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Campisi M, Cannella L, Bordin A, Moretto A, Scapellato ML, Mason P, Liviero F, Pavanello S, On Behalf Of Occupational Medicine Working Group. Revealing the Hidden Impacts: Insights into Biological Aging and Long-Term Effects in Pauci- and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Healthcare Workers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8056. [PMID: 39125624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158056] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This study explores the role of inflammation and oxidative stress, hallmarks of COVID-19, in accelerating cellular biological aging. We investigated early molecular markers-DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) and telomere length (TL)-in blood leukocytes, nasal cells (NCs), and induced sputum (IS) one year post-infection in pauci- and asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) infected during the first pandemic wave (February-May 2020), compared to COPD patients, model for "aged lung". Data from questionnaires, Work Ability Index (WAI), blood analyses, autonomic cardiac balance assessments, heart rate variability (HRV), and pulmonary function tests were collected. Elevated leukocyte DNAmAge significantly correlated with advancing age, male sex, daytime work, and an aged phenotype characterized by chronic diseases, elevated LDL and glycemia levels, medications affecting HRV, and declines in lung function, WAI, lymphocyte count, hemoglobin levels, and HRV (p < 0.05). Increasing age, LDL levels, job positions involving intensive patient contact, and higher leukocyte counts collectively contributed to shortened leukocyte TL (p < 0.05). Notably, HCWs exhibited accelerated biological aging in IS cells compared to both blood leukocytes (p ≤ 0.05) and NCs (p < 0.001) and were biologically older than COPD patients (p < 0.05). These findings suggest the need to monitor aging in pauci- and asymptomatic COVID-19 survivors, who represent the majority of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Campisi
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Luana Cannella
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Bordin
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Angelo Moretto
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Scapellato
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Paola Mason
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Liviero
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Sofia Pavanello
- Department of Cardiac-, -Thoracic-, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
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Apetroaei MM, Fragkiadaki P, Velescu BȘ, Baliou S, Renieri E, Dinu-Pirvu CE, Drăgănescu D, Vlăsceanu AM, Nedea MI(I, Udeanu DI, Docea AO, Tsatsakis A, Arsene AL. Pharmacotherapeutic Considerations on Telomere Biology: The Positive Effect of Pharmacologically Active Substances on Telomere Length. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7694. [PMID: 39062937 PMCID: PMC11276808 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147694] [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: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are part of chromatin structures containing repeated DNA sequences, which function as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes and prevent DNA degradation and recombination, thus ensuring the integrity of the genome. While telomere length (TL) can be genetically inherited, TL shortening has been associated with ageing and multiple xenobiotics and bioactive substances. TL has been characterised as a reliable biomarker for the predisposition to developing chronic pathologies and their progression. This narrative review aims to provide arguments in favour of including TL measurements in a complex prognostic and diagnostic panel of chronic pathologies and the importance of assessing the effect of different pharmacologically active molecules on the biology of telomeres. Medicines used in the management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, schizophrenia, hormone replacement therapy at menopause, danazol, melatonin, and probiotics have been studied for their positive protective effects against TL shortening. All these classes of drugs are analysed in the present review, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miruna-Maria Apetroaei
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Persefoni Fragkiadaki
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Bruno Ștefan Velescu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Stella Baliou
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Elisavet Renieri
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Cristina Elena Dinu-Pirvu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Doina Drăgănescu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Ana Maria Vlăsceanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Marina Ionela (Ilie) Nedea
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Denisa Ioana Udeanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Artistidis Tsatsakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Andreea Letiția Arsene
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
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Miao K, Liu S, Cao W, Lv J, Yu C, Huang T, Sun D, Liao C, Pang Y, Hu R, Pang Z, Yu M, Wang H, Wu X, Liu Y, Gao W, Li L. Five years of change in adult twins: longitudinal changes of genetic and environmental influence on epigenetic clocks. BMC Med 2024; 22:289. [PMID: 38987783 PMCID: PMC11234599 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic clocks were known as promising biomarkers of aging, including original clocks trained by individual CpG sites and principal component (PC) clocks trained by PCs of CpG sites. The effects of genetic and environmental factors on epigenetic clocks are still unclear, especially for PC clocks. METHODS We constructed univariate twin models in 477 same-sex twin pairs from the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) to estimate the heritability of five epigenetic clocks (GrimAge, PhenoAge, DunedinPACE, PCGrimAge, and PCPhenoAge). Besides, we investigated the longitudinal changes of genetic and environmental influences on epigenetic clocks across 5 years in 134 same-sex twin pairs. RESULTS Heritability of epigenetic clocks ranged from 0.45 to 0.70, and those for PC clocks were higher than those for original clocks. For five epigenetic clocks, the longitudinal stability was moderate to high and was largely due to genetic effects. The genetic correlations between baseline and follow-up epigenetic clocks were moderate to high. Special unique environmental factors emerged both at baseline and at follow-up. PC clocks showed higher longitudinal stability and unique environmental correlations than original clocks. CONCLUSIONS For five epigenetic clocks, they have the potential to identify aging interventions. High longitudinal stability is mainly due to genetic factors, and changes of epigenetic clocks over time are primarily due to changes in unique environmental factors. Given the disparities in genetic and environmental factors as well as longitudinal stability between PC and original clocks, the results of studies with original clocks need to be further verified with PC clocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Miao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shunkai Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Weihua Cao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jun Lv
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Canqing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dianjianyi Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Chunxiao Liao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuanjie Pang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Runhua Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zengchang Pang
- Qingdao Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Yu
- Zhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianping Wu
- Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Heilongjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China
| | - Wenjing Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Liming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Reynolds LM, Houston DK, Skiba MB, Whitsel EA, Stewart JD, Li Y, Zannas AS, Assimes TL, Horvath S, Bhatti P, Baccarelli AA, Tooze JA, Vitolins MZ. Diet Quality and Epigenetic Aging in the Women's Health Initiative. J Acad Nutr Diet 2024:S2212-2672(24)00002-9. [PMID: 38215906 PMCID: PMC11236955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher diet quality scores are associated with a lower risk for many chronic diseases and all-cause mortality; however, it is unclear if diet quality is associated with aging biology. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the association between diet quality and a measure of biological aging known as epigenetic aging. DESIGN A cross-sectional data analysis was used to examine the association between three diet quality scores based on self-reported food frequency questionnaire data and five measures of epigenetic aging based on DNA methylation (DNAm) data from peripheral blood. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING This study included 4,500 postmenopausal women recruited from multiple sites across the United States (1993-98), aged 50 to 79 years, with food frequency questionnaire and DNAm data available from the Women's Health Initiative baseline visit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Five established epigenetic aging measures were generated from HumanMethylation450 Beadchip DNAm data, including AgeAccelHannum, AgeAccelHorvath, AgeAccelPheno, AgeAccelGrim, and DunedinPACE. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Linear mixed models were used to test for associations between three diet quality scores (Healthy Eating Index, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and alternate Mediterranean diet scores) and epigenetic aging measures, adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, education, tobacco smoking, physical activity, Women's Health Initiative substudy from which DNAm data were obtained, and DNAm-based estimates of leukocyte proportions. RESULTS Healthy Eating Index, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and alternate Mediterranean diet scores were all inversely associated with AgeAccelPheno, AgeAccelGrim, and DunedinPACE (P < 0.05), with the largest effects with DunedinPACE. A one standard deviation increment in diet quality scores was associated with a decrement (β ± SE) in DunedinPACE z score of -0.097 ± 0.014 (P = 9.70 x 10-13) for Healthy Eating Index, -0.107 ± 0.014 (P = 1.53 x 10-14) for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and -0.068 ± 0.013 (P = 2.31 x 10-07) for the alternate Mediterranean diet. CONCLUSIONS In postmenopausal women, diet quality scores were inversely associated with DNAm-based measures of biological aging, particularly DunedinPACE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M Reynolds
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
| | - Denise K Houston
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Meghan B Skiba
- Division of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Eric A Whitsel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - James D Stewart
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Anthony S Zannas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Themistocles L Assimes
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Altos Labs, San Diego, California
| | - Parveen Bhatti
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Janet A Tooze
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Mara Z Vitolins
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Gladwell LR, Ahiarah C, Rasheed S, Rahman SM, Choudhury M. Traditional Therapeutics and Potential Epidrugs for CVD: Why Not Both? Life (Basel) 2023; 14:23. [PMID: 38255639 PMCID: PMC10820772 DOI: 10.3390/life14010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. In addition to the high mortality rate, people suffering from CVD often endure difficulties with physical activities and productivity that significantly affect their quality of life. The high prevalence of debilitating risk factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia only predicts a bleak future. Current traditional CVD interventions offer temporary respite; however, they compound the severe economic strain of health-related expenditures. Furthermore, these therapeutics can be prescribed indefinitely. Recent advances in the field of epigenetics have generated new treatment options by confronting CVD at an epigenetic level. This involves modulating gene expression by altering the organization of our genome rather than altering the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic changes are heritable, reversible, and influenced by environmental factors such as medications. As CVD is physiologically and pathologically diverse in nature, epigenetic interventions can offer a ray of hope to replace or be combined with traditional therapeutics to provide the prospect of addressing more than just the symptoms of CVD. This review discusses various risk factors contributing to CVD, perspectives of current traditional medications in practice, and a focus on potential epigenetic therapeutics to be used as alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Rae Gladwell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, 1114 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Chidinma Ahiarah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, 1114 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Shireen Rasheed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, 1114 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Shaikh Mizanoor Rahman
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al-Mouz, Nizwa 616, Oman
| | - Mahua Choudhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, 1114 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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