1
|
Merrill SM, Letourneau N, Giesbrecht GF, Edwards K, MacIsaac JL, Martin JW, MacDonald AM, Kinniburgh DW, Kobor MS, Dewey D, England-Mason G, The APrON Study Team. Sex-Specific Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Epigenetic Age Acceleration, and Susceptibility to Early Childhood Upper Respiratory Infections. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:3. [PMID: 38390895 PMCID: PMC10885049 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer that can affect immune system development and susceptibility to infection. Aging processes (measured as epigenetic age acceleration (EAA)) may mediate the immune-related effects of prenatal exposure to DEHP. This study's objective was to examine associations between prenatal DEHP exposure, EAA at three months of age, and the number of upper respiratory infections (URIs) from 12 to 18 months of age using a sample of 69 maternal-child pairs from a Canadian pregnancy cohort. Blood DNA methylation data were generated using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip; EAA was estimated using Horvath's pan-tissue clock. Robust regressions examined overall and sex-specific associations. Higher prenatal DEHP exposure (B = 6.52, 95% CI = 1.22, 11.81) and increased EAA (B = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.64, 4.32) independently predicted more URIs. In sex-specific analyses, some similar effects were noted for boys, and EAA mediated the association between prenatal DEHP exposure and URIs. In girls, higher prenatal DEHP exposure was associated with decreased EAA, and no mediation was noted. Higher prenatal DEHP exposure may be associated with increased susceptibility to early childhood URIs, particularly in boys, and aging biomarkers such as EAA may be a biological mechanism. Larger cohort studies examining the potential developmental immunotoxicity of phthalates are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Karlie Edwards
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amy M MacDonald
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
- Program in Child and Brain Development, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Gillian England-Mason
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - The APrON Study Team
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kalyakulina A, Yusipov I, Kondakova E, Bacalini MG, Giuliani C, Sivtseva T, Semenov S, Ksenofontov A, Nikolaeva M, Khusnutdinova E, Zakharova R, Vedunova M, Franceschi C, Ivanchenko M. Epigenetics of the far northern Yakutian population. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:189. [PMID: 38053163 PMCID: PMC10699032 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01600-y] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yakuts are one of the indigenous populations of the subarctic and arctic territories of Siberia characterized by a continental subarctic climate with severe winters, with the regular January average temperature in the regional capital city of Yakutsk dipping below - 40 °C. The epigenetic mechanisms of adaptation to such ecologies and environments and, in particular, epigenetic age acceleration in the local population have not been studied before. RESULTS This work reports the first epigenetic study of the Yakutian population using whole-blood DNA methylation data, supplemented with the comparison to the residents of Central Russia. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed, among others, geographic region-specific differentially methylated regions associated with adaptation to climatic conditions (water consumption, digestive system regulation), aging processes (actin filament activity, cell fate), and both of them (channel activity, regulation of steroid and corticosteroid hormone secretion). Further, it is demonstrated that the epigenetic age acceleration of the Yakutian representatives is significantly higher than that of Central Russia counterparts. For both geographic regions, we showed that epigenetically males age faster than females, whereas no significant sex differences were found between the regions. CONCLUSIONS We performed the first study of the epigenetic data of the Yakutia cohort, paying special attention to region-specific features, aging processes, age acceleration, and sex specificity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alena Kalyakulina
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia.
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia.
| | - Igor Yusipov
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - Elena Kondakova
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | | | - Cristina Giuliani
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tatiana Sivtseva
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Sergey Semenov
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Artem Ksenofontov
- State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Republican Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention, Yakutsk, 677001, Russia
| | - Maria Nikolaeva
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Elza Khusnutdinova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russia, 450054
| | - Raisa Zakharova
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Maria Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - Mikhail Ivanchenko
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zábó V, Csiszar A, Ungvari Z, Purebl G. Psychological resilience and competence: key promoters of successful aging and flourishing in late life. GeroScience 2023; 45:3045-3058. [PMID: 37418098 PMCID: PMC10643728 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00856-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many individuals, both in the public and within the field of psychology, often perceive aging as a burden that negatively impacts intellectual and mental health. Our present study aims to challenge this notion by identifying the crucial components of positive mental health in later life. These components not only promote positive mental health but also actively contribute to it, even under difficult circumstances. To accomplish this, we first offer a concise review of well-being and mental health models that highlight the psychological aspects of flourishing in late life. We then introduce a psychological competence-based model for positive mental health, which aligns with the concept of positive aging. Subsequently, we present a measurement tool suitable for practical applications. Finally, we provide a comprehensive overview of positive aging, drawing on methodological guidelines and existing research findings concerning sustainable positive mental health in later life. We examine the evidence indicating that psychological resilience (the capacity to adapt and recover from adversity or stress) and competence (skills and abilities to effectively cope with challenges across various life domains) significantly contribute to slowing down biological aging processes. Furthermore, we discuss insights into the relationship between psychological factors and aging derived from research on Blue Zones (regions characterized by a higher proportion of individuals experiencing longer, healthier lives).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virág Zábó
- Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Csiszar
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - György Purebl
- Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Qian J, Fischer C, Burhan A, Mak M, Gerretsen P, Kolla N, Al-Chalabi N, Chaudhary Z, Qureshey A, Bani-Fatemi A, Graff A, Remington G, De Luca V. GWAS of biological aging to find longevity genes in schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023:10.1007/s00406-023-01622-w. [PMID: 37420032 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01622-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychotic disorder associated with premature mortality and aging. Moreover, the symptoms and progression of psychiatric disorders in general are associated with decreased lifespan, biological aging, and poorer medical outcomes. In this study, we investigated the relationship between several epigenetic clocks and scanned the entire genome for association in a cohort of SCZ individuals (n = 107). Biological age was computed from blood DNA methylation (DNAm) and tested for association against common variants across the genome using general linear models. Genes affecting epigenetic age acceleration in our cohort were found mainly when using the telomeric length clock rather than the other biological clocks. These findings pair with existing evidence that there are some genes associated with longevity and suggest further investigations of putative biological mechanisms for morbidity and premature mortality, not only in patients with SCZ but also in the general population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amer Burhan
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Whitby, Canada
| | - Michael Mak
- CAMH, 250 College St, Toronto, M5T1R8, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ali Bani-Fatemi
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ariel Graff
- CAMH, 250 College St, Toronto, M5T1R8, Canada
| | | | - Vincenzo De Luca
- CAMH, 250 College St, Toronto, M5T1R8, Canada.
- St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Novakova Martinkova J, Ferretti MT, Ferrari A, Lerch O, Matuskova V, Secnik J, Hort J. Longitudinal progression of choroid plexus enlargement is associated with female sex, cognitive decline and ApoE E4 homozygote status. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1039239. [PMID: 36970283 PMCID: PMC10031049 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1039239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Choroid plexus (CP)-related mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In this pilot study, we aimed to elucidate the association between longitudinal changes in CP volume, sex and cognitive impairment. Methods We assessed longitudinal changes in CP volume in a cohort of n = 613 subjects across n = 2,334 datapoints from ADNI 2 and ADNI-GO, belonging to cognitively unimpaired (CN), stable mild cognitive impairment (MCI), clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD) or convertor (to either AD or MCI) subgroups. CP volume was automatically segmented and used as a response variable in linear mixed effect models with random intercept clustered by patient identity. Temporal effects of select variables were assessed by interactions and subgroup analyses. Results We found an overall significant increase of CP volume in time (14.92 mm3 per year, 95% confidence interval, CI (11.05, 18.77), p < 0.001). Sex-disaggregated results showed an annual rate of increase 9.48 mm3 in males [95% CI (4.08, 14.87), p < 0.001], and 20.43 mm3 in females [95% CI (14.91, 25.93), p < 0.001], indicating more than double the rate of increase in females, which appeared independent of other temporal variables. The only diagnostic group with a significant CP increase as compared to CN was the convertors group, with an increase of 24.88 mm3/year [95% CI (14, 35.82), p < 0.001]. ApoE exhibited a significant temporal effect, with the E4 homozygote group's CP increasing at more than triple the rate of non-carrier or heterozygote groups [40.72, 95% CI (25.97, 55.46), p < 0.001 vs. 12.52, 95% CI (8.02, 17.02), p < 0.001 for ApoE E4 homozygotes and E4 non-carriers, respectively], and may have modified the diagnostic group relationship. Conclusion Our results contribute to potential mechanisms for sex differences in cognitive impairment with a novel finding of twice the annual choroid plexus enlargement in females and provide putative support for CP-related mechanisms of cognitive deterioration and its relationship to ApoE E4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Novakova Martinkova
- Cognitive Center, Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Ondrej Lerch
- Cognitive Center, Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Matuskova
- Cognitive Center, Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Juraj Secnik
- Cognitive Center, Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jakub Hort
- Cognitive Center, Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Olivieri F, Marchegiani F, Matacchione G, Giuliani A, Ramini D, Fazioli F, Sabbatinelli J, Bonafè M. Sex/gender-related differences in inflammaging. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 211:111792. [PMID: 36806605 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Geroscience puts mechanisms of aging as a driver of the most common age-related diseases and dysfunctions. Under this perspective, addressing the basic mechanisms of aging will produce a better understanding than addressing each disease pathophysiology individually. Worldwide, despite greater functional impairment, life expectancy is higher in women than in men. Gender differences in the prevalence of multimorbidity lead mandatory to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying gender-related differences in multimorbidity patterns and disability-free life expectancy. Extensive literature suggested that inflammaging is at the crossroad of aging and age-related diseases. In this review, we highlight the main evidence on sex/gender differences in the mechanisms that foster inflammaging, i.e. the age-dependent triggering of innate immunity, modifications of adaptive immunity, and accrual of senescent cells, underpinning some biomarkers of inflammaging that show sex-related differences. In the framework of the "gender medicine perspective", we will also discuss how sex/gender differences in inflammaging can affect sex differences in COVID-19 severe outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Matacchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Angelica Giuliani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Deborah Ramini
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Fazioli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Jacopo Sabbatinelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Laboratory Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Bonafè
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|