Undulating changes in human plasma proteome profiles across the lifespan

Circulating anti-geronic factors from heterochonic parabionts promote vascular rejuvenation in aged mice: transcriptional footprint of mitochondrial protection, attenuation of oxidative stress, and rescue of endothelial function by young blood

Aging-induced functional and phenotypic alterations of the vasculature (e.g., endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress) have a central role in morbidity and mortality of older adults. It has become apparent in recent years that cell autonomous mechanisms alone are inadequate to explain all aspects of vascular aging. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that age-related changes in circulating anti-geronic factors contribute to the regulation of vascular aging processes in a non-cell autonomous manner. To test this hypothesis, through heterochronic parabiosis we determined the extent, if any, to which endothelial function, vascular production of ROS, and shifts in the vascular transcriptome (RNA-seq) are modulated by the systemic environment. We found that in aortas isolated from isochronic parabiont aged (20-month-old) C57BL/6 mice [A-(A); parabiosis for 8 weeks] acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was impaired and ROS production (dihydroethidium fluorescence) was increased as compared with those in aortas from young isochronic parabiont (6-month-old) mice [Y-(Y)]. The presence of young blood derived from young parabionts significantly improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and attenuated ROS production in vessels of heterochronic parabiont aged [A-(Y)] mice. In aortas derived from heterochronic parabiont young [Y-(A)] mice, acetylcholine-induced relaxation and ROS production were comparable with those in aortas derived from Y-(Y) mice. Using RNA-seq we assessed transcriptomic changes in the aortic arch associated with aging and heterochronic parabiosis. We identified 347 differentially expressed genes in A-(A) animals compared with Y-(Y) controls. We have identified 212 discordant genes, whose expression levels differed in the aged phenotype, but have shifted back toward the young phenotype by the presence of young blood in aged A-(Y) animals. Pathway analysis shows that vascular protective effects mediated by young blood-regulated genes include mitochondrial rejuvenation. In conclusion, a relatively short-term exposure to young blood can rescue vascular aging phenotypes, including attenuation of oxidative stress, mitochondrial rejuvenation, and improved endothelial function. Our findings provide additional evidence supporting the significant plasticity of vascular aging and evidence for the existence of anti-geronic factors capable of exerting rejuvenating effects on the aging vasculature.

Brain Endothelial Cells Are Exquisite Sensors of Age-Related Circulatory Cues

Brain endothelial cells (BECs) are key constituents of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), protecting the brain from pathogens and restricting access of circulatory factors. Yet, because circulatory proteins have prominent age-related effects on adult neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and cognitive function in mice, we wondered whether BECs receive and potentially relay signals between the blood and brain. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of hippocampal BECs, we discover that capillary BECs-compared with arterial and venous BECs-undergo the greatest transcriptional changes in normal aging, upregulating innate immunity and oxidative stress response pathways. Short-term infusions of aged plasma into young mice recapitulate key aspects of this aging transcriptome, and remarkably, infusions of young plasma into aged mice exert rejuvenation effects on the capillary transcriptome. Together, these findings suggest that the transcriptional age of BECs is exquisitely sensitive to age-related circulatory cues and pinpoint the BBB itself as a promising therapeutic target to treat brain disease.

Aging and Caloric Restriction Modulate the DNA Methylation Profile of the Ribosomal RNA Locus in Human and Rat Liver

A growing amount of evidence suggests that the downregulation of protein synthesis is an adaptive response during physiological aging, which positively contributes to longevity and can be modulated by nutritional interventions like caloric restriction (CR). The expression of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is one of the main determinants of translational rate, and epigenetic modifications finely contribute to its regulation. Previous reports suggest that hypermethylation of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) locus occurs with aging, although with some species- and tissue- specificity. In the present study, we experimentally measured DNA methylation of three regions (the promoter, the 5′ of the 18S and the 5′ of 28S sequences) in the rDNA locus in liver tissues from rats at two, four, 10, and 18 months. We confirm previous findings, showing age-related hypermethylation, and describe, for the first time, that this gain in methylation also occurs in human hepatocytes. Furthermore, we show that age-related hypermethylation is enhanced in livers of rat upon CR at two and 10 months, and that at two months a trend towards the reduction of rRNA expression occurs. Collectively, our results suggest that CR modulates age-related regulation of methylation at the rDNA locus, thus providing an epigenetic readout of the pro-longevity effects of CR.

Systemic factors as mediators of brain homeostasis, ageing and neurodegeneration

A rapidly ageing population and a limited therapeutic toolbox urgently necessitate new approaches to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Brain ageing, the key risk factor for neurodegeneration, involves complex cellular and molecular processes that eventually result in cognitive decline. Although cell-intrinsic defects in neurons and glia may partially explain this decline, cell-extrinsic changes in the systemic environment, mediated by blood, have recently been shown to contribute to brain dysfunction with age. Here, we review the current understanding of how systemic factors mediate brain ageing, how these factors are regulated and how we can translate these findings into therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Understanding the Clinical Features of Coronavirus Disease 2019 From the Perspective of Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PROBLEMS

An outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) infection is now widespread in multiple countries. Compared with adult patients, elderly patients have not received enough attention. The aim of the meta-analysis was to assess the clinical characteristics of elder patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

A deep literature search was performed in the databases through August 21, 2020. Risk ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using analysis models.

RESULTS

Three studies including 2046 infected patients were precisely evaluated, and the results show that the elderly group has a higher risk of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease than the younger patients. Their total white blood cells are higher than that of the younger patients, and their lymphocytes are relatively reduced compared with the younger patients.

CONCLUSION

We comprehensively assessed the clinical characteristics of patients of different ages with COVID-19 and found that elder patients had a high risk of chronic cardiovascular and metabolism comorbidities. The characteristic clinical manifestations and laboratory examinations of elderly patients support their excessive inflammation and weak immune defenses against 2019-nCoV. All these findings provide important information for understanding the general clinical characterization of the aging immune defense against the virus and enhancing the public awareness of the prevention and treatment of elder patients in the COVID-19 pandemic.