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McQuillan MA, Verhulst S, Hansen MEB, Beggs W, Meskel DW, Belay G, Nyambo T, Mpoloka SW, Mokone GG, Fokunang C, Njamnshi AK, Chanock SJ, Aviv A, Tishkoff SA. Association between telomere length and Plasmodium falciparum malaria endemicity in sub-Saharan Africans. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:927-938. [PMID: 38701745 PMCID: PMC11080607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) varies significantly across human populations, with individuals of African ancestry having longer LTL than non-Africans. However, the genetic and environmental drivers of LTL variation in Africans remain largely unknown. We report here on the relationship between LTL, genetics, and a variety of environmental and climatic factors in ethnically diverse African adults (n = 1,818) originating from Botswana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Cameroon. We observe significant variation in LTL among populations, finding that the San hunter-gatherers from Botswana have the longest leukocyte telomeres and that the Fulani pastoralists from Cameroon have the shortest telomeres. Genetic factors explain ∼50% of LTL variation among individuals. Moreover, we observe a significant negative association between Plasmodium falciparum malaria endemicity and LTL while adjusting for age, sex, and genetics. Within Africa, adults from populations indigenous to areas with high malaria exposure have shorter LTL than those in populations indigenous to areas with low malaria exposure. Finally, we explore to what degree the genetic architecture underlying LTL in Africa covaries with malaria exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A McQuillan
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew E B Hansen
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William Beggs
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dawit Wolde Meskel
- Department of Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gurja Belay
- Department of Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Thomas Nyambo
- Department of Biochemistry, Kampala International University in Tanzania (KIUT), Dares Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sununguko Wata Mpoloka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Gaonyadiwe George Mokone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Charles Fokunang
- Department of Pharmacotoxicology and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alfred K Njamnshi
- Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Stephen J Chanock
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA; Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Abraham Aviv
- The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Sarah A Tishkoff
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Global Genomics and Health Equity, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Harley J, Santosa MM, Ng CY, Grinchuk OV, Hor JH, Liang Y, Lim VJ, Tee WW, Ong DST, Ng SY. Telomere shortening induces aging-associated phenotypes in hiPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes. Biogerontology 2024; 25:341-360. [PMID: 37987889 PMCID: PMC10998800 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10076-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a well-established hallmark of cellular aging. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) plays a crucial role in maintaining the length of telomeres, which are specialised protective caps at the end of chromosomes. The lack of in vitro aging models, particularly for the central nervous system (CNS), has impeded progress in understanding aging and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore the possibility of inducing aging-associated features in cell types of the CNS using hiPSC (human induced pluripotent stem cell) technology. To achieve this, we utilised CRISPR/Cas9 to generate hiPSCs with a loss of telomerase function and shortened telomeres. Through directed differentiation, we generated motor neurons and astrocytes to investigate whether telomere shortening could lead to age-associated phenotypes. Our findings revealed that shortened telomeres induced age-associated characteristics in both motor neurons and astrocytes including increased cellular senescence, heightened inflammation, and elevated DNA damage. We also observed cell-type specific age-related morphology changes. Additionally, our study highlighted the fundamental role of TERT and telomere shortening in neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation and neuronal differentiation. This study serves as a proof of concept that telomere shortening can effectively induce aging-associated phenotypes, thereby providing a valuable tool to investigate age-related decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Harley
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Munirah Mohamad Santosa
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Chong Yi Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Oleg V Grinchuk
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Jin-Hui Hor
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Yajing Liang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Valerie Jingwen Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Wee Wei Tee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Derrick Sek Tong Ong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Shi-Yan Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore.
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3
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Inomata S, Arima H, Fukuda T, Ozawa H, Yamamoto T. Smoking and diabetes cause telomere shortening among alcohol use disorder patients. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4701. [PMID: 38409427 PMCID: PMC10897475 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55195-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The length of telomeres located at the ends of chromosomes has attracted attention as an indicator of cellular and individual aging. Various diseases or stresses cause telomere shortening, and it has been reported that alcohol use disorder patients actually have shorter telomeres than healthy patients. However, the factors that contribute to the reduction in telomere length among alcohol use disorder patients have not been clarified in detail. Therefore, in this study, we explored the factors that reduce telomere length in alcohol use disorder patients. A questionnaire survey and a measurement of leukocyte telomere length were conducted among alcohol use disorder patients. The mean telomere length of leukocyte was measured by ∆∆Ct analysis using a real-time PCR. We compared the telomere length between alcohol use disorder patients and the control group (Japanese special health check-up examinee). Moreover, we searched for factors associated with telomere length from drinking/smoking characteristics and history of comorbidities. A total of 74 subjects had alcohol use disorder, and 68 were in the control group. Compared to the control group, alcohol use disorder patients had significantly shorter telomere lengths (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that a longer duration of smoking resulted in a significantly shorter telomere length (p = 0.0129). In addition, a comparison of the telomere length between the groups with and without a history of suffering from each disease revealed that telomere length was significantly shorter in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (p = 0.0371). This study reveals that in individuals with alcohol dependence, particularly, prolonged smoking habits and the presence of diabetes contribute to telomere shortening. Medication and support for abstinence from alcohol has been mainly provided for alcohol use disorder patients. Our findings demonstrate a potential support approach via smoking cessation programs and controlling diabetes, which may be helpful to suppress the shortening of healthy life expectancy among alcohol use disorder patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsaku Inomata
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Arima
- Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
| | | | - Hiroki Ozawa
- Department of Global Mental Health Science, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Taro Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
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Speer H, McKune AJ, Woodward AP. The long and the short of it: Salivary telomere length as a candidate biomarker for hypertension and age-related changes in blood pressure. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e15910. [PMID: 38225201 PMCID: PMC10789652 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertension becomes more prevalent with increasing age. Telomere length (TL) has been proposed as a candidate biomarker and can be accessibly extracted from saliva. However, clarity is needed to evaluate the suitability of using TL as a predictor in such instances. This study investigated salivary TL in a cohort of older adults from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (n = 3329; F: 58%, mean age: 69.4, SD: 10.3 years) to examine any associations with blood pressure (BP). A Bayesian robust regression model was fit using weakly informative priors to predict the effects of TL with age, sex, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and treatment status. There were small effects of treatment (β: -0.07, 95% CrI [-0.33, 0.19], pd: 71.91%) and sex (β: -0.10, 95% CrI [-0.27, 0.07], pd: >86.78%). Population effects showed a reduction of 0.01 log2 units in TL with each year of advancing age (95% CrI [-0.01, -0.00]). Conditional posterior predictions suggest that females, and treated individuals, experience greater change in TL with increasing age. Bayes R2 was ~2%. TL declines with increasing age, differs between sexes, and appears to be influenced by antihypertensive drugs. Overall, all effects were weak. The data do not currently support the suitability of salivary TL as a biomarker to predict or understand any age-related changes in BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hollie Speer
- University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of CanberraBruceAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Andrew J. McKune
- University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of CanberraBruceAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, School of Health ScienceUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Andrew P. Woodward
- Faculty of HealthUniversity of CanberraBruceAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
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Tsatsakis A, Renieri E, Tsoukalas D, Buga AM, Sarandi E, Vakonaki E, Fragkiadaki P, Alegakis A, Nikitovic D, Calina D, Spandidos DA, Docea AO. A novel nutraceutical formulation increases telomere length and activates telomerase activity in middle‑aged rats. Mol Med Rep 2023; 28:232. [PMID: 37921058 PMCID: PMC10668076 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2023.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are major contributors to cell fate and aging through their involvement in cell cycle arrest and senescence. The accelerated attrition of telomeres is associated with aging‑related diseases, and agents able to maintain telomere length (TL) through telomerase activation may serve as potential treatment strategies. The aim of the present study was to assess the potency of a novel telomerase activator on TL and telomerase activity in vivo. The administration of a nutraceutical formulation containing Centella asiatica extract, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D3 in 18‑month‑old rats for a period of 3 months reduced the telomere shortening rate at the lower supplement dose and increased mean the TL at the higher dose, compared to pre‑treatment levels. TL was determined using the Q‑FISH method in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from the tail vein of the rats and cultured with RPMI‑1640 medium. In both cases, TLs were significantly longer compared to the untreated controls (P≤0.001). In addition, telomerase activity was increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of both treatment groups. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the nutraceutical formulation can maintain or even increase TL and telomerase activity in middle‑aged rats, indicating a potential role of this formula in the prevention and treatment of aging‑related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Lifeplus S.A., 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Elisavet Renieri
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Lifeplus S.A., 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitris Tsoukalas
- Metabolomic Medicine, Health Clinic for Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases, 10674 Athens, Greece
- European Institute of Molecular Medicine (EINUMM), I-00198 Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Buga
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Evangelia Sarandi
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Metabolomic Medicine, Health Clinic for Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases, 10674 Athens, Greece
| | - Elena Vakonaki
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Lifeplus S.A., 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Persefoni Fragkiadaki
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Lifeplus S.A., 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Athanasios Alegakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Lifeplus S.A., 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dragana Nikitovic
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Raj HA, Lai TP, Niewisch MR, Giri N, Wang Y, Spellman SR, Aviv A, Gadalla SM, Savage SA. The distribution and accumulation of the shortest telomeres in telomere biology disorders. Br J Haematol 2023; 203:820-828. [PMID: 37354000 PMCID: PMC10748793 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with telomere biology disorders (TBDs) have very short telomeres, high risk of bone marrow failure (BMF), and reduced survival. Using data from TBD patients, a mean leukocyte Southern blot telomere length (TL) of 5 kilobases (kb) was estimated as the 'telomere brink' at which human survival is markedly reduced. However, the shortest telomere, not the mean TL, signals replicative senescence. We used the Telomere Shortest Length Assay (TeSLA) to tally TL of all 46 chromosomes in blood-derived DNA and examined its relationship with TBDs. Patients (n = 18) had much shorter mean TL (TeSmTL) (2.54 ± 0.41 kb vs. 4.48 ± 0.52 kb, p < 0.0001) and more telomeres <3 kb than controls (n = 22) (70.43 ± 8.76% vs. 33.05 ± 6.93%, p < 0.0001). The proportion of ultrashort telomeres (<1.6 kb) was also higher in patients than controls (39.29 ± 10.69% vs. 10.40 ± 4.09%, p < 0.0001). TeS <1.6 kb was associated with severe (n = 11) compared with non-severe (n = 7) BMF (p = 0.027). Patients with multi-organ manifestations (n = 10) had more telomeres <1.6 kb than those with one affected organ system (n = 8) (p = 0.029). Findings suggest that TBD clinical manifestations are associated with a disproportionately higher number of haematopoietic cell telomeres reaching a telomere brink, whose length at the single telomere level is yet to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah A. Raj
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
| | - Tsung-Po Lai
- Center of Human Development and Aging, Rutgers University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Marena R. Niewisch
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Neelam Giri
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
| | - Youjin Wang
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
| | - Stephen R. Spellman
- Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging, Rutgers University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Shahinaz M. Gadalla
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
| | - Sharon A. Savage
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
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Aviv A. The "telomereless" erythrocytes and telomere-length dependent erythropoiesis. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13997. [PMID: 37824094 PMCID: PMC10726845 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 25 trillion erythrocytes (red blood cells) circulate in the bloodstream of an adult human, surpassing the number of circulating leukocytes (white blood cells) by a factor of about 1000. Moreover, the erythrocyte turnover rate accounts for approximately 76% of the turnover rate of all circulating blood cells. This simple math shows that the hematopoietic system principally spends its telomere length-dependent replicative capacity on building and maintaining the erythrocyte blood pool. Erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) is thus the principal cause of telomere shortening with age in hematopoietic cells (HCs), a conclusion that holds significant implications for linking telomere length dynamics in HCs to health and lifespan of modern humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and AgingNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNew JerseyUSA
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8
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Gold NM, Okeke MN, He Y. Involvement of Inheritance in Determining Telomere Length beyond Environmental and Lifestyle Factors. Aging Dis 2023:AD.2023.1023. [PMID: 37962459 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
All linear chromosomal ends have specific DNA-protein complexes called telomeres. Telomeres serve as a "molecular clock" to estimate the potential length of cell replication. Shortening of telomere length (TL) is associated with cellular senescence, aging, and various age-related diseases in humans. Here we reviewed the structure, function, and regulation of telomeres and the age-related diseases associated with telomere attrition. Among the various determinants of TL, we highlight the connection between TL and heredity to provide a new overview of genetic determinants for TL. Studies across multiple species have shown that maternal and paternal TL influence the TL of their offspring, and this may affect life span and their susceptibility to age-related diseases. Hence, we reviewed the linkage between TL and parental influences and the proposed mechanisms involved. More in-depth studies on the genetic mechanism for TL attrition are needed due to the potential application of this knowledge in human medicine to prevent premature frailty at its earliest stage, as well as promote health and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naheemat Modupeola Gold
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Evolution and Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Michael Ngozi Okeke
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Nanomedical Technology Research, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yonghan He
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Evolution and Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Vohra V, Cheng MZ, Xue QL, Simonsick EM, Lane AP, Agrawal Y, Rowan NR. The Association of Multiple Sensory Impairment and Telomere Length: The Health ABC Study. Laryngoscope 2023; 133:3132-3138. [PMID: 37350340 PMCID: PMC10592462 DOI: 10.1002/lary.30842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to characterize the associations of sensory impairments, including olfaction (OI), vision (VI), hearing (HI), and touch (TI), with telomere length (TL) in a group of community-dwelling older adults who participated in the Health ABC study. METHODS Across 1603 participants, OI was classified with the Brief Smell Identification Test (<11), HI with pure-tone averages (<25 dB), VI with visual acuity (20/50 or worse), and TI with monofilament testing (inability to detect three of four touches). Shorter TL was defined as the lowest quartile of sample TLs. Adjusted multivariable regressions were used to examine the cross-sectional association between the modality, severity, and number of sensory impairments with TL. RESULTS Participants had an average age of 77.4 ± 2.84 years, and 89.7% (n = 1438) had at least one or more sensory impairments. Severe OI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.19, 2.6]) was independently associated with increased odds of shorter TL. Additionally, having one (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = [1.69, 4.70]), two (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = [1.51, 4.26]), three (OR = 3.04, 95% CI = [1.79, 5.36]), or four impairments (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = [1.52, 7.33]) was associated with increased odds of shorter TL in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION Severe OI and TI appear to be particularly robust markers of shortened TL. Additionally, multiple sensory impairment is strongly associated with shortened TL, suggesting that sensory dysfunction may represent a unique biomarker of unhealthy aging. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level II Laryngoscope, 133:3132-3138, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Vohra
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Michael Z Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Qian-Li Xue
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Eleanor M Simonsick
- National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Andrew P Lane
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Yuri Agrawal
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Nicholas R Rowan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
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10
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Zhang N, Baker EC, Welsh TH, Riley DG. Telomere Dynamics in Livestock. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1389. [PMID: 37997988 PMCID: PMC10669808 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are repeated sequences of nucleotides at the end of chromosomes. They deteriorate across mitotic divisions of a cell. In Homo sapiens this process of lifetime reduction has been shown to correspond with aspects of organismal aging and exposure to stress or other insults. The early impetus to characterize telomere dynamics in livestock related to the concern that aged donor DNA would result in earlier cell senescence and overall aging in cloned animals. Telomere length investigations in dairy cows included breed effects, estimates of additive genetic control (heritability 0.12 to 0.46), and effects of external stressors on telomere degradation across animal life. Evaluation of telomeres with respect to aging has also been conducted in pigs and horses, and there are fewer reports of telomere biology in beef cattle, sheep, and goats. There were minimal associations of telomere length with animal productivity measures. Most, but not all, work in livestock has documented an inverse relationship between peripheral blood cell telomere length and age; that is, a longer telomere length was associated with younger age. Because livestock longevity affects productivity and profitability, the role of tissue-specific telomere attrition in aging may present alternative improvement strategies for genetic improvement while also providing translational biomedical knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (N.Z.); (T.H.W.J.)
| | - Emilie C. Baker
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX 79016, USA;
| | - Thomas H. Welsh
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (N.Z.); (T.H.W.J.)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - David G. Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (N.Z.); (T.H.W.J.)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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11
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McLester-Davis LWY, Estrada P, Hastings WJ, Kataria LA, Martin NA, Siebeneicher JT, Tristano RI, Mayne CV, Horlick RP, O'Connell SS, Drury SS. A review and meta-analysis: Cross-tissue telomere length correlations in healthy humans. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 88:101942. [PMID: 37172909 PMCID: PMC11081027 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Tissue source has been shown to exert a significant effect on the magnitude of associations between telomere length and various health outcomes and exposures. The purpose of the present qualitative review and meta-analysis is to describe and investigate the impact of study design and methodological features on the correlation between telomere lengths measured in different tissues from the same healthy individual. METHODS This meta-analysis included studies published from 1988 to 2022. Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science and studies were identified using the keywords "telomere length" and "tissues" or "tissue." A total of 220 articles of 7856 initially identified studies met inclusion criteria for qualitative review, of which 55 met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis in R RESULTS: Studies meeting inclusion criteria for meta-analysis tended to have enhanced demographic and methodological reporting relative to studies only included in the qualitative review. A total of 463 pairwise correlations reported for 4324 unique individuals and 102 distinct tissues were extracted from the 55 studies and subject to meta-analysis, resulting in a significant effect size z = 0.66 (p < 0.0001) and meta-correlation coefficient of r = 0.58. Meta-correlations were significantly moderated by sample size and telomere length measurement methodology, with studies of smaller size and those using hybridization-based analyses exhibiting the largest meta-correlation. Tissue source also significantly moderated the meta-correlation, wherein correlations between samples of a different lineage (e.g., blood vs. non-blood) or collection method (e.g., peripheral vs. surgical) were lower than correlations between samples of the same lineage or collection method. CONCLUSION These results suggest that telomere lengths measured within individuals are generally correlated, but future research should be intentional in selecting a tissue for telomere length measurement that is most biologically relevant to the exposure or outcome investigated and balance this with the feasibility of obtaining the sample in sufficient numbers of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Estrada
- Princeton University Graduate School Neuroscience Institute, United States.
| | | | - Leila A Kataria
- Louisiana State University School of Medicine, United States.
| | - Noelle A Martin
- Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, United States.
| | | | - Renee I Tristano
- University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, United States.
| | - Celia V Mayne
- Tulane University School of Medicine, United States.
| | | | - Samantha S O'Connell
- Louisiana State University School of Medicine, United States; Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, United States.
| | - Stacy S Drury
- Tulane University School of Medicine, United States.
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12
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Meesters M, Van Eetvelde M, Martens DS, Nawrot TS, Dewulf M, Govaere J, Opsomer G. Prenatal environment impacts telomere length in newborn dairy heifers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4672. [PMID: 36949104 PMCID: PMC10033676 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31943-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is associated with longevity and survival in multiple species. In human population-based studies, multiple prenatal factors have been described to be associated with a newborn's telomere length. In the present study, we measured relative leukocyte telomere length in 210 Holstein Friesian heifers, within the first ten days of life. The dam's age, parity, and milk production parameters, as well as environmental factors during gestation were assessed for their potential effect on telomere length. We found that for both primi- and multiparous dams, the telomere length was 1.16% shorter for each day increase in the calf's age at sampling (P = 0.017). The dam's age at parturition (P = 0.045), and the median temperature-humidity index (THI) during the third trimester of gestation (P = 0.006) were also negatively associated with the calves' TL. Investigating multiparous dams separately, only the calf's age at sampling was significantly and negatively associated with the calves' TL (P = 0.025). Results of the present study support the hypothesis that in cattle, early life telomere length is influenced by prenatal factors. Furthermore, the results suggest that selecting heifers born in winter out of young dams might contribute to increased longevity in dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Meesters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Mieke Van Eetvelde
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Research Unit Environment and Health, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manon Dewulf
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jan Govaere
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Geert Opsomer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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13
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Eljalby M, Huang X, Becher T, Wibmer AG, Jiang CS, Vaughan R, Schöder H, Cohen P. Brown adipose tissue is not associated with cachexia or increased mortality in a retrospective study of patients with cancer. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2023; 324:E144-E153. [PMID: 36576355 PMCID: PMC9902220 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00187.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although brown fat is strongly associated with a constellation of cardiometabolic benefits in animal models and humans, it has also been tied to cancer cachexia. In humans, cancer-associated cachexia increases mortality, raising the possibility that brown fat in this context may be associated with increased cancer death. However, the effect of brown fat on cancer-associated cachexia and survival in humans remains unclear. Here, we retrospectively identify patients with and without brown fat on fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) scans obtained as part of routine cancer care and assemble a cohort to address these questions. We did not find an association between brown fat status and cachexia. Furthermore, we did not observe an association between brown fat and increased mortality in patients with cachexia. Our analyses controlled for confounding factors including age at cancer diagnosis, sex, body mass index, cancer site, cancer stage, outdoor temperature, comorbid conditions (heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular disease), and β-blocker use. Taken together, our results suggest that brown fat is not linked to cancer-associated cachexia and does not worsen overall survival in patients with cachexia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study finds that brown fat is not linked to cancer-associated cachexia. Moreover, this work shows that brown fat does not worsen overall survival in patients with cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Eljalby
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Xiaojing Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Tobias Becher
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
- First Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas G Wibmer
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York
| | - Caroline S Jiang
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York
| | - Roger Vaughan
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York
| | - Heiko Schöder
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York
| | - Paul Cohen
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
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14
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Park HS, Im K, Shin D, Yoon S, Kwon S, Kim SW, Lee DS. Telomere integrated scoring system of myelodysplastic syndrome. J Clin Lab Anal 2023; 37:e24839. [PMID: 36658792 PMCID: PMC9978071 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recently, multigene target sequencing is widely performed for the purpose of prognostic prediction and application of targeted therapy. Here, we proposed a new scoring system that encompasses gene variations, telomere length, and Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) together in Asian myelodysplastic syndrome. METHODS We developed a new scoring model of these variables: age ≥ 65 years + IPSS-R score + ASXL1 mutation + TP53 mutation + Telomere length (<5.37). According to this new scoring system, patients were divided into four groups: very good score cutoff (≤3.0), good (3.0-4.5), poor (4.5-7.0), and very poor (>7.0). RESULTS The median OS was 170.1, 100.4, 46.0, and 12.0 months for very good, good, poor, and very poor, retrospectively (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, according to the conventional IPSS-R scoring system, the median OS was 141.3, 50.2, 93.0, 36.0, and 16.2 months for very low, low, intermediate, high, and very high, retrospectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The newly developed model incorporating molecular variations and TL yielded more clear separations of the survival curves. By adding the presence of gene mutation and telomere length to the existing IPSS-R, its predictive ability can be further improved in myelodysplastic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Sue Park
- Department of Laboratory MedicineChungbuk National University HospitalCheongju‐siKorea,Department of Laboratory MedicineChungbuk National University College of MedicineCheongju‐siKorea
| | - Kyongok Im
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population Medical Research CenterSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea,School of Health and Environmental Science, College of Health ScienceKorea UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Dong‐Yeop Shin
- Department of Internal MedicineSeoul National University HospitalSeoulKorea
| | - Sung‐Soo Yoon
- Department of Internal MedicineSeoul National University HospitalSeoulKorea,Department of Internal MedicineSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Sunghoon Kwon
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea,Bio‐MAX InstituteSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Suhng Wook Kim
- School of Health and Environmental Science, College of Health ScienceKorea UniversitySeoulKorea,BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health SystemsKorea UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Dong Soon Lee
- Department of Laboratory MedicineSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
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15
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The bullwhip effect, T-cell telomeres, and SARS-CoV-2. THE LANCET. HEALTHY LONGEVITY 2022; 3:e715-e721. [PMID: 36202131 PMCID: PMC9529217 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(22)00190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Both myeloid cells, which contribute to innate immunity, and lymphoid cells, which dominate adaptive immunity, partake in defending against SARS-CoV-2. In response to the virus, the otherwise slow haematopoietic production supply chain quickly unleashes its preconfigured myeloid element, which largely resists a bullwhip-like effect. By contrast, the lymphoid element risks a bullwhip-like effect when it produces T cells and B cells that are specifically designed to clear the virus. As T-cell production is telomere-length dependent and telomeres shorten with age, older adults are at higher risk of a T-cell shortfall when contracting SARS-CoV-2 than are younger adults. A poorly calibrated adaptive immune response, stemming from a bullwhip-like effect, compounded by a T-cell deficit, might thus contribute to the propensity of people with inherently short T-cell telomeres to develop severe COVID-19. The immune systems of these individuals might also generate an inadequate T-cell response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
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16
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Ogłuszka M, Lipiński P, Starzyński RR. Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Telomeres-Are They the Elixir of Youth? Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14183723. [PMID: 36145097 PMCID: PMC9504755 DOI: 10.3390/nu14183723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are complexes consisting of tandem repeat DNA combined with associated proteins that play a key role in protecting the ends of chromosomes and maintaining genome stability. They are considered a biological clock, as they shorten in parallel with aging. Furthermore, short telomeres are associated with several age-related diseases. However, the variability in telomere shortening independent of chronological age suggests that it is a modifiable factor. In fact, it is regulated inter alia by genetic damage, cell division, aging, oxidative stress, and inflammation. A key question remains: how can we prevent accelerated telomere attrition and subsequent premature replicative senescence? A number of studies have explored the possible impact of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere shortening. This review summarizes published cross-sectional studies, randomized controlled trials, and rodent studies investigating the role of omega-3 fatty acids in telomere biology. It also covers a broad overview of the mechanism, currently favored in the field, that explains the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on telomeres—the food compound’s ability to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation. Although the results of the studies performed to date are not consistent, the vast majority indicate a beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Ogłuszka
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland
| | - Paweł Lipiński
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland
| | - Rafał R. Starzyński
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland
- Correspondence:
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17
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Jäger K, Mensch J, Grimmig ME, Neuner B, Gorzelniak K, Türkmen S, Demuth I, Hartmann A, Hartmann C, Wittig F, Sporbert A, Hermann A, Fuellen G, Möller S, Walter M. A conserved long-distance telomeric silencing mechanism suppresses mTOR signaling in aging human fibroblasts. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk2814. [PMID: 35977016 PMCID: PMC9385144 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk2814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences at the ends of each chromosome. It has been hypothesized that telomere attrition evolved as a tumor suppressor mechanism in large long-lived species. Long telomeres can silence genes millions of bases away through a looping mechanism called telomere position effect over long distances (TPE-OLD). The function of this silencing mechanism is unknown. We determined a set of 2322 genes with high positional conservation across replicatively aging species that includes known and candidate TPE-OLD genes that may mitigate potentially harmful effects of replicative aging. Notably, we identified PPP2R2C as a tumor suppressor gene, whose up-regulation by TPE-OLD in aged human fibroblasts leads to dephosphorylation of p70S6 kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin suppression. A mechanistic link between telomeres and a tumor suppressor mechanism supports the hypothesis that replicative aging fulfills a tumor suppressor function and motivates previously unknown antitumor and antiaging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Jäger
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Mensch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Elisabeth Grimmig
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Bruno Neuner
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Gorzelniak
- Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Seval Türkmen
- LNS Hematooncogenetics, National Center of Genetics Luxembourg, Dudelange, Luxemburg
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Hartmann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christiane Hartmann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Felix Wittig
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Anje Sporbert
- Advanced Light Microscopy, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Georg Fuellen
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Steffen Möller
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Walter
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Berlin, Germany
- Corresponding author.
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18
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Pearce EE, Alsaggaf R, Katta S, Dagnall C, Aubert G, Hicks BD, Spellman SR, Savage SA, Horvath S, Gadalla SM. Telomere length and epigenetic clocks as markers of cellular aging: a comparative study. GeroScience 2022; 44:1861-1869. [PMID: 35585300 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) and DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks are markers of biological age, but the relationship between the two is not fully understood. Here, we used multivariable regression models to evaluate the relationships between leukocyte TL (LTL; measured by qPCR [n = 635] or flow FISH [n = 144]) and five epigenetic clocks (Hannum, DNAmAge pan-tissue, PhenoAge, SkinBlood, or GrimAge clocks), or their epigenetic age acceleration measures in healthy adults (age 19-61 years). LTL showed statistically significant negative correlations with all clocks (qPCR: r = - 0.26 to - 0.32; flow FISH: r = - 0.34 to - 0.49; p < 0.001 for all). Yet, models adjusted for age, sex, and race revealed significant associations between three of five clocks (PhenoAge, GrimAge, and Hannum clocks) and LTL by flow FISH (p < 0.01 for all) or qPCR (p < 0.001 for all). Significant associations between age acceleration measures for the same three clocks and qPCR or flow FISH TL were also found (p < 0.01 for all). Additionally, LTL (by qPCR or flow FISH) showed significant associations with extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (EEAA: p < 0.0001 for both), but not intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA; p > 0.05 for both). In conclusion, the relationships between LTL and epigenetic clocks were limited to clocks reflecting phenotypic age. The observed association between LTL and EEAA reflects the ability of both measures to detect immunosenescence. The observed modest correlations between LTL and epigenetic clocks highlight a possible benefit from incorporating both measures in understanding disease etiology and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Pearce
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Rotana Alsaggaf
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Shilpa Katta
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.,Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA
| | - Casey Dagnall
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.,Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA
| | - Geraldine Aubert
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Belynda D Hicks
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.,Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA
| | - Stephen R Spellman
- Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Minneapolis, MN, 55401, USA
| | - Sharon A Savage
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Shahinaz M Gadalla
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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19
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Mosevitsky MI. Progerin and Its Role in Accelerated and Natural Aging. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322020091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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20
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Anderson JJ, Susser E, Arbeev KG, Yashin AI, Levy D, Verhulst S, Aviv A. Telomere-length dependent T-cell clonal expansion: A model linking ageing to COVID-19 T-cell lymphopenia and mortality. EBioMedicine 2022; 78:103978. [PMID: 35367774 PMCID: PMC8970968 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe COVID-19 T-cell lymphopenia is more common among older adults and entails poor prognosis. Offsetting the decline in T-cell count during COVID-19 demands fast and massive T-cell clonal expansion, which is telomere length (TL)-dependent. METHODS We developed a model of TL-dependent T-cell clonal expansion capacity with age and virtually examined the relation of T-cell clonal expansion with COVID-19 mortality in the general population. FINDINGS The model shows that an individual with average hematopoietic cell TL (HCTL) at age twenty years maintains maximal T-cell clonal expansion capacity until the 6th decade of life when this capacity rapidly declines by more than 90% over the next ten years. The collapse in the T-cell clonal expansion capacity coincides with the steep increase in COVID-19 mortality with age. INTERPRETATION Short HCTL might increase vulnerability of many older adults, and some younger individuals with inherently short HCTL, to COVID-19 T-cell lymphopenia and severe disease. FUNDING A full list of funding bodies that contributed to this study can be found in the Acknowledgements section.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Anderson
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA,Corresponding author.
| | - Ezra Susser
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Konstantin G. Arbeev
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Anatoliy I. Yashin
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Daniel Levy
- Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 27705, USA,The Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherland
| | - Abraham Aviv
- The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
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21
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Ong JS, Lew LC, Hor YY, Liong MT. Probiotics: The Next Dietary Strategy against Brain Aging. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2022; 27:1-13. [PMID: 35465109 PMCID: PMC9007707 DOI: 10.3746/pnf.2022.27.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to their long history of safe use, probiotic microorganisms, typically from the genus Lactobacillus, have long been recognized, especially in traditional and fermented food industries. Although conventionally used for dairy, meat, and vegetable fermentation, the use of probiotics in health foods, supplements, and nutraceuticals has gradually increased. Over the past two decades, the importance of probiotics in improving gut health and immunity as well as alleviating metabolic diseases has been recognized. The new concept of a gut-heart-brain axis has led to the development of various innovations and strategies related to the introduction of probiotics in food and diet. Probiotics influence gut microbiota profiles, inflammation, and disorders and directly impact brain neurotransmitter pathways. As brain health often declines with age, the concept of probiotics being beneficial for the aging brain has also gained much momentum and emphasis in both research and product development. In this review, the concept of the aging brain, different in vivo aging models, and various aging-related benefits of probiotics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Sin Ong
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Lee-Ching Lew
- Probionic Corporation, Jeonbuk Institute for Food-Bioindustry, Jeonbuk 54810, Korea
| | - Yan-Yan Hor
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea
| | - Min-Tze Liong
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
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22
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Hastings WJ, Etzel L, Heim CM, Noll JG, Rose EJ, Schreier HMC, Shenk CE, Tang X, Shalev I. Comparing qPCR and DNA methylation-based measurements of telomere length in a high-risk pediatric cohort. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:660-677. [PMID: 35077392 PMCID: PMC8833135 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Various approaches exist to assess population differences in biological aging. Telomere length (TL) is one such measure, and is associated with disease, disability and early mortality. Yet, issues surrounding precision and reproducibility are a concern for TL measurement. An alternative method to estimate TL using DNA methylation (DNAmTL) was recently developed. Although DNAmTL has been characterized in adult and elderly cohorts, its utility in pediatric populations remains unknown. We examined the comparability of leukocyte TL measurements generated using qPCR (absolute TL; aTL) to those estimated using DNAmTL in a high-risk pediatric cohort (N = 269; age: 8–13 years, 83% investigated for maltreatment). aTL and DNAmTL measurements were correlated with one another (r = 0.20, p = 0.001), but exhibited poor measurement agreement and were significantly different in paired-sample t-tests (Cohen’s d = 0.77, p < 0.001). Shorter DNAmTL was associated with older age (r = −0.25, p < 0.001), male sex (β = −0.27, p = 0.029), and White race (β = −0.74, p = 0.008). By contrast, aTL was less strongly associated with age (r = −0.13, p = 0.040), was longer in males (β = 0.31, p = 0.012), and was not associated with race (p = 0.820). These findings highlight strengths and limitations of high-throughput measures of TL; although DNAmTL replicated hypothesized associations, aTL measurements were positively skewed and did not replicate associations with external validity measures. These results also extend previous research in adults and suggest that DNAmTL is a sensitive TL measure for use in pediatric populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Laura Etzel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Christine M Heim
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jennie G Noll
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Emma J Rose
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,The Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hannah M C Schreier
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Chad E Shenk
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Xin Tang
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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23
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Aviv A. Short telomeres and severe COVID-19: The connection conundrum. EBioMedicine 2021; 70:103513. [PMID: 34333235 PMCID: PMC8319607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Aviv
- The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, 07103 USA.
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24
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Benetos A, Lai TP, Toupance S, Labat C, Verhulst S, Gautier S, Ungeheuer MN, Perret-Guillaume C, Levy D, Susser E, Aviv A. The Nexus Between Telomere Length and Lymphocyte Count in Seniors Hospitalized With COVID-19. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:e97-e101. [PMID: 33528568 PMCID: PMC7929343 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Profound T-cell lymphopenia is the hallmark of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). T-cell proliferation is telomere length (TL) dependent and telomeres shorten with age. Older COVID-19 patients, we hypothesize, are, therefore, at a higher risk of having TL-dependent lymphopenia. We measured TL by the novel Telomere Shortest Length Assay (TeSLA), and by Southern blotting (SB) of the terminal restriction fragments in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 17 COVID-19 and 21 non-COVID-19 patients, aged 87 ± 8 (mean ± SD) and 87 ± 9 years, respectively. TeSLA tallies and measures single telomeres, including short telomeres undetected by SB. Such telomeres are relevant to TL-mediated biological processes, including cell viability and senescence. TeSLA yields 2 key metrics: the proportions of telomeres with different lengths (expressed in %) and their mean (TeSLA mTL), (expressed in kb). Lymphocyte count (109/L) was 0.91 ± 0.42 in COVID-19 patients and 1.50 ± 0.50 in non-COVID-19 patients (p < .001). In COVID-19 patients, but not in non-COVID-19 patients, lymphocyte count was inversely correlated with the proportion of telomeres shorter than 2 kb (p = .005) and positively correlated with TeSLA mTL (p = .03). Lymphocyte count was not significantly correlated with SB mTL in either COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 patients. We propose that compromised TL-dependent T-cell proliferative response, driven by short telomere in the TL distribution, contributes to COVID-19 lymphopenia among old adults. We infer that infection with SARS-CoV-2 uncovers the limits of the TL reserves of older persons. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT04325646.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanase Benetos
- Université de Lorraine, Inserm, DCAC, Nancy, France
- Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, Pôle “Maladies du Vieillissement, Gérontologie et Soins Palliatifs,”France
| | - Tsung-Po Lai
- Center of Human Development and Aging, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, USA
| | | | - Carlos Labat
- Université de Lorraine, Inserm, DCAC, Nancy, France
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvie Gautier
- Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, Pôle “Maladies du Vieillissement, Gérontologie et Soins Palliatifs,”France
| | - Marie-Noelle Ungeheuer
- Institut Pasteur, Clinical Investigation and Access to Bioresources Department, Paris, France
| | - Christine Perret-Guillaume
- Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, Pôle “Maladies du Vieillissement, Gérontologie et Soins Palliatifs,”France
| | - Daniel Levy
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, Massachusetts, USA
- Population Research Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ezra Susser
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, USA
| | - Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, USA
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25
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Anderson JJ, Susser E, Arbeev KG, Yashin AI, Levy D, Verhulst S, Aviv A. Short Telomeres and a T-Cell Shortfall in COVID-19: The Aging Effect. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021. [PMID: 34268523 PMCID: PMC8282112 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.19.21257474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The slow pace of global vaccination and the rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants suggest recurrent waves of COVID-19 in coming years. Therefore, understanding why deaths from COVID-19 are highly concentrated among older adults is essential for global health. Severe COVID-19 T-cell lymphopenia is more common among older adults, and it entails poor prognosis. Much about the primary etiology of this form of lymphopenia remains unknown, but regardless of its causes, offsetting the decline in T-cell count during SARS-CoV-2 infection demands fast and massive T-cell clonal expansion, which is telomere length (TL)-dependent. We have built a model that captures the effect of age-dependent TL shortening in hematopoietic cells and its effect on T-cell clonal expansion capacity. The model shows that an individual with average hematopoietic cell TL (HCTL) at age twenty years maintains maximal T-cell clonal expansion capacity until the 6th decade of life when this capacity plummets by more than 90% over the next ten years. The collapse coincides with the steep increase in COVID-19 mortality with age. HCTL metrics may thus explain the vulnerability of older adults to COVID-19. That said, the wide inter-individual variation in HCTL across the general population means that some younger adults with inherently short HCTL might be at risk of severe COVID-19 lymphopenia and mortality from the disease.
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26
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Erdem HB, Bahsi T, Ergün MA. Function of telomere in aging and age related diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 85:103641. [PMID: 33774188 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres consist of specialized non-coding DNA repeat sequences. They are essential for preserving the integrity of the genome during cancer development, senescence. Mammalian telomeres might have 1-50 kb of telomeric DNA, which becomes 40-200 base pairs shorter after per cell cycle, and becomes 5-8 kilobase shorter during senescence. There are many studies on the correlation of telomere length and aging rate. However, as the differences in the methods used in the studies and the scarcity of prospective studies, factors affecting telomere length are not really well understood. Some of the age related diseases may develop due to telomere dysfunction and telomere shortness. The short telomere structure detected in both peripheral blood leukocytes and cells of the disease-related tissue has the feature of being a predictive marker for many age-related diseases. It is expected that with future research, telomere length analysis is expected to enter clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haktan Bağış Erdem
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Health Sciences, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Taha Bahsi
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Health Sciences, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Mehmet Ali Ergün
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
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27
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DNA-methylation-based telomere length estimator: comparisons with measurements from flow FISH and qPCR. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:14675-14686. [PMID: 34083495 PMCID: PMC8221337 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a marker of biological aging associated with several health outcomes. High throughput reproducible TL measurements are needed for large epidemiological studies. We compared the novel DNA methylation-based estimator (DNAmTL) with the high-throughput quantitative PCR (qPCR) and the highly accurate flow cytometry with fluorescent in situ hybridization (flow FISH) methods using blood samples from healthy adults. We used Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Bland Altman plots and linear regression models for statistical analysis. Shorter DNAmTL was associated with older age, male sex, white race, and cytomegalovirus seropositivity (p<0.01 for all). DNAmTL was moderately correlated with qPCR TL (N=635, r=0.41, p < 0.0001) and flow FISH total lymphocyte TL (N=144, r=0.56, p < 0.0001). The agreements between flow FISH TL and DNAmTL or qPCR were acceptable but with wide limits of agreement. DNAmTL correctly classified >70% of TL categorized above or below the median, but the accuracy dropped with increasing TL categories. The ability of DNAmTL to detect associations with age and other TL-related factors in the absence of strong correlation with measured TL may indicate its capture of aspects of telomere maintenance mechanisms and not necessarily TL. The inaccuracy of DNAmTL prediction should be considered during data interpretation and across-study comparisons.
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28
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Hägg S, Jylhävä J. Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies. eLife 2021; 10:e63425. [PMID: 33982659 PMCID: PMC8118651 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex biological process characterized by hallmark features accumulating over the life course, shaping the individual's aging trajectory and subsequent disease risks. There is substantial individual variability in the aging process between men and women. In general, women live longer than men, consistent with lower biological ages as assessed by molecular biomarkers, but there is a paradox. Women are frailer and have worse health at the end of life, while men still perform better in physical function examinations. Moreover, many age-related diseases show sex-specific patterns. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on sexual dimorphism in human studies, with support from animal research, on biological aging and illnesses. We also attempt to place it in the context of the theories of aging, as well as discuss the explanations for the sex differences, for example, the sex-chromosome linked mechanisms and hormonally driven differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hägg
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Juulia Jylhävä
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
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29
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Blagosklonny MV. DNA- and telomere-damage does not limit lifespan: evidence from rapamycin. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:3167-3175. [PMID: 33578394 PMCID: PMC7906135 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Failure of rapamycin to extend lifespan in DNA repair mutant and telomerase-knockout mice, while extending lifespan in normal mice, indicates that neither DNA damage nor telomere shortening limits normal lifespan or causes normal aging.
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30
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Vaiserman A, Krasnienkov D. Telomere Length as a Marker of Biological Age: State-of-the-Art, Open Issues, and Future Perspectives. Front Genet 2021; 11:630186. [PMID: 33552142 PMCID: PMC7859450 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.630186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a well-known hallmark of both cellular senescence and organismal aging. An accelerated rate of telomere attrition is also a common feature of age-related diseases. Therefore, telomere length (TL) has been recognized for a long time as one of the best biomarkers of aging. Recent research findings, however, indicate that TL per se can only allow a rough estimate of aging rate and can hardly be regarded as a clinically important risk marker for age-related pathologies and mortality. Evidence is obtained that other indicators such as certain immune parameters, indices of epigenetic age, etc., could be stronger predictors of the health status and the risk of chronic disease. However, despite these issues and limitations, TL remains to be very informative marker in accessing the biological age when used along with other markers such as indices of homeostatic dysregulation, frailty index, epigenetic clock, etc. This review article is aimed at describing the current state of the art in the field and at discussing recent research findings and divergent viewpoints regarding the usefulness of leukocyte TL for estimating the human biological age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Vaiserman
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Krasnienkov
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, Kyiv, Ukraine
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31
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Abstract
Aging has largely been defined by analog measures of organ and organismal dysfunction. This has led to the characterization of aging processes at the molecular and cellular levels that underlie these gradual changes. However, current knowledge does not fully explain the growing body of data emerging from large epidemiological, systems biology, and single cell studies of entire organisms pointing to varied rates of aging between individuals (different functionality and lifespan), across lifespan (asynchronous aging), and within an organism at the tissue and organ levels (aging mosaicism). Here we consider these inhomogeneities in the broader context of the rate of aging and from the perspective of underlying cellular changes. These changes reflect genetic, environmental, and stochastic factors that cells integrate to adopt new homeostatic, albeit less functional, states, such as cellular senescence. In this sense, cellular aging can be viewed, at least in part, as a quantal process we refer to as "digital aging". Nevertheless, analog declines of tissue dysfunction and organ failure with age could be the sum of underlying digital events. Importantly, cellular aging, digital or otherwise, is not uniform across time or space within the organism or between organisms of the same species. Certain tissues may exhibit earliest signs of cellular aging, acting as drivers for organismal aging as signals from those driver cells within those tissues may accelerate the aging of other cells locally or even systemically. Advanced methodologies at the systems level and at the single cell level are likely to continue to refine our understanding to the processes of how cells and tissues age and how the integration of those processes leads to the complexities of individual, organismal aging.
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32
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Martens DS, Van Der Stukken C, Derom C, Thiery E, Bijnens EM, Nawrot TS. Newborn telomere length predicts later life telomere length: Tracking telomere length from birth to child- and adulthood. EBioMedicine 2021; 63:103164. [PMID: 33422989 PMCID: PMC7808927 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomere length (TL) is considered a biological marker of aging and may indicate age-related disease susceptibility. Adults and children show a fixed ranking and tracking of TL over time. However, the contribution of an individual's initial birth TL to their later life TL is unknown. We evaluated change and tracking of TL from birth to child- and adulthood. Methods Telomere length at birth was measured using qPCR in two independent prospective birth cohorts. After a median follow-up period of 4 years in ENVIRONAGE (n = 273) we assessed leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and after 23 years in EFPTS (n = 164) buccal TL was assessed. Correlations and multivariable regression models were applied to study telomere tracking and determinants of TL change from birth onwards. Findings In children, LTL at the age of 4 correlates with TL at the start of life both in cord blood (r = 0.71, P < 0.0001;) and placenta (r = 0.60, P < 0.0001) and was –11.2% and –33.1% shorter, respectively. In adulthood, buccal TL at the age of 23 correlates with placental TL (r = 0.46, P < 0.0001) and was –35.9% shorter. TL attrition was higher in individuals with longer birth TL. However, based on TL ranking, individuals do not tend to change dramatically from TL rank after 4 or 23 years of follow-up. Finally, longer maternal TL associates with lower telomere attrition in the next generation. Interpretation The high prediction of newborn TL for later life TL, and stable TL ranking from birth onwards underscores the importance of understanding the initial setting of newborn TL and its significance for later life. Funding European Research Council (ERC-StG310898) and Flemish Scientific Fund (12X9620N).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Catherine Derom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Centre of Human Genetics, Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Evert Thiery
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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33
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Codd V, Wang Q, Allara E, Musicha C, Kaptoge S, Stoma S, Jiang T, Hamby SE, Braund PS, Bountziouka V, Budgeon CA, Denniff M, Swinfield C, Papakonstantinou M, Sheth S, Nanus DE, Warner SC, Wang M, Khera AV, Eales J, Ouwehand WH, Thompson JR, Di Angelantonio E, Wood AM, Butterworth AS, Danesh JN, Nelson CP, Samani NJ. Polygenic basis and biomedical consequences of telomere length variation. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1425-1433. [PMID: 34611362 PMCID: PMC8492471 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00944-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres, the end fragments of chromosomes, play key roles in cellular proliferation and senescence. Here we characterize the genetic architecture of naturally occurring variation in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and identify causal links between LTL and biomedical phenotypes in 472,174 well-characterized UK Biobank participants. We identified 197 independent sentinel variants associated with LTL at 138 genomic loci (108 new). Genetically determined differences in LTL were associated with multiple biological traits, ranging from height to bone marrow function, as well as several diseases spanning neoplastic, vascular and inflammatory pathologies. Finally, we estimated that, at the age of 40 years, people with an LTL >1 s.d. shorter than the population mean had a 2.5-year-lower life expectancy compared with the group with ≥1 s.d. longer LDL. Overall, we furnish new insights into the genetic regulation of LTL, reveal wide-ranging influences of LTL on physiological traits, diseases and longevity, and provide a powerful resource available to the global research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veryan Codd
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Qingning Wang
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Elias Allara
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Crispin Musicha
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Stephen Kaptoge
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Svetlana Stoma
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Tao Jiang
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen E. Hamby
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Peter S. Braund
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Vasiliki Bountziouka
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Charley A. Budgeon
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK ,grid.1012.20000 0004 1936 7910School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia Australia
| | - Matthew Denniff
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Chloe Swinfield
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Manolo Papakonstantinou
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Shilpi Sheth
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Dominika E. Nanus
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Sophie C. Warner
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Minxian Wang
- grid.66859.34Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Amit V. Khera
- grid.66859.34Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - James Eales
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Willem H. Ouwehand
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.436365.10000 0000 8685 6563NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK ,grid.52996.310000 0000 8937 2257University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - John R. Thompson
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Emanuele Di Angelantonio
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute, EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Angela M. Wood
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute, EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.499548.d0000 0004 5903 3632The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Adam S. Butterworth
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute, EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John N. Danesh
- grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute, EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Department of Human Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Christopher P. Nelson
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Nilesh J. Samani
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.412925.90000 0004 0400 6581NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
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Hachmo Y, Hadanny A, Abu Hamed R, Daniel-Kotovsky M, Catalogna M, Fishlev G, Lang E, Polak N, Doenyas K, Friedman M, Zemel Y, Bechor Y, Efrati S. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells: a prospective trial. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:22445-22456. [PMID: 33206062 PMCID: PMC7746357 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aging is characterized by the progressive loss of physiological capacity. At the cellular level, two key hallmarks of the aging process include telomere length (TL) shortening and cellular senescence. Repeated intermittent hyperoxic exposures, using certain hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) protocols, can induce regenerative effects which normally occur during hypoxia. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether HBOT affects TL and senescent cell concentrations in a normal, non-pathological, aging adult population. METHODS Thirty-five healthy independently living adults, aged 64 and older, were enrolled to receive 60 daily HBOT exposures. Whole blood samples were collected at baseline, at the 30th and 60th session, and 1-2 weeks following the last HBOT session. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) telomeres length and senescence were assessed. RESULTS Telomeres length of T helper, T cytotoxic, natural killer and B cells increased significantly by over 20% following HBOT. The most significant change was noticed in B cells which increased at the 30th session, 60th session and post HBOT by 25.68%±40.42 (p=0.007), 29.39%±23.39 (p=0.0001) and 37.63%±52.73 (p=0.007), respectively. There was a significant decrease in the number of senescent T helpers by -37.30%±33.04 post-HBOT (P<0.0001). T-cytotoxic senescent cell percentages decreased significantly by -10.96%±12.59 (p=0.0004) post-HBOT. In conclusion, the study indicates that HBOT may induce significant senolytic effects including significantly increasing telomere length and clearance of senescent cells in the aging populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafit Hachmo
- Research and Development Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Amir Hadanny
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Ramzia Abu Hamed
- Research and Development Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Malka Daniel-Kotovsky
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Merav Catalogna
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Gregory Fishlev
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Erez Lang
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Nir Polak
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Keren Doenyas
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Mony Friedman
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Yonatan Zemel
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Yair Bechor
- The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Shai Efrati
- Research and Development Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.,The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Shamir (Assaf-Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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35
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Mathematical Connection between Short Telomere Induced Senescence Calculation and Mortality Rate Data. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217959. [PMID: 33120877 PMCID: PMC7663577 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The last 20 years have seen a surge in scientific activity and promising results in the study of aging and longevity. Many researchers have focused on telomeres, which are composed of a series of TTAGGG repeat nucleotide sequences at the ends of each chromosome. Measurements of the length of these telomere strands show that they decrease in length with increasing age, leading many authors to propose that when the length of these telomere strands decreases sufficiently, the cells enter into a state of replicative senescence, eventually leading to disease and death. These ideas are supported by evidence that short telomere length is correlated with increased mortality. In this paper, we extend this idea to make an actual calculation of the predicted mortality rate caused by short telomere length induced senescence (STLIS). We derive a simple equation for the mathematical relationship between telomere length and mortality rate. Using only three parameters based on telomere length measurement data of Canadians, we have calculated both the magnitude and the age dependence of the mortality rate for both men and women. We show that these calculated data are in good quantitative agreement with the actual number of Canadians that die. This agreement demonstrates the quantitative correlation between the mortality calculated by the STLIS model and the mortality of the major diseases of aging (e.g., cardiovascular disease, many cancers and diabetes mellitus), which dominate human mortality. This result represents significant progress in our understanding of the factors behind the cause of aging.
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Froidure A, Mahieu M, Hoton D, Laterre PF, Yombi JC, Koenig S, Ghaye B, Defour JP, Decottignies A. Short telomeres increase the risk of severe COVID-19. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:19911-19922. [PMID: 33104521 PMCID: PMC7655194 DOI: 10.18632/aging.104097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are non-coding DNA sequences that protect chromosome ends and shorten with age. Short telomere length (TL) is associated with chronic diseases and immunosenescence. The main risk factor for mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is older age, but outcome is very heterogeneous among individuals of the same age group. Therefore, we hypothesized that TL influences COVID-19-related outcomes. In a prospective study, we measured TL by Flow-FISH in 70 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and compared TL distribution with our reference cohort of 491 healthy volunteers. We also correlated TL with baseline clinical and biological parameters. We stained autopsy lung tissue from six non-survivor COVID-19 patients to detect senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, a marker of cellular aging. We found a significantly higher proportion of patients with short telomeres (<10th percentile) in the COVID-19 patients as compared to the reference cohort (P<0.001). Short telomeres were associated with a higher risk of critical disease, defined as admission to intensive care unit (ICU) or death without ICU. TL was negatively correlated with C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Finally, lung tissue from patients with very short telomeres exhibit signs of senescence in structural and immune cells. Our results suggest that TL influences the severity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Froidure
- Department of Pulmonology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manon Mahieu
- de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delphine Hoton
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Pathology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre-François Laterre
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Intensive Care, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean Cyr Yombi
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sandra Koenig
- Department of Pulmonology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Benoit Ghaye
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Philippe Defour
- de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Laboratory Hematology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Benetos A, Lai TP, Toupance S, Labat C, Verhulst S, Perret-Guillaume C, Gautier S, Ungeheuer MN, Levy D, Susser E, Aviv A. A Mechanism for Severity of Disease in Older Patients with COVID-19: The Nexus between Telomere Length and Lymphopenia. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020. [PMID: 33024983 DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.01.20205393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphopenia due to a plummeting T-cell count is a major feature of severe COVID-19. T-cell proliferation is telomere length (TL)-dependent and TL shortens with age. Older persons are disproportionally affected by severe COVID-19, and we hypothesized that those with short TL have less capacity to mount an adequate T-cell proliferative response to SARS-CoV-2. This hypothesis predicts that among older patients with COVID-19, shorter telomeres of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be associated with a lower lymphocyte count. METHODS Our sample comprised 17 COVID-19 and 21 non-COVID-19 patients, aged 87(8) (mean(SD)) and 87 (9) years, respectively. We measured TL by the Telomere Shortest Length Assay, a novel method that measures and tallies the short telomeres directly relevant to telomere-mediated biological processes. The primary analysis quantified TL as the proportion of telomeres shorter than 2 kilobases. For comparison, we also quantified TL by Southern blotting, which measures the mean length of telomeres. RESULTS Lymphocyte count (109/L) was 0.91 (0.42) in COVID-19 patients and 1.50(0.50) in non-COVID-19 patients (P < 0.001). In COVID-19 patients, but not in non-COVID-19 patients, lymphocyte count was inversely correlated with the proportion of telomeres shorter than 2 kilobases (P = 0.005) and positively correlated with the mean of telomeres measured by TeSLA (P = 0.03). Lymphocyte counts showed no statistically significant correlations with Southern blotting results in COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS These results support the hypothesis that a compromised TL-dependent T-cell proliferative response contributes to lymphopenia and the resulting disproportionate severity of COVID-19 among old adults. We infer that infection with SARS-CoV-2 uncovers the limits of the TL reserves of older persons.
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Park S, Artan M, Han SH, Park HEH, Jung Y, Hwang AB, Shin WS, Kim KT, Lee SJV. VRK-1 extends life span by activation of AMPK via phosphorylation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/27/eaaw7824. [PMID: 32937443 PMCID: PMC7458447 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw7824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Vaccinia virus-related kinase (VRK) is an evolutionarily conserved nuclear protein kinase. VRK-1, the single Caenorhabditis elegans VRK ortholog, functions in cell division and germline proliferation. However, the role of VRK-1 in postmitotic cells and adult life span remains unknown. Here, we show that VRK-1 increases organismal longevity by activating the cellular energy sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), via direct phosphorylation. We found that overexpression of vrk-1 in the soma of adult C. elegans increased life span and, conversely, inhibition of vrk-1 decreased life span. In addition, vrk-1 was required for longevity conferred by mutations that inhibit C. elegans mitochondrial respiration, which requires AMPK. VRK-1 directly phosphorylated and up-regulated AMPK in both C. elegans and cultured human cells. Thus, our data show that the somatic nuclear kinase, VRK-1, promotes longevity through AMPK activation, and this function appears to be conserved between C. elegans and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangsoon Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Murat Artan
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Han
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Hae-Eun H Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Yoonji Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Ara B Hwang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Won Sik Shin
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Kyong-Tai Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea.
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Seung-Jae V Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, South Korea.
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Abstract
The medical, public health, and scientific communities are grappling with monumental imperatives to contain COVID-19, develop effective vaccines, identify efficacious treatments for the infection and its complications, and find biomarkers that detect patients at risk of severe disease. The focus of this communication is on a potential biomarker, short telomere length (TL), that might serve to identify patients more likely to die from the SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of age. The common thread linking these patients is lymphopenia, which largely reflects a decline in the numbers of CD4/CD8 T cells but not B cells. These findings are consistent with data that lymphocyte TL dynamics impose a limit on T-cell proliferation. They suggest that T-cell lymphopoiesis might stall in individuals with short TL who are infected with SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and AgingRutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew Jersey Medical SchoolNewarkNJUSA
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40
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Martens DS, Janssen BG, Bijnens EM, Clemente DBP, Vineis P, Plusquin M, Nawrot TS. Association of Parental Socioeconomic Status and Newborn Telomere Length. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e204057. [PMID: 32364595 PMCID: PMC7199116 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Low socioeconomic status is associated with higher all-cause mortality and risks for aging-related diseases. Biological aging is a potential process underlying health conditions related to social disadvantages, which may be present from birth onward. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of parental socioeconomic status with telomere length (TL) at birth, a marker of biological aging. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective birth cohort study was conducted among 1504 mother-newborn pairs in Belgium recruited between February 1, 2010, and July 1, 2017. EXPOSURES Parental socioeconomic measures, including maternal educational level, occupation, paternal educational level, and neighborhood income based on median annual household income. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Mean relative TL was measured in cord blood and placental tissue. By constructing a principal component, an integrative socioeconomic measure was derived that integrates parental socioeconomic status and neighborhood income. Multivariable adjusted regression analyses were performed to associate the integrative socioeconomic measure and TL at birth. RESULTS In 1026 newborns (517 boys; mean [SD] gestational age, 39.2 [1.4] weeks), a higher socioeconomic status was associated with longer cord blood TL and placental TL. Each unit increment in the integrative socioeconomic status measure was associated with 2.1% (95% CI, 0.9%-3.4%; P < .001) longer cord blood TL in boys, while no association was observed for girls (0.5% longer cord blood TL; 95% CI, -0.9% to 1.8%; P = .50). The sex-specific socioeconomic status interaction revealed a stronger association in boys compared with newborn girls (1.6%; 95% CI, 0.02%-3.3%; P = .047 for interaction). In placental tissue, higher socioeconomic status was associated with 1.8% (95% CI, 0.3%-3.3%; P = .02) longer TL in newborn boys but not in girls (0.4% longer TL; 95% CI, -1.2% to 2.0%; P = .63). For placental tissue, no sex and socioeconomic status interaction on TL was observed (1.4%; 95% CI, -0.5% to 3.4%; P = .16 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study suggests that parental socioeconomic status is associated with newborn TL, especially in boys. The results indicate that familial social economic factors are associated with the potential cellular longevity of the next generation, with a potential higher transgenerational vulnerability for newborn boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries S. Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Bram G. Janssen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Esmée M. Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Paolo Vineis
- Medical Research Council–Health Policy Agency, Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
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Desarrollo evolutivo humano y longevidad. Un análisis bio-psicosocial. REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE PSICOLOGÍA 2020. [DOI: 10.33881/2027-1786.rip.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
En este trabajo se hace una revisión bibliográfica sobre el desarrollo evolutivo humano y longevidad, desde un enfoque biopsicosocial (Engel, 1977; Gliedt et al., 2017; Lehman et al., 2017). Tras aplicar el método de análisis PRISMA, se obtuvieron diversos resultados relacionados con un desarrollo evolutivo más longevo; así, en el área biológica, 3 factores: los SNPs, los telómeros y la química del estrés; en el área psicológica, 5 factores: la metacognición, la resiliencia, la espiritualidad, las relaciones personales y la depresión; y en el área social, 8 factores: la pseudo-heredabilidad, las relaciones conyugales, la maternidad, el nivel educativo, estilos de vida, dieta y restricción calórica, actividad física y mental y tecnología sanitaria. Ante los datos obtenidos en las tres áreas, de este enfoque biopsicosocial, y el repetido solapamiento entre factores del área psicológica y del área social, se plantea que pudieran considerarse estas dos como una conjunta, proponiéndose un enfoque explicativo con dos áreas: bio-psicosocial que, por factores encontrados en este trabajo, quedarían un 18,7% de biológica y un 81,3% psicosocial. Actualmente, hay suficiente información sobre desarrollo evolutivo humano y longevidad, pero una ausencia de investigaciones que estudien esos factores desde una perspectiva integrada. Mucha de esa información privilegiada se podría aplicar ya, psicológica y socialmente, a la población en general, para una mejora de su salud, en cualquier fase del desarrollo evolutivo humano.
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Bauch C, Gatt MC, Granadeiro JP, Verhulst S, Catry P. Sex-specific telomere length and dynamics in relation to age and reproductive success in Cory's shearwaters. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1344-1357. [PMID: 32141666 PMCID: PMC7216837 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Individuals in free‐living animal populations generally differ substantially in reproductive success, lifespan and other fitness‐related traits, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation are poorly understood. Telomere length and dynamics are candidate traits explaining this variation, as long telomeres predict a higher survival probability and telomere loss has been shown to reflect experienced “life stress.” However, telomere dynamics among very long‐lived species are unresolved. Additionally, it is generally not well understood how telomeres relate to reproductive success or sex. We measured telomere length and dynamics in erythrocytes to assess their relationship to age, sex and reproduction in Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis), a long‐lived seabird, in the context of a long‐term study. Adult males had on average 231 bp longer telomeres than females, independent of age. In females, telomere length changed relatively little with age, whereas male telomere length declined significantly. Telomere shortening within males from one year to the next was three times higher than the interannual shortening rate based on cross‐sectional data of males. Past long‐term reproductive success was sex‐specifically reflected in age‐corrected telomere length: males with on average high fledgling production were characterized by shorter telomeres, whereas successful females had longer telomeres, and we discuss hypotheses that may explain this contrast. In conclusion, telomere length and dynamics in relation to age and reproduction are sex‐dependent in Cory's shearwaters and these findings contribute to our understanding of what characterises individual variation in fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marie Claire Gatt
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Pedro Granadeiro
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
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Arbeev KG, Verhulst S, Steenstrup T, Kark JD, Bagley O, Kooperberg C, Reiner AP, Hwang SJ, Levy D, Fitzpatrick AL, Christensen K, Yashin AI, Aviv A. Association of Leukocyte Telomere Length With Mortality Among Adult Participants in 3 Longitudinal Studies. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e200023. [PMID: 32101305 PMCID: PMC7137690 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a trait associated with risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, the 2 major disease categories that largely define longevity in the United States. However, it remains unclear whether LTL is associated with the human life span. OBJECTIVE To examine whether LTL is associated with the life span of contemporary humans. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study included 3259 adults of European ancestry from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), Framingham Heart Study (FHS), and Women's Health Initiative (WHI). Leukocyte telomere length was measured in 1992 and 1997 in the CHS, from 1995 to 1998 in the FHS, and from 1993 to 1998 in the WHI. Data analysis was conducted from February 2017 to December 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Death and LTL, measured by Southern blots of the terminal restriction fragments, were the main outcomes. Cause of death was adjudicated by end point committees. RESULTS The analyzed sample included 3259 participants (2342 [71.9%] women), with a median (range) age of 69.0 (50.0-98.0) years at blood collection. The median (range) follow-up until death was 10.9 (0.2-23.0) years in CHS, 19.7 (3.4-23.0) years in FHS, and 16.6 (0.5-20.0) years in WHI. During follow-up, there were 1525 deaths (482 [31.6%] of cardiovascular disease; 373 [24.5%] of cancer, and 670 [43.9%] of other or unknown causes). Short LTL, expressed in residual LTL, was associated with increased mortality risk. Overall, the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality for a 1-kilobase decrease in LTL was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.21-1.47). This association was stronger for noncancer causes of death (cardiovascular death: hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.08-1.52; cancer: hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.93-1.36; and other causes: hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.32-1.77). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The results of this study indicate that LTL is associated with a natural life span limit in contemporary humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin G. Arbeev
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Troels Steenstrup
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of South Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jeremy D. Kark
- Epidemiology Unit, Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Olivia Bagley
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Charles Kooperberg
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Alexander P. Reiner
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Shih-Jen Hwang
- Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- The Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel Levy
- Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- The Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Massachusetts
| | | | - Kaare Christensen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anatoliy I. Yashin
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark
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Denham J. Telomere regulation: lessons learnt from mice and men, potential opportunities in horses. Anim Genet 2019; 51:3-13. [PMID: 31637754 DOI: 10.1111/age.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are genetically conserved nucleoprotein complexes located at the ends of chromosomes that preserve genomic stability. In large mammals, somatic cell telomeres shorten with age, owing to the end replication problem and lack of telomere-lengthening events (e.g. telomerase and ALT activity). Therefore, telomere length reflects cellular replicative reserve and mitotic potential. Environmental insults can accelerate telomere attrition in response to cell division and DNA damage. As such, telomere shortening is considered one of the major hallmarks of ageing. Much effort has been dedicated to understanding the environmental perturbations that accelerate telomere attrition and therapeutic strategies to preserve or extend telomeres. As telomere dynamics seem to reflect cumulative cellular stress, telomere length could serve as a biomarker of animal welfare. The assessment of telomere dynamics (i.e. rate of shortening) in conjunction with telomere-regulating genes and telomerase activity in racehorses could monitor long-term animal health, yet it could also provide some unique opportunities to address particular limitations with the use of other animal models in telomere research. Considering the ongoing efforts to optimise the health and welfare of equine athletes, the purpose of this review is to discuss the potential utility of assessing telomere length in Thoroughbred racehorses. A brief review of telomere biology in large and small mammals will be provided, followed by discussion on the biological implications of telomere length and environmental (e.g. lifestyle) factors that accelerate or attenuate telomere attrition. Finally, the utility of quantifying telomere dynamics in horses will be offered with directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Denham
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Bundoora West Campus, RMIT University, Room 53, Level 4, Building 202, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark (A.A.)
| | - Daniel Levy
- Population Sciences Branch of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (D.L.).,Framingham Heart Study, MA (D.L.)
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46
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Branca JJ, Gulisano M, Nicoletti C. Intestinal epithelial barrier functions in ageing. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 54:100938. [PMID: 31369869 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.100938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal epithelial barrier protects the mucosa of the gastrointestinal (GI)-tract and plays a key role in maintaining the host homeostasis. It encompasses several elements that include the intestinal epithelium and biochemical and immunological products, such as the mucus layer, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and secretory immunologlobulin A (sIgA). These components are interlinked with the large microbial community inhabiting the gut to form a highly sophisticated biological system that plays an important role on many aspects of human health both locally and systemically. Like any other organ and tissue, the intestinal epithelial barrier is affected by the ageing process. New insights have surfaced showing that critical functions, including intestinal stem cell regeneration and regulation of the intestinal crypt homeostasis, barrier integrity, production of regulatory cytokines, and epithelial innate immunity to pathogenic antigens change across life. Here we review the age-associated changes of the various components of the intestinal epithelial barrier and we highlight the necessity to elucidate further the mechanisms underlying these changes. Expanding our knowledge in this area is a goal of high medical relevance and it will help to define intervention strategies to ameliorate the quality of life of the ever-expanding elderly population.
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47
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Sex and age specific reduction in stress resistance and mitochondrial DNA copy number in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12305. [PMID: 31444377 PMCID: PMC6707197 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48752-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental stresses such as extreme temperatures, dehydration and food deprivation may have distinct consequences for different age-classes and for males and females across species. Here we investigate a natural population of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Males and females at ages 3, 19 and 35 days were tested for stress resistance; i.e. the ability of flies to cope with starvation and both cold and hot temperatures. Further, we tested a measure of metabolic efficiency, namely mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA CN) in both sexes at all three age-classes. We hypothesize that stress resistance is reduced at old age and more so in males, and that mtDNA CN is a biomarker for sex- and age-dependent reductions in the ability to cope with harsh environments. We show that: (1) males exhibit reduced starvation tolerance at old age, whereas older females are better in coping with periods without food compared to younger females, (2) heat tolerance decreases with increasing age in males but not in females, (3) cold tolerance is reduced at old age in both sexes, and (4) old males have reduced mtDNA CN whereas mtDNA CN slightly increases with age in females. In conclusion, our data provide strong evidence for trait and sex specific consequences of aging with females generally being better at coping with environmental stress at old age. The reduced mtDNA CN in old males suggests reduced metabolic efficiency and this may partly explain why males are less stress tolerant at old age than females. We suggest that mtDNA CN might be a suitable biomarker for physiological robustness. Our findings likely extend to other taxa than Drosophila and therefore we discuss the observations in relation to aging and sex specific lifespan across species.
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48
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Adwan Shekhidem H, Sharvit L, Leman E, Manov I, Roichman A, Holtze S, M Huffman D, Y Cohen H, Bernd Hildebrandt T, Shams I, Atzmon G. Telomeres and Longevity: A Cause or an Effect? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133233. [PMID: 31266154 PMCID: PMC6651551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere dynamics have been found to be better predictors of survival and mortality than chronological age. Telomeres, the caps that protect the end of linear chromosomes, are known to shorten with age, inducing cell senescence and aging. Furthermore, differences in age-related telomere attrition were established between short-lived and long-lived organisms. However, whether telomere length is a “biological thermometer” that reflects the biological state at a certain point in life or a biomarker that can influence biological conditions, delay senescence and promote longevity is still an ongoing debate. We cross-sectionally tested telomere length in different tissues of two long-lived (naked mole-rat and Spalax) and two short-lived (rat and mice) species to tease out this enigma. While blood telomere length of the naked mole-rat (NMR) did not shorten with age but rather showed a mild elongation, telomere length in three tissues tested in the Spalax declined with age, just like in short-lived rodents. These findings in the NMR, suggest an age buffering mechanism, while in Spalax tissues the shortening of the telomeres are in spite of its extreme longevity traits. Therefore, using long-lived species as models for understanding the role of telomeres in longevity is of great importance since they may encompass mechanisms that postpone aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lital Sharvit
- Department of Human Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Eva Leman
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Irena Manov
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Asael Roichman
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Derek M Huffman
- Departments of Molecular Pharmacology, Medicine, and the Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Haim Y Cohen
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Thomas Bernd Hildebrandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Imad Shams
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Gil Atzmon
- Department of Human Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
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49
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Morris BJ, Willcox BJ, Donlon TA. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of human aging and longevity. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:1718-1744. [PMID: 31109447 PMCID: PMC7295568 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Here we summarize the latest data on genetic and epigenetic contributions to human aging and longevity. Whereas environmental and lifestyle factors are important at younger ages, the contribution of genetics appears more important in reaching extreme old age. Genome-wide studies have implicated ~57 gene loci in lifespan. Epigenomic changes during aging profoundly affect cellular function and stress resistance. Dysregulation of transcriptional and chromatin networks is likely a crucial component of aging. Large-scale bioinformatic analyses have revealed involvement of numerous interaction networks. As the young well-differentiated cell replicates into eventual senescence there is drift in the highly regulated chromatin marks towards an entropic middle-ground between repressed and active, such that genes that were previously inactive "leak". There is a breakdown in chromatin connectivity such that topologically associated domains and their insulators weaken, and well-defined blocks of constitutive heterochromatin give way to generalized, senescence-associated heterochromatin, foci. Together, these phenomena contribute to aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Morris
- Basic & Clinical Genomics Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Honolulu Heart Program (HHP)/Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS), Department of Research, Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96817, United States; Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Kuakini Medical Center Campus, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States.
| | - Bradley J Willcox
- Honolulu Heart Program (HHP)/Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS), Department of Research, Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96817, United States; Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Kuakini Medical Center Campus, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States.
| | - Timothy A Donlon
- Honolulu Heart Program (HHP)/Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS), Department of Research, Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96817, United States; Departments of Cell & Molecular Biology and Pathology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States.
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50
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Atema E, Mulder E, van Noordwijk AJ, Verhulst S. Ultralong telomeres shorten with age in nestling great tits but are static in adults and mask attrition of short telomeres. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:648-658. [PMID: 30672119 PMCID: PMC6849772 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is increasingly being used as a biomarker of senescence, but measuring telomeres remains a challenge. Within tissue samples, TL varies between cells and chromosomes. Class I telomeres are (presumably static) interstitial telomeric sequences, while terminal telomeres have been divided in shorter (Class II) telomeres and ultralong (Class III) telomeres, and the presence of the latter varies strongly between species. Class II telomeres typically shorten with age, but little is known of Class III telomere dynamics. Using multiple experimental approaches, we show great tits to have ultralong telomeres, and we investigated age effects on Class II and III telomeres using a longitudinal approach (our method excludes Class I telomeres). In adults, TL averaged over the whole distribution did not significantly change with age. However, more detailed analyses showed that Class II TL did shorten with age, and, as in other species, the longest Class II telomeres within individuals shortened more quickly with age. In contrast, Class III TL did not shorten with age within individual adults. Surprisingly, we found the opposite pattern in nestlings: Class III TL shortened significantly with age, while the age effect on Class II TL was close to zero. Thus, Class III TL may provide information on developmental history, while Class II TL provides information on telomere dynamics in adulthood. These findings have practical implications for telomere studies and raise the interesting question of what causes variation in TL dynamics between chromosomes within individuals and how this is related to development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Els Atema
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ellis Mulder
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arie J van Noordwijk
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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