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Azzolino D, Rodrigues GD, Manzini VM, Proietti M, Arosio B, Montano N, Cesari M. Clinical research on extreme longevity: The FACET experience. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 93:102170. [PMID: 38101548 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
People with extreme longevity represent a unique model to study the biology of aging. Unfortunately, their inclusion in research projects is challenging with the consequent lack of evidence and the need to rely on small convenience samples. Given the growing global aging population, especially in the segment of the oldest old (i.e., aged 90 and older), research in this population has become crucial. Furthermore, by studying the characteristics of extremely longeval persons, it might be possible to 1) better understand the mechanisms of aging, and 2) identify endogenous or exogenous factors contributing to a long life. The design and implementation of research activities in the oldest people need special consideration and a pragmatic approach. Possible implementable solutions and suggestions are provided from experience gained during the conduction of the FAtigue in CEnTenarians (FACET) study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Azzolino
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Marco Proietti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Division of Subacute Care IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Arosio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Montano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Cesari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Ligotti ME, Accardi G, Aiello A, Aprile S, Calabrò A, Caldarella R, Caruso C, Ciaccio M, Corsale AM, Dieli F, Di Simone M, Giammanco GM, Mascarella C, Akbar AN, Meraviglia S, Candore G. Sicilian semi- and supercentenarians: identification of age-related T-cell immunophenotype to define longevity trait. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 214:61-78. [PMID: 37395602 PMCID: PMC10711357 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxad074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunophenotype of oldest centenarians, i.e. semi- and supercentenarians, could provide important information about their ability to adapt to factors associated with immune changes, including ageing per se and chronic Cytomegalovirus infection. We investigated, by flow cytometry, variations in percentages and absolute numbers of immune cell subsets, focusing on T cells, and pro-inflammatory parameters in a cohort of 28 women and 26 men (age range 19-110 years). We observed variability in hallmarks of immunosenescence related to age and Cytomegalovirus serological status. The eight oldest centenarians showed the lowest percentages of naïve T cells, due to their age, and the highest percentages of T-effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA (TEMRA), according to their cytomegalovirus status, and high levels of serum pro-inflammatory parameters, although their means were lower than that of remaining 90+ donors. Some of them showed CD8 naïve and TEMRA percentages, and exhaustion/pro-inflammatory markers comparable to the younger ones. Our study supports the suggestion that immune ageing, especially of oldest centenarians, exhibits great variability that is not only attributable to a single contributor but should also be the full result of a combination of several factors. Everyone ages differently because he/she is unique in genetics and experience of life and this applies even more to the immune system; everybody has had a different immunological history. Furthermore, our findings on inflammatory markers, TEMRA and CMV seropositivity in centenarians, discussed in the light of the most recent literature, suggest that these changes might be not unfavourable for centenarians, and in particular for the oldest ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Emanuela Ligotti
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Accardi
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Aiello
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefano Aprile
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Unit of Transfusion Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Agrigento, Italy
| | - Anna Calabrò
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosalia Caldarella
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogero Caruso
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Corsale
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Dieli
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marta Di Simone
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maurizio Giammanco
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Mascarella
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Arne N Akbar
- Division of Medicine, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Serena Meraviglia
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Candore
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Napoli C, Coscioni E, Trama U, Strozziero MG, Benincasa G. An evidence-based debate on epigenetics and immunosenescence in COVID-19. Curr Res Immunol 2023; 4:100069. [PMID: 37781451 PMCID: PMC10539895 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2023.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence contributes to the decline of immune function leading to a reduced ability to respond to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in elderly patients. Clinical course of COVID-19 is widely heterogeneous and guided by the possible interplay between genetic background and epigenetic-sensitive mechanisms underlying the immunosenescence which could explain, at least in part, the higher percentage of disease severity in elderly individuals. The most convincing evidence regards the hypomethylation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) promoter gene in lungs as well as the citrullination of histone H3 in neutrophils which have been associated with worsening of COVID-19 outcome in elderly patients. In contrast, centenarians who have showed milder symptoms have been associated to a younger "epigenetic age" based on DNA methylation profiles at specific genomic sites (epigenetic clock). Some large prospective studies showed that the acceleration of epigenetic aging as well as the shortening of telomeres were significantly associated with lymphopenia and poor outcome suggesting prognostic biomarkers in elderly COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, randomized clinical trials showed that statins, L-arginine, and resveratrol could mediate anti-inflammatory effects via indirect epigenetic interference and might improve COVID-19 outcome. Here, we discuss the epigenetic-sensitive events which might contribute to increase the risk of severity and mortality in older subjects and possible targeted therapies to counteract immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Napoli
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- U.O.C. Division of Clinical Immunology, Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine and Specialistics, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Enrico Coscioni
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggid'Aragona, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Ugo Trama
- Regional Pharmaceutical Unit, Campania Region, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Strozziero
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- IRCCS Synlab SDN Naples Italy
| | - Giuditta Benincasa
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
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Caruso C, Marcon G, Accardi G, Aiello A, Calabrò A, Ligotti ME, Tettamanti M, Franceschi C, Candore G. Role of Sex and Age in Fatal Outcomes of COVID-19: Women and Older Centenarians Are More Resilient. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2638. [PMID: 36768959 PMCID: PMC9916733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present paper, we have analysed the role of age and sex in the fatal outcome of COVID-19, as there are conflicting results in the literature. As such, we have answered three controversial questions regarding this aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) Have women been more resilient than men? (2) Did centenarians die less than the remaining older people? (3) Were older centenarians more resistant to SARS-CoV-2 than younger centenarians? The literature review demonstrated that: (1) it is women who are more resilient, in agreement with data showing that women live longer than men even during severe famines and epidemics; however, there are conflicting data regarding centenarian men; (2) centenarians overall did not die less than remaining older people, likely linked to their frailty; (3) in the first pandemic wave of 2020, centenarians > 101 years old (i.e., born before 1919), but not "younger centenarians", have been more resilient to COVID-19 and this may be related to the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, although it is unclear what the mechanisms might be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calogero Caruso
- Laboratorio di Immunopatologia e Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Marcon
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico Chirurgiche e della Salute, Università di Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
- Dipartinento di Area Medica, Università di Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Giulia Accardi
- Laboratorio di Immunopatologia e Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Aiello
- Laboratorio di Immunopatologia e Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Calabrò
- Laboratorio di Immunopatologia e Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mattia Emanuela Ligotti
- Laboratorio di Immunopatologia e Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mauro Tettamanti
- Laboratorio di Epidemiologia Geriatrica, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milano, Italy
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Candore
- Laboratorio di Immunopatologia e Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
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