.

CONCLUSIONS

Young, light-use, waterpipe-only smokers have a variety of abnormalities in multiple lung-related biological and clinical parameters, suggesting that even limited waterpipe use has broad consequences on human lung biology and health. We suggest that large epidemiological studies should be initiated to investigate the harmful effects of waterpipe smoking.

Dendritic Cell-Airway Epithelial Cell Cross-Talk Changes with Age and Contributes to Chronic Lung Inflammatory Diseases in the Elderly

Age-associated dysregulated immune and inflammatory responses are one of the major factors responsible for the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in the older population. Pulmonary dendritic cells (DCs) are present below the airway epithelial cells (AECs) and are critical in initiating effective immune responses to harmful pathogens while maintaining tolerance against harmless antigens. The interaction between DCs and AECs plays a crucial role in lung immunity at homeostasis and during infections. The functions of both DCs and AECs are impacted with age. The present report reviews how the potential crosstalk between pulmonary DCs and AECs is dysregulated in the elderly impairing the capacity to maintain tolerance at the respiratory surfaces, which results in severe and chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases. We also discuss how such DC-AECs crosstalk will provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility of the elderly to pulmonary inflammatory diseases.

Effects of the common polymorphism in the human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene on the lung

BACKGROUND

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) play a major role in detoxification of aldehydes. High expression of ALDHs is a marker for stem cells of many organs including the lungs. A common polymorphism in ALDH2 gene (ALDH2*2) results in inactivation of the enzyme and is associated with alcohol flushing syndrome and increased risk for cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases and some cancers. The effect of this ALDH2 polymorphism on the lung and its stem cells has not been thoroughly examined.

METHODS

We examined the association between the ALDH2*2 allele and lung function parameters in a population of healthy individuals. We also examined its association with the incidence of asthma and COPD in patient cohorts. We used the in vitro colony forming assay to detect the effect of the polymorphism on lung epithelial stem cells from both primary human surgical samples and Aldh2*2 transgenic (Tg) and Aldh2 -/- mice. Response to acute and chronic lung injuries was compared between wild type (WT), Aldh2*2 Tg and Aldh2 -/- mice.

RESULTS

In humans, the ALDH2*2 allele was associated with lower FEV1/FVC in the general population, but not with the development of asthma or COPD. Both the bronchial and lung epithelium carrying the ALDH2*2 allele showed a tendency for lower colony forming efficiency (CFE) compared to ALDH2 allele. In mice, the tracheal epithelial thickness, nuclear density, and number of basal stem cells were significantly lower in Aldh2 -/- and Aldh2*2 Tg adult mice than in WT. Electron microscopy showed significantly increased number of morphologically abnormal mitochondria in the trachea of Aldh2 -/- mice. Aldh2 -/- tracheal and lung cells showed higher ROS levels and fewer functional mitochondria than those from WT mice. No significant differences were detected when tracheal and lung epithelial stem cells were examined for their in vitro CFE. When exposed to chronic cigarette smoke, Aldh2*2 Tg mice were resistant to emphysema development, whereas influenza infection caused more epithelial damage in Aldh2 -/- mice than in WT mice.

CONCLUSIONS

ALDH2 polymorphism has several subtle effects on the lungs, some of which are similar to changes observed during normal aging, suggesting a "premature lung aging" effect.

Allergy and Aging: An Old/New Emerging Health Issue

Allergy reactions are the most common immunological diseases and represent one of the most widespread and fast growing chronic human health problems among people over 15 years of age in developed countries. As populations get older worldwide, allergy manifestations in aged persons will occur more often in the future. To date, there has been much more studies on allergies in children than in adults. As the population ages, clinicians must be prepared to meet all the elderly's health care needs, including these new and emerging health issue. Allergic diseases represent an old/new emerging health issue. Because many common illnesses masquerade as atopic disease, the differential diagnosis of suspected allergic diseases becomes more expanded in an aging population. Research in the field needs to focus on both human and animal model systems to investigate the impact of the aging process on the immunologic pathways underpinning allergy and its different facets.

Clonal Dynamics Reveal Two Distinct Populations of Basal Cells in Slow-Turnover Airway Epithelium

Epithelial lineages have been studied at cellular resolution in multiple organs that turn over rapidly. However, many epithelia, including those of the lung, liver, pancreas, and prostate, turn over slowly and may be regulated differently. We investigated the mouse tracheal epithelial lineage at homeostasis by using long-term clonal analysis and mathematical modeling. This pseudostratified epithelium contains basal cells and secretory and multiciliated luminal cells. Our analysis revealed that basal cells are heterogeneous, comprising approximately equal numbers of multipotent stem cells and committed precursors, which persist in the basal layer for 11 days before differentiating to luminal fate. We confirmed the molecular and functional differences within the basal population by using single-cell qRT-PCR and further lineage labeling. Additionally, we show that self-renewal of short-lived secretory cells is a feature of homeostasis. We have thus revealed early luminal commitment of cells that are morphologically indistinguishable from stem cells.

Identification of a proximal progenitor population from murine fetal lungs with clonogenic and multilineage differentiation potential

Lung development-associated diseases are major causes of morbidity and lethality in preterm infants and children. Access to the lung progenitor/stem cell populations controlling pulmonary development during embryogenesis and early postnatal years is essential to understand the molecular basis of such diseases. Using a Nkx2-1^mCherry reporter mouse, we have identified and captured Nkx2-1-expressing lung progenitor cells from the proximal lung epithelium during fetal development. These cells formed clonal spheres in semisolid culture that could be maintained in vitro and demonstrated self-renewal and expansion capabilities over multiple passages. In-vitro-derived Nkx2-1-expressing clonal spheres differentiated into a polarized epithelium comprised of multiple cell lineages, including basal and secretory cells, that could repopulate decellularized lung scaffolds. Nkx2-1 expression thus defines a fetal lung epithelial progenitor cell population that can be used as a model system to study pulmonary development and associated pediatric diseases.

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Nkx2-1 expression can be used to isolate proximal lung progenitors

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The fetal proximal lung progenitors are distinct from currently known progenitors

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The fetal proximal lung progenitors are clonogenic and self-renewing

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The fetal proximal lung progenitors are multipotent for airway lineages

Repair and regeneration of the respiratory system: complexity, plasticity, and mechanisms of lung stem cell function

Respiratory disease is the third leading cause of death in the industrialized world. Consequently, the trachea, lungs, and cardiopulmonary vasculature have been the focus of extensive investigations. Recent studies have provided new information about the mechanisms driving lung development and differentiation. However, there is still much to learn about the ability of the adult respiratory system to undergo repair and to replace cells lost in response to injury and disease. This Review highlights the multiple stem/progenitor populations in different regions of the adult lung, the plasticity of their behavior in injury models, and molecular pathways that support homeostasis and repair.