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Moustakli E, Zikopoulos A, Skentou C, Dafopoulos S, Stavros S, Dafopoulos K, Drakakis P, Georgiou I, Zachariou A. Association of Obesity with Telomere Length in Human Sperm. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2150. [PMID: 38610915 PMCID: PMC11012429 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072150] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Telomere attrition and mitochondrial dysfunction are two fundamental aspects of aging. Calorie restriction (CR) is the best strategy to postpone aging since it can enhance telomere attrition, boost antioxidant capacity, and lower the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Since ROS is produced by mitochondria and can readily travel to cell nuclei, it is thought to be a crucial molecule for information transfer between mitochondria and cell nuclei. Important variables that affect the quality and functionality of sperm and may affect male reproductive health and fertility include telomere length, mitochondrial content, and the ratio of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to nuclear DNA (nDNA). Telomere damage results from mitochondrial failure, whereas nuclear DNA remains unaffected. This research aims to investigate potential associations between these three variables and how they might relate to body mass index. Methods: Data were collected from 82 men who underwent IVF/ICSI at the University Hospital of Ioannina's IVF Unit in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. Evaluations included sperm morphology, sperm count, sperm motility, and participant history. To address this, male participants who were categorized into three body mass index (ΒΜΙ) groups-normal, overweight, and obese-had their sperm samples tested. Results: For both the normal and overweight groups, our results show a negative connection between relative telomere length and ΒΜI. As an illustration of a potential connection between mitochondrial health and telomere maintenance, a positive correlation was found for the obese group. Only the obese group's results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). More evidence that longer telomeres are associated with lower mitochondrial content can be found in the negative connection between telomere length and mitochondrial content in both the normal and overweight groups. However, the obese group showed a positive association. The data did not reach statistical significance for any of the three groups. These associations may affect sperm quality since telomere length and mitochondrial concentration are indicators of cellular integrity and health. Moreover, the ratio of mtDNA to nDNA was positively correlated with the relative telomere lengths of the obese group, but negatively correlated with the normal and overweight groups. In every group that was studied, the results were not statistically significant. According to this, male fertility may be negatively impacted by an imbalance in the copy number of the mitochondrial genome compared to the nuclear DNA in sperm. Conclusions: Essentially, the goal of our work is to determine whether mitochondria and telomere length in human sperm interact. Understanding these connections may aid in the explanation of some male infertility causes and possibly contribute to the creation of new treatment modalities for problems pertaining to reproductive health. The functional implications of these connections and their applications in therapeutic settings require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthalia Moustakli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Athanasios Zikopoulos
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Rd., Exeter EX 25 DW, UK;
| | - Charikleia Skentou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of Ioannina, University General Hospital, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Stefanos Dafopoulos
- Department of Health Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
| | - Sofoklis Stavros
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (S.S.); (P.D.)
| | - Konstantinos Dafopoulos
- IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Peter Drakakis
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (S.S.); (P.D.)
| | - Ioannis Georgiou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Athanasios Zachariou
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Ioannina University, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
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Gedvilaite G, Kriauciuniene L, Tamasauskas A, Liutkeviciene R. The Influence of Telomere-Related Gene Variants, Serum Levels, and Relative Leukocyte Telomere Length in Pituitary Adenoma Occurrence and Recurrence. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:643. [PMID: 38339395 PMCID: PMC10854692 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030643] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we examined 130 patients with pituitary adenomas (PAs) and 320 healthy subjects, using DNA samples from peripheral blood leukocytes purified through the DNA salting-out method. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and relative leukocyte telomere lengths (RLTLs), while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of TERF1, TERF2, TNKS2, CTC1, and ZNF676 in blood serum. Our findings reveal several significant associations. Genetic associations with pituitary adenoma occurrence: the TERF1 rs1545827 CT + TT genotypes were linked to 2.9-fold decreased odds of PA occurrence. Conversely, the TNKS2 rs10509637 GG genotype showed 6.5-fold increased odds of PA occurrence. Gender-specific genetic associations with PA occurrence: in females, the TERF1 rs1545827 CC + TT genotypes indicated 3.1-fold decreased odds of PA occurrence, while the TNKS2 rs10509637 AA genotype was associated with 4.6-fold increased odds. In males, the presence of the TERF1 rs1545827 T allele was associated with 2.2-fold decreased odds of PA occurrence, while the TNKS2 rs10509637 AA genotype was linked to a substantial 10.6-fold increase in odds. Associations with pituitary adenoma recurrence: the TNKS2 rs10509637 AA genotype was associated with 4.2-fold increased odds of PA recurrence. On the other hand, the TERF1 rs1545827 CT + TT genotypes were linked to 3.5-fold decreased odds of PA without recurrence, while the TNKS2 rs10509637 AA genotype was associated with 6.4-fold increased odds of PA without recurrence. Serum TERF2 and TERF1 levels: patients with PA exhibited elevated serum TERF2 levels compared to the reference group. Conversely, patients with PA had decreased TERF1 serum levels compared to the reference group. Relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL): a significant difference in RLTL between the PA group and the reference group was observed, with PA patients having longer telomeres. Genetic associations with telomere shortening: the TERF1 rs1545827 T allele was associated with 1.4-fold decreased odds of telomere shortening. In contrast, the CTC1 rs3027234 TT genotype was linked to 4.8-fold increased odds of telomere shortening. These findings suggest a complex interplay between genetic factors, telomere length, and pituitary adenoma occurrence and recurrence, with potential gender-specific effects. Furthermore, variations in TERF1 and TNKS2 genes may play crucial roles in telomere length regulation and disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Gedvilaite
- Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Eiveniu 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (L.K.); (R.L.)
| | - Loresa Kriauciuniene
- Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Eiveniu 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (L.K.); (R.L.)
| | - Arimantas Tamasauskas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Eiveniu 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Rasa Liutkeviciene
- Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Eiveniu 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (L.K.); (R.L.)
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Zhang P, Dong S, Sun W, Zhong W, Xiong J, Gong X, Li J, Lin H, Zhuang Y. Deciphering Treg cell roles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a comprehensive prognostic and immunotherapeutic analysis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1277530. [PMID: 37842637 PMCID: PMC10568469 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1277530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and aggressive form of cancer that poses significant challenges in terms of prognosis and treatment. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have gained attention due to their influential role in immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the intricate interactions between Treg cells and the tumor microenvironment is essential for unraveling the mechanisms underlying ESCC progression and for developing effective prognostic models and immunotherapeutic strategies. Methods: A combination of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq analysis was utilized to explore the role of Treg cells within the TME of ESCC. The accuracy and applicability of the prognostic model were assessed through multi-dimensional evaluations, encompassing an examination of the model's performance across various dimensions, such as the mutation landscape, clinical relevance, enrichment analysis, and potential implications for immunotherapy strategies. Results: The pivotal role of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) signaling pathway within the ESCC TME was investigated, with a focus on its impact on Treg cells and other subpopulations. Through comprehensive integration of bulk sequencing data, a Treg-associated signature (TAS) was constructed, revealing that ESCC patients with elevated TAS (referred to as high-TAS individuals) experienced significantly improved prognoses. Heightened immune infiltration and increased expression of immune checkpoint markers were observed in high-TAS specimens. The model's validity was established through the IMvigor210 dataset, demonstrating its robustness in predicting prognosis and responsiveness to immunotherapy. Heightened therapeutic benefits were observed in immune-based interventions for high-TAS ESCC patients. Noteworthy differences in pathway enrichment patterns emerged between high and low-TAS cohorts, highlighting potential avenues for therapeutic exploration. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of key model genes was substantiated by analyzing clinical samples from ten paired tumor and adjacent tissues, revealing differential expression levels. Conclusion: The study established a TAS that enables accurate prediction of patient prognosis and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This achievement holds significant implications for the clinical management of ESCC, offering valuable insights for informed therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiyang Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Fuyang Tumour Hospital, Fuyang, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, China
| | - Wan Zhong
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingwen Xiong
- Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiangjin Gong
- Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haoran Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Zhuang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Chest Hospital, Nanjing, China
- Afliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Bhat GR, Jamwal RS, Sethi I, Bhat A, Shah R, Verma S, Sharma M, Sadida HQ, Al-Marzooqi SK, Masoodi T, Mirza S, Haris M, Macha MA, Akil ASA, Bhat AA, Kumar R. Associations between telomere attrition, genetic variants in telomere maintenance genes, and non-small cell lung cancer risk in the Jammu and Kashmir population of North India. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:874. [PMID: 37718447 PMCID: PMC10506276 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11387-z] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, playing a vital role in maintaining chromosomal integrity and stability. Dysregulation of telomeres has been implicated in the development of various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the most common type of lung cancer. Genetic variations within telomere maintenance genes may influence the risk of developing NSCLC. The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic associations of select variants within telomere maintenance genes in a population from Jammu and Kashmir, North India, and to investigate the relationship between telomere length and NSCLC risk. METHODS We employed the cost-effective and high-throughput MassARRAY MALDI-TOF platform to assess the genetic associations of select variants within telomere maintenance genes in a population from Jammu and Kashmir, North India. Additionally, we used TaqMan genotyping to validate our results. Furthermore, we investigated telomere length variation and its relation to NSCLC risk in the same population using dual-labeled fluorescence-based qPCR. RESULTS Our findings revealed significant associations of TERT rs10069690 and POT1 rs10228682 with NSCLC risk (adjusted p-values = 0.019 and 0.002, respectively), while TERF2 rs251796 and rs2975843 showed no significant associations. The TaqMan genotyping validation further substantiated the associations of TERT rs10069690 and rs2242652 with NSCLC risk (adjusted p-values = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). Our results also demonstrated significantly shorter telomere lengths in NSCLC patients compared to controls (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSION This study highlights the crucial interplay between genetic variation in telomere maintenance genes, telomere attrition, and NSCLC risk in the Jammu and Kashmir population of North India. Our findings suggest that TERT and POT1 gene variants, along with telomere length, may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NSCLC in this population. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to explore the potential clinical applications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gh Rasool Bhat
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Rajeshwer Singh Jamwal
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Itty Sethi
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180001, India
| | - Amrita Bhat
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180001, India
| | - Ruchi Shah
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Sonali Verma
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Minerva Sharma
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Hana Q Sadida
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity & Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara K Al-Marzooqi
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity & Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Genetics, Sidra Medicine, 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sameer Mirza
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, United Arab , Emirates University, 15551, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, 192122, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ammira S Alshabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity & Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity & Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, 26999, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India.
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Zafirovic S, Macvanin M, Stanimirovic J, Obradovic M, Radovanovic J, Melih I, Isenovic E. Association Between Telomere Length and Cardiovascular Risk: Pharmacological Treatments Affecting Telomeres and Telomerase Activity. Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2022; 20:465-474. [PMID: 35986545 DOI: 10.2174/1570161120666220819164240] [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: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres represent the ends of chromosomes, and they are composed of an extensive number of - TTAGGG nucleotide sequence repeats in humans. Telomeres prevent chromosome degradation, participate in stabilization, and regulate the DNA repair system. Inflammation and oxidative stress have been identified as important processes causing cardiovascular disease and accelerating telomere shortening rate. This review investigates the link between telomere length and pathological vascular conditions from experimental and human studies. Also, we discuss pharmacological treatments affecting telomeres and telomerase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Zafirovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Macvanin
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Julijana Stanimirovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan Obradovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Radovanovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Melih
- Faculty of Stomatology, Pancevo, University Business Academy, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Esma Isenovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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ROS: Basic Concepts, Sources, Cellular Signaling, and its Implications in Aging Pathways. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:1225578. [PMID: 36312897 PMCID: PMC9605829 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1225578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are bioproducts of cellular metabolism. There is a range of molecules with oxidizing properties known as ROS. Despite those molecules being implied negatively in aging and numerous diseases, their key role in cellular signaling is evident. ROS control several biological processes such as inflammation, proliferation, and cell death. The redox signaling underlying these cellular events is one characteristic of the new generation of scientists aimed at defining the role of ROS in the cellular environment. The control of redox potential, which includes the balance of the sources of ROS and the antioxidant system, implies an important target for understanding the cells' fate derived from redox signaling. In this review, we summarized the chemical, the redox balance, the signaling, and the implications of ROS in biological aging.
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RAP1/TERF2IP-A Multifunctional Player in Cancer Development. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13235970. [PMID: 34885080 PMCID: PMC8657031 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary RAP1 (TERF2IP) is a member of the shelterin complex that protects telomeric DNA and plays a critical role in maintaining chromosome stability. However, mammalian RAP1 was recently found to have additional functions apart from telomeres, acting as a regulator of the NF-κB pathway and transcription factor, and has been suggested that they have putative roles in cancer development. Here, we focus on the main roles of RAP1 in different mechanisms of oncogenesis, progression, and chemoresistance, and consider the clinical significance of findings about its regulation and biological functions. Abstract Mammalian RAP1 (TERF2IP), the most conserved shelterin component, plays a pleiotropic role in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes, including cell metabolism, DNA damage response, and NF-κB signaling, beyond its canonical telomeric role. Moreover, it has been demonstrated to be involved in oncogenesis, progression, and chemoresistance in human cancers. Several mutations and different expression patterns of RAP1 in cancers have been reported. However, the functions and mechanisms of RAP1 in various cancers have not been extensively studied, suggesting the necessity of further investigations. In this review, we summarize the main roles of RAP1 in different mechanisms of cancer development and chemoresistance, with special emphasis on the contribution of RAP1 mutations, expression patterns, and regulation by non-coding RNA, and briefly discuss telomeric and non-telomeric functions.
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