Accelerated aging and aging process in the brain

Curcumin attenuates brain aging by reducing apoptosis and oxidative stress

Brain aging is a physiological event, and oxidative stress and apoptosis are involved in the natural aging process of the brain. Curcumin is a natural antioxidant with potent anti-aging and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on brain apoptosis and oxidative stress, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aged rats. Old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7); as follows: (1) control; (2); saline and (3) curcumin (received 30 mg/kg of curcumin, 5 days/week for 8 weeks, intraperitoneally). Our results indicated that treatment with curcumin in aged rats attenuates brain lipid peroxidation, which was accompanied by a significant increase in the BDNF, VEGF, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and anti-apoptotic protein BCl-2. No significant change in brain anti-apoptotic Bax protein levels was observed after curcumin treatment. The study indicates that curcumin could alleviate brain aging which may be due to attenuating oxidative stress, inhibiting apoptosis, and up-regulating SOD activity, which in turn enhances VEGF and BDNF. Therefore, curcumin has potential therapeutic value in the treatment of neurological apoptosis, neurogenesis, and angiogenesis changes caused by brain aging.

Health-related quality of life and family functioning of primary caregivers of children with down syndrome

Background

Down Syndrome (DS; OMIM #190685), known as trisomy 21, is one of the most common genetic disorders in the human population and the commonest known cause of intellectual disability. The study was conducted to investigate the quality of life (QoL) of children with DS syndrome and its impact on family functioning.

Purpose of study

To assess the quality of life of children with trisomy 21 and the impact of the disorder on the family.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional questionnaire study. The respondents were 52 parents of children with trisomy 21. The following structured questionnaires were used: the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module and Study-Specific Questionnaire (SSQ).

Results

The combined scores, with a mean value of approximately 55 out of a possible 100 points, indicated a significant impact of the child's genetic defect on family functioning. In the overall QOL, the highest rated domain was physical functioning (x̅ =60.14; SD = 23.82) and the lowest was school functioning (x̅ =51.36; SD = 18.72). Better school functioning (p = 0.022) was reported for girls. The presence of reduced muscle tone also had a negative impact on the child's functioning in the physical (p = 0.036), emotional (p = 0.011), psychosocial (p = 0.027) and overall QOL domains (p = 0.023).

Conclusion

Overall, our results showed that the quality of life of children with trisomy 21 is impaired. There was a positive association between the child's QOL and the QOL of their parents, as well as the general functioning of the child's whole family. For this reason, an improvement in the QOL of parents and the family functioning is closely related to an increased QOL of the child. The continuous deepening of knowledge of QOL in individual trisomy 21 management allows for better preparation and ongoing care for the patients concerned.

Vimar/RAP1GDS1 promotes acceleration of brain aging after flies and mice reach middle age

Brain aging may accelerate after rodents reach middle age. However, the endogenous mediator that promotes this acceleration is unknown. We predict that the mediator may be expressed after an organism reaches middle age and dysregulates mitochondrial function. In the neurons of wild-type Drosophila (flies), we observed that mitochondria were fragmented in aged flies, and this fragmentation was associated with mitochondrial calcium overload. In a previous study, we found that mitochondrial fragmentation induced by calcium overload was reversed by the loss of Vimar, which forms a complex with Miro. Interestingly, Vimar expression was increased after the flies reached middle age. Overexpression of Vimar in neurons resulted in premature aging and mitochondrial calcium overload. In contrast, downregulation of Vimar in flies older than middle age promoted healthy aging. As the mouse homolog of Vimar, RAP1GDS1 expression was found to be increased after mice reached middle age; RAP1GDS1-transgenic and RAP1GDS1-knockdown mice displayed similar responses to flies with overexpressed and reduced Vimar expression, respectively. This research provides genetic evidence of a conserved endogenous mediator that promotes accelerated brain aging.

Restoring Age-Related Cognitive Decline through Environmental Enrichment: A Transcriptomic Approach

Cognitive decline is one of the greatest health threats of old age and the maintenance of optimal brain function across a lifespan remains a big challenge. The hippocampus is considered particularly vulnerable but there is cross-species consensus that its functional integrity benefits from the early and continuous exercise of demanding physical, social and mental activities, also referred to as environmental enrichment (EE). Here, we investigated the extent to which late-onset EE can improve the already-impaired cognitive abilities of lifelong deprived C57BL/6 mice and how it affects gene expression in the hippocampus. To this end, 5- and 24-month-old mice housed in standard cages (5mSC and 24mSC) and 24-month-old mice exposed to EE in the last 2 months of their life (24mEE) were subjected to a Barnes maze task followed by next-generation RNA sequencing of the hippocampal tissue. Our analyses showed that late-onset EE was able to restore deficits in spatial learning and short-term memory in 24-month-old mice. These positive cognitive effects were reflected by specific changes in the hippocampal transcriptome, where late-onset EE affected transcription much more than age (24mSC vs. 24mEE: 1311 DEGs, 24mSC vs. 5mSC: 860 DEGs). Remarkably, a small intersection of 72 age-related DEGs was counter-regulated by late-onset EE. Of these, Bcl3, Cttnbp2, Diexf, Esr2, Grb10, Il4ra, Inhba, Rras2, Rps6ka1 and Socs3 appear to be particularly relevant as key regulators involved in dendritic spine plasticity and in age-relevant molecular signaling cascades mediating senescence, insulin resistance, apoptosis and tissue regeneration. In summary, our observations suggest that the brains of aged mice in standard cage housing preserve a considerable degree of plasticity. Switching them to EE proved to be a promising and non-pharmacological intervention against cognitive decline.

Accelerated functional brain aging in major depressive disorder: evidence from a large scale fMRI analysis of Chinese participants

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health conditions that has been intensively investigated for its association with brain atrophy and mortality. Recent studies suggest that the deviation between the predicted and the chronological age can be a marker of accelerated brain aging to characterize MDD. However, current conclusions are usually drawn based on structural MRI information collected from Caucasian participants. The universality of this biomarker needs to be further validated by subjects with different ethnic/racial backgrounds and by different types of data. Here we make use of the REST-meta-MDD, a large scale resting-state fMRI dataset collected from multiple cohort participants in China. We develop a stacking machine learning model based on 1101 healthy controls, which estimates a subject's chronological age from fMRI with promising accuracy. The trained model is then applied to 1276 MDD patients from 24 sites. We observe that MDD patients exhibit a +4.43 years (p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = 0.31, 95% CI: 2.23-3.88) higher brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD) compared to controls. In the MDD subgroup, we observe a statistically significant +2.09 years (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.134525) brain-PAD in antidepressant users compared to medication-free patients. The statistical relationship observed is further checked by three different machine learning algorithms. The positive brain-PAD observed in participants in China confirms the presence of accelerated brain aging in MDD patients. The utilization of functional brain connectivity for age estimation verifies existing findings from a new dimension.

Tea Polyphenols as Prospective Natural Attenuators of Brain Aging

No organism can avoid the process of aging, which is often accompanied by chronic disease. The process of biological aging is driven by a series of interrelated mechanisms through different signal pathways, including oxidative stress, inflammatory states, autophagy and others. In addition, the intestinal microbiota play a key role in regulating oxidative stress of microglia, maintaining homeostasis of microglia and alleviating age-related diseases. Tea polyphenols can effectively regulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota. In recent years, the potential anti-aging benefits of tea polyphenols have attracted increasing attention because they can inhibit neuroinflammation and prevent degenerative effects in the brain. The interaction between human neurological function and the gut microbiota suggests that intervention with tea polyphenols is a possible way to alleviate brain-aging. Studies have been undertaken into the possible mechanisms underpinning the preventative effect of tea polyphenols on brain-aging mediated by the intestinal microbiota. Tea polyphenols may be regarded as potential neuroprotective substances which can act with high efficiency and low toxicity.

Aging with Down Syndrome-Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?

Down syndrome (DS) is a form of accelerated aging, and people with DS are highly prone to aging-related conditions that include vascular and neurological disorders. Due to the overexpression of several genes on Chromosome 21, for example genes encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and some of the interferon receptors, those with DS exhibit significant accumulation of amyloid, phospho-tau, oxidative stress, neuronal loss, and neuroinflammation in the brain as they age. In this review, we will summarize the major strides in this research field that have been made in the last few decades, as well as discuss where we are now, and which research areas are considered essential for the field in the future. We examine the scientific history of DS bridging these milestones in research to current efforts in the field. We extrapolate on comorbidities associated with this phenotype and highlight clinical networks in the USA and Europe pursuing clinical research, concluding with funding efforts and recent recommendations to the NIH regarding DS research.

Thymoquinone and Curcumin Defeat Aging-Associated Oxidative Alterations Induced by D-Galactose in Rats' Brain and Heart

D-galactose (D-gal) administration causes oxidative disorder and is widely utilized in aging animal models. Therefore, we subcutaneously injected D-gal at 200 mg/kg BW dose to assess the potential preventive effect of thymoquinone (TQ) and curcumin (Cur) against the oxidative alterations induced by D-gal. Other than the control, vehicle, and D-gal groups, the TQ and Cur treated groups were orally supplemented at 20 mg/kg BW of each alone or combined. TQ and Cur effectively suppressed the oxidative alterations induced by D-gal in brain and heart tissues. The TQ and Cur combination significantly decreased the elevated necrosis in the brain and heart by D-gal. It significantly reduced brain caspase 3, calbindin, and calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1), heart caspase 3, and BCL2. Expression of mRNA of the brain and heart TP53, p21, Bax, and CASP-3 were significantly downregulated in the TQ and Cur combination group along with upregulation of BCL2 in comparison with the D-gal group. Data suggested that the TQ and Cur combination is a promising approach in aging prevention.

Hydrogen sulfide in longevity and pathologies: Inconsistency is malodorous

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is one of the biologically active gases (gasotransmitters), which plays an important role in various physiological processes and aging. Its production in the course of methionine and cysteine catabolism and its degradation are finely balanced, and impairment of H₂S homeostasis is associated with various pathologies. Despite the strong geroprotective action of exogenous H₂S in C. elegans, there are controversial effects of hydrogen sulfide and its donors on longevity in other models, as well as on stress resistance, age-related pathologies and aging processes, including regulation of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and senescent cell anti-apoptotic pathways (SCAPs). Here we discuss that the translation potential of H₂S as a geroprotective compound is influenced by a multiplicity of its molecular targets, pleiotropic biological effects, and the overlapping ranges of toxic and beneficial doses. We also consider the challenges of the targeted delivery of H₂S at the required dose. Along with this, the complexity of determining the natural levels of H₂S in animal and human organs and their ambiguous correlations with longevity are reviewed.

Neurophysiological Intraoperative Monitoring in the Elderly

INTRODUCTION

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is widely used to prevent nervous system injury during surgeries in elderly patients. However, there are no studies that describe the characteristics and changes in neurophysiological tests during the IONM of patients aged 60 years and older. The study aims to describe and compare IONM changes during surgeries in adult patients aged 18 to 59 years with those aged 60 years and older.

METHODS

We performed a comparative retrospective study of patients aged 18 to 59 years versus those 60 aged years and older who underwent IONM during 2013 to 2018 in Mexico City. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded and compared. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring techniques, their changes, and surgical procedures for both groups were analyzed and compared using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Fisher, and χ2 tests. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 195 patients were analyzed: 104 patients, 68.63 ± 6.54 years old (elderly group) and 91 patients, 42.3 ± 10.5 years old (younger group). No differences were found in the rates of signal change during IONM between the group of elderly patients and the younger group. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 80%, 99%, 80%, and 99%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients have a similar rate of changes in IONM signals compared with younger patients during heterogeneous surgeries guided by IONM.

Deciphering the correlations between aging and constipation by metabolomics and network pharmacology

From the points of view of phenomena and experience, aging and constipation are inextricably correlated. However, experimental support and underlying mechanisms are still lacking. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between aging and constipation from the perspectives of fecal metabolites and network pharmacology. The behavioral analyses of aging and constipation were carried out on both aging rats and constipation rats. We found that aging rats exhibited not only significant aging behaviors but also significant constipation behaviors, while constipation rats exhibited both significant constipation and aging behaviors. Additionally, fecal metabolomics was carried out and found that 23 metabolites were aging-related and 22 metabolites were constipation-related. Among them, there were 16 differential metabolites in common with 11 metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology was applied to construct the target-pathway network of aging and constipation, revealing that pathway in cancer was the most associated signaling pathway. The current findings will provide not only a novel perspective for understanding aging and constipation, but a theoretical association and understanding the traditional Chinese medicine theory and the Western medicine theory about aging and constipation, as well as support for the clinical research and development of medicine related to constipation in the elderly.

ALDH2 protects naturally aged mouse retina via inhibiting oxidative stress-related apoptosis and enhancing unfolded protein response in endoplasmic reticulum

During the process of aging, the retina exhibits chronic oxidative stress (OS) damage. Our preliminary experiment showed that acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) could alleviate retinal damage caused by OS. This study aimed to explore whether ALDH2 could inhibit mice retinal cell apoptosis and enhance the function of unfolded protein response in endoplasmic reticulum (UPR^ER) through reducing OS in aging process. Retinal function and structure in vivo and in vitro were examined in aged ALDH2+ overexpression mice and ALDH2 agonist Alda1-treated aged mice. Levels of ALDH2, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Higher expression of ALDH2 was observed at the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) in aged ALDH2+ overexpression and aged Alda1-treated mice. Moreover, aged ALDH2+ overexpression mice and aged Alda1-treated mice exhibited better retinal function and structure. Increased expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and ERS-related protein phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (peIF2α) and decreased expression of apoptosis-related protein, including C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), caspase12 and caspase9, and retinal inflammatory cytokines were detected in the retina of aged ALDH2+ overexpression mice and aged Alda1-treated mice. The expression of ALDH2 in the retina was decreased in aging process. ALDH2 could reduce retinal oxidative stress and apoptosis, strengthen UPR^ER during the aging process to improve retinal function and structure.

Asiatic acid protects oocytes against in vitro aging-induced deterioration and improves subsequent embryonic development in pigs

As a pentacyclic triterpene in Centella asiatica, asiatic acid (AA) is a powerful antioxidant with many bioactivities. In the present research, we investigated whether AA has the potential to rescue the decrease in porcine oocyte quality that occurs during in vitro aging (IVA). Mature porcine oocytes were collected and then continuously cultured for an additional 24 h or 48 h with or without AA in maturation medium as an IVA model. The results revealed that AA supplementation reduced the percentage of abnormal aged porcine oocytes during IVA. Furthermore, AA supplementation effectively maintained aged porcine oocyte developmental competence, both parthenogenetic activation and in vitro fertilization. The number of sperm that bound to the zona pellucida on aged porcine oocytes was higher in the AA-supplemented group than in the non-supplemented group. Moreover, AA supplementation not only blocked IVA-induced oxidative stress but also maintained intracellular GSH levels and reduced the percentage of early apoptosis aged porcine oocytes. Mitochondrial functions were disordered during the IVA process. The intracellular ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential in aged porcine oocytes were dramatically increased by AA supplementation. Therefore, AA has beneficial effects on porcine oocyte quality and developmental potential maintenance during IVA.

Aging-Related Disorders and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: A Critical Review for Prospect Mitoprotective Strategies Based on Mitochondrial Nutrient Mixtures

A number of aging-related disorders (ARD) have been related to oxidative stress (OS) and mitochondrial dysfunction (MDF) in a well-established body of literature. Most studies focused on cardiovascular disorders (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and neurodegenerative disorders. Counteracting OS and MDF has been envisaged to improve the clinical management of ARD, and major roles have been assigned to three mitochondrial cofactors, also termed mitochondrial nutrients (MNs), i.e., α-lipoic acid (ALA), Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and carnitine (CARN). These cofactors exert essential–and distinct—roles in mitochondrial machineries, along with strong antioxidant properties. Clinical trials have mostly relied on the use of only one MN to ARD-affected patients as, e.g., in the case of CoQ10 in CVD, or of ALA in T2D, possibly with the addition of other antioxidants. Only a few clinical and pre-clinical studies reported on the administration of two MNs, with beneficial outcomes, while no available studies reported on the combined administration of three MNs. Based on the literature also from pre-clinical studies, the present review is to recommend the design of clinical trials based on combinations of the three MNs.

Accelerated brain aging predicts impaired cognitive performance and greater disability in geriatric but not midlife adult depression

Depression is associated with markers of accelerated aging, but it is unclear how this relationship changes across the lifespan. We examined whether a brain-based measure of accelerated aging differed between depressed and never-depressed subjects across the adult lifespan and whether it was related to cognitive performance and disability. We applied a machine-learning approach that estimated brain age from structural MRI data in two depressed cohorts, respectively 170 midlife adults and 154 older adults enrolled in studies with common entry criteria. Both cohorts completed broad cognitive batteries and the older subgroup completed a disability assessment. The machine-learning model estimated brain age from MRI data, which was compared to chronological age to determine the brain-age gap (BAG; estimated age-chronological age). BAG did not differ between midlife depressed and nondepressed adults. Older depressed adults exhibited significantly higher BAG than nondepressed elders (Wald χ² = 8.84, p = 0.0029), indicating a higher estimated brain age than chronological age. BAG was not associated with midlife cognitive performance. In the older cohort, higher BAG was associated with poorer episodic memory performance (Wald χ² = 4.10, p = 0.0430) and, in the older depressed group alone, slower processing speed (Wald χ² = 4.43, p = 0.0354). We also observed a statistical interaction where greater depressive symptom severity in context of higher BAG was associated with poorer executive function (Wald χ² = 5.89, p = 0.0152) and working memory performance (Wald χ² = 4.47, p = 0.0346). Increased BAG was associated with greater disability (Wald χ² = 6.00, p = 0.0143). Unlike midlife depression, geriatric depression exhibits accelerated brain aging, which in turn is associated with cognitive and functional deficits.

Neurogenesis and brain aging

Human aging affects the entire organism, but aging of the brain must undoubtedly be different from that of all other organs, as neurons are highly differentiated postmitotic cells, for the majority of which the lifespan in the postnatal period is equal to the lifespan of the entire organism. In this work, we examine the distinctive features of brain aging and neurogenesis during normal aging, pathological aging (Alzheimer's disease), and accelerated aging (Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome and Werner syndrome).

The transcription factor REST up-regulates tyrosine hydroxylase and antiapoptotic genes and protects dopaminergic neurons against manganese toxicity

Dopaminergic functions are important for various biological activities, and their impairment leads to neurodegeneration, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Chronic manganese (Mn) exposure causes the neurological disorder manganism, presenting symptoms similar to those of PD. Emerging evidence has linked the transcription factor RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) to PD and also Alzheimer's disease. But REST's role in dopaminergic neurons is unclear. Here, we investigated whether REST protects dopaminergic neurons against Mn-induced toxicity and enhances expression of the dopamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). We report that REST binds to RE1 consensus sites in the TH gene promoter, stimulates TH transcription, and increases TH mRNA and protein levels in dopaminergic cells. REST binding to the TH promoter recruited the epigenetic modifier cAMP-response element-binding protein-binding protein/p300 and thereby up-regulated TH expression. REST relieved Mn-induced repression of TH promoter activity, mRNA, and protein levels and also reduced Mn-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons. REST reduced Mn-induced proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and interferon γ. Moreover, REST inhibited the Mn-induced proapoptotic proteins Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and death-associated protein 6 (Daxx) and attenuated an Mn-induced decrease in the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. REST also enhanced the expression of antioxidant proteins, including catalase, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Our findings indicate that REST activates TH expression and thereby protects neurons against Mn-induced toxicity and neurological disorders associated with dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

A Generative Network Model of the Human Brain Normal Aging Process

The human brain is approximately a symmetric structure, although the functional brain does not exhibit symmetry. Functional brain aging process modelling is essential for the understanding of hypothesized generative mechanisms for human brain networks throughout one’s lifespan. We present a novel generative network model of the human functional brain network, which is the hybrid of the local naïve Bayes model and the anatomical similarity correction (LNBE). We use LNBE, as well as published generative network models to simulate the aging process of the functional brain network, to construct artificial brain networks and to reveal the generative mechanisms and evolutionary patterns of human functional brain across human lifespans. It is suggested that the idea of classifying common neighbours while considering anatomical distances during network formation can provide a much more similar generative mechanism of the human fMRI brain aging process as well as a more practical generative network model of it. We hold that studies on brain normal aging process modelling have the potential to improve the way in which early warnings for latent injury or disease are practised today and advance healthcare.

[Effects of cytoflavin on neuronal apoptotic processes in the murine cerebral cortex on a model of physiologicaland pathological aging]

Involutional changes in the cerebral cortex substantially affect the activity of the cortex itself and the function of target organs. This necessitates pharmacological correction of age-related diseases, primarily a high level of cell death.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of cytoflavin in mechanisms for the apoptotic regulation of cerebral cortical cells during physiological and pathological aging (in the presence of HER-2/neu overexpression).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

HER-2/neu transgenic mice were used; wild-type FVB/N mice served as controls. The levels of apoptosis (TUNEL) and the expression of its associated proteins (p53, CD95, Mcl-1, p-AKT, and p-ERK) (Western blotting) were estimated in the sensorimotor cortex.

RESULTS

Activation of fundamental AKT and ERK survival pathways promotes a low level of cell death in young FVB/N mice; the extrinsic receptor mechanism of apoptosis is observed to be initiated by aging. The high p-AKT levels in the cortical cells provide suppressed cell death in transgenic mice regardless of their age. After cytoflavin administration, the old wild-type mice show a lower level of apoptosis in the cortical neurons apparently due to the increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, while the old transgenic mice exhibited suppression of the AKT and ERK survival pathways and, accordingly, activation of the extrinsic receptor and p53-dependent apoptosis pathways.

CONCLUSION

Thus, cytoflavin exerts a pronounced neuroprotective effect during physiological and accelerated aging, while its effect on the level of neuronal apoptosis is ambiguous and depends on the genetic line of animals. So, this is a moderate stimulation of apoptosis when its level is low in HER-2/neu mice with a high level of carcinogenesis, as well as a decrease in the high level of apoptosis in old wild-type animals, which prevents neurodegeneration.

Hippocampal LMNA Gene Expression is Increased in Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

Lamins are fibrillary proteins that are crucial in maintaining nuclear shape and function. Recently, B-type lamin dysfunction has been linked to tauopathies. However, the role of A-type lamin in neurodegeneration is still obscure. Here, we examined A-type and B-type lamin expression levels by RT-qPCR in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and controls in the hippocampus, the core of tau pathology in the brain. LMNA, LMNB1, and LMNB2 genes showed moderate mRNA levels in the human hippocampus with highest expression for the LMNA gene. Moreover, LMNA mRNA levels were increased at the late stage of AD (1.8-fold increase; p-value < 0.05). In addition, a moderate positive correlation was found between age and LMNA mRNA levels (Pearson’s r = 0.581, p-value = 0.018) within the control hippocampal samples that was not present in the hippocampal samples affected by AD. A-type and B-type lamin genes are expressed in the human hippocampus at the transcript level. LMNA mRNA levels are up-regulated in the hippocampal tissue in late stages of AD. The effect of age on increasing LMNA expression levels in control samples seems to be disrupted by the development of AD pathology.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome-Current Status and Prospects for Gene Therapy Treatment

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is one of the most severe disorders among laminopathies—a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases with a molecular background based on mutations in the LMNA gene and genes coding for interacting proteins. HGPS is characterized by the presence of aging-associated symptoms, including lack of subcutaneous fat, alopecia, swollen veins, growth retardation, age spots, joint contractures, osteoporosis, cardiovascular pathology, and death due to heart attacks and strokes in childhood. LMNA codes for two major, alternatively spliced transcripts, give rise to lamin A and lamin C proteins. Mutations in the LMNA gene alone, depending on the nature and location, may result in the expression of abnormal protein or loss of protein expression and cause at least 11 disease phenotypes, differing in severity and affected tissue. LMNA gene-related HGPS is caused by a single mutation in the LMNA gene in exon 11. The mutation c.1824C > T results in activation of the cryptic donor splice site, which leads to the synthesis of progerin protein lacking 50 amino acids. The accumulation of progerin is the reason for appearance of the phenotype. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of HGPS and provide a critical analysis of current research trends in this field. We also discuss the mouse models available so far, the current status of treatment of the disease, and future prospects for the development of efficient therapies, including gene therapy for HGPS.

Atorvastatin reverses the dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by angiotensin II

Statins exert pleiotropic effects on endothelial cells, in addition to lowering cholesterol. This study evaluated angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the effects of atorvastatin (Ator) on induced HUVECs in vitro. The cytotoxicity of Ang II and Ator was determined by the MTT assay. A series of cellular responses were screened, including oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, inflammatory response, autophagy, expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and the angiogenic function of HUVECs. Ator returned these cellular responses to a normal level. The present study also examined cellular organelle dysfunction. In HUVECs, Ang II triggered mitochondrial damage, as demonstrated by a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, while Ator attenuated this Ang II-induced damage. The observed cellular dysfunction may cause endothelial senescence due to excessive cell injury. The current study examined several aging markers, which revealed that these disorders of cellular functions triggered endothelial senescence, which was delayed by Ator. Ator also suppressed Ang II-induced angiogenesis damage. The data presented in this study strongly suggested that Ang II induced a series of processes that lead to cellular dysfunction in HUVECs, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage, leading to apoptosis and endothelial senescence. However, Ator significantly reversed these effects and modulated intracellular stability. The present study indicated that Ator serves an antagonistic role against HUVEC dysfunction and may potentially prevent several diseases, including coronary disease and atherosclerosis, by maintaining cellular homeostasis.

Impact of pulse pressure on cerebrovascular events leading to age-related cognitive decline

Aging is a modern concept: human life expectancy has more than doubled in less than 150 yr in Western countries. Longer life span, however, reveals age-related diseases, including cerebrovascular diseases. The vascular system is a prime target of aging: the "wear and tear" of large elastic arteries exposed to a lifelong pulsatile pressure causes arterial stiffening by fragmentation of elastin fibers and replacement by stiffer collagen. This arterial stiffening increases in return the amplitude of the pulse pressure (PP), its wave penetrating deeper into the microcirculation of low-resistance, high-flow organs such as the brain. Several studies have associated peripheral arterial stiffness responsible for the sustained increase in PP, with brain microvascular diseases such as cerebral small vessel disease, cortical gray matter thinning, white matter atrophy, and cognitive dysfunction in older individuals and prematurely in hypertensive and diabetic patients. The rarefaction of white matter is also associated with middle cerebral artery pulsatility that is strongly dependent on PP and artery stiffness. PP and brain damage are likely associated, but the sequence of mechanistic events has not been established. Elevated PP promotes endothelial dysfunction that may slowly develop in parallel with the accumulation of proinflammatory senescent cells and oxidative stress, generating cerebrovascular damage and remodeling, as well as brain structural changes. Here, we review data suggesting that age-related increased peripheral artery stiffness may promote the penetration of a high PP to cerebral microvessels, likely causing functional, structural, metabolic, and hemodynamic alterations that could ultimately promote neuronal dysfunction and cognitive decline.