Hallmarks of aging and immunosenescence: Connecting the dots

Proteomic and metabolomic profiling of plasma predicts immune-related adverse events in older patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors is compromised by the fact of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), especially for older patients. To identify predictive biomarkers for older patients with irAEs, we used multiplex immunoassay and flow cytometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to test immune factors and plasma protein and metabolites levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The results showed that older patients with irAEs displayed lower CD28, CD4+ T cell, and B cell and higher interleukin (IL)-10 and CCL2 levels at baseline. Besides, lower aldolase, fructose-bisphosphate B (ALDOB), higher ST6GAL1, and lower lactate/pyruvate ratio at baseline were found in older patients with irAEs. Based on metabolomic markers, predictive models were developed to distinguish patients with grade 2-4 irAEs from grade 0-1 (Area under curve, AUC = 0.831) and to distinguish patients with grade 3-4 irAEs from grade 2 (AUC = 1). Our results confirmed the predictive value of plasma metabolites for irAEs in older patients with NSCLC.

Integrated analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures and immune infiltration in ccRCC microenvironment revealed their clinical significances: a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) serve as organized lymphoid aggregates that influence immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. This study aims to investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of TLSs and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

METHODS

TLSs and TILs were analyzed comprehensively in 754 ccRCC patients from 6 academic centers and 532 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Integrated analysis was performed based on single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets from 21 ccRCC patients to investigate TLS heterogeneity in ccRCC. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence were applied. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to reveal the prognostic significance.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated the existence of TLSs and TILs heterogeneities in the ccRCC microenvironment. TLSs were identified in 16% of the tumor tissues in 113 patients. High density (>0.6/mm2) and maturation of TLSs predicted good overall survival (OS) (p<0.01) in ccRCC patients. However, high infiltration (>151) of scattered TILs was an independent risk factor of poor ccRCC prognosis (HR=14.818, p<0.001). The presence of TLSs was correlated with improved progression-free survival (p=0.002) and responsiveness to therapy (p<0.001). Interestingly, the combination of age and TLSs abundance had an impact on OS (p<0.001). Higher senescence scores were detected in individuals with immature TLSs (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed the contradictory features of intratumoral TLSs and TILs in the ccRCC microenvironment and their impact on clinical prognosis, suggesting that abundant and mature intratumoral TLSs were associated with decreased risks of postoperative ccRCC relapse and death as well as favorable therapeutic response. Distinct spatial distributions of immune infiltration could reflect effective antitumor or protumor immunity in ccRCC.

Double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical investigation of peptide OS-01 for skin rejuvenation

INTRODUCTION

Senescent cells contribute to age-related tissue deterioration, including the skin, which plays important roles in overall health and social interactions. This study aimed to assess the effects of the senotherapeutic peptide, OS-01 (a.k.a. Pep 14), on skin.

METHODS

A 12-week split-face, double-blinded, vehicle-controlled study involving 22 participants was conducted. The OS-01-containing formulation was applied to one side of the face, while the other side received an identical control formulation lacking the peptide. Skin characteristics were assessed using instrumental measurements, expert clinical grading, and subjective questionnaires.

RESULTS

Results showed that the OS-01 formulation significantly improved one aspect of skin barrier function, as evidenced by reduced trans-epidermal water loss compared to both baseline and vehicle control. Expert grading and Antera 3D image analysis revealed a reduction in wrinkle appearance and indentation in the periorbital area, and improved skin texture and radiance on both sides of the face, with the OS-01-containing formulation demonstrating superior results. Participants also perceived improvements in skin hydration, smoothness, radiance, and overall appearance.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the OS-01 formulation promotes skin health by strengthening the skin barrier, protecting against dehydration, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and improving skin texture and radiance. These effects are likely attributed to the senotherapeutic properties of OS-01 in reducing cellular senescence and its associated detrimental effects.

Identification of crucial inflammaging related risk factors in multiple sclerosis

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammatory demyelinating lesions in the central nervous system. Studies have shown that the inflammation is vital to both the onset and progression of MS, where aging plays a key role in it. However, the potential mechanisms on how aging-related inflammation (inflammaging) promotes MS have not been fully understood. Therefore, there is an urgent need to integrate the underlying mechanisms between inflammaging and MS, where meaningful prediction models are needed.

Methods

First, both aging and disease models were developed using machine learning methods, respectively. Then, an integrated inflammaging model was used to identify relative risk factors, by identifying essential "aging-inflammation-disease" triples. Finally, a series of bioinformatics analyses (including network analysis, enrichment analysis, sensitivity analysis, and pan-cancer analysis) were further used to explore the potential mechanisms between inflammaging and MS.

Results

A series of risk factors were identified, such as the protein homeostasis, cellular homeostasis, neurodevelopment and energy metabolism. The inflammaging indices were further validated in different cancer types. Therefore, various risk factors were integrated, and even both the theories of inflammaging and immunosenescence were further confirmed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study systematically investigated the potential relationships between inflammaging and MS through a series of computational approaches, and could present a novel thought for other aging-related diseases.

Associations of CBC-Derived inflammatory indicators with sarcopenia and mortality in adults: evidence from Nhanes 1999 ∼ 2006

BACKGROUND

It has been proposed that inflammation plays a role in the development of sarcopenia. This study aimed to investigate the links of complete blood cell count (CBC) parameters and CBC-derived inflammatory indicators with sarcopenia and mortality.

METHODS

Data pertaining to sarcopenia were extracted from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and mortality events were ascertained through the National Death Index up to December 31, 2019. The CBC-derived inflammatory indicators assessed in this study included the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (NMLR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The prognostic significance of these CBC-derived inflammatory indicators was evaluated using the random survival forests (RSF) analysis.

RESULTS

The study encompassed a cohort of 12,689 individuals, among whom 1,725 were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Among individuals with sarcopenia, 782 experienced all-cause mortality, and 195 succumbed to cardiovascular causes. Following adjustment for confounding variables, it was observed that elevated levels of NLR, dNLR, NMLR, SIRI, and SII were associated with an increased prevalence of sarcopenia. Among participants with sarcopenia, those in the highest quartile of NLR (HR = 1.336 [1.095-1.631]), dNLR (HR = 1.274 [1.046-1.550]), MLR (HR = 1.619 [1.290-2.032]), NMLR (HR = 1.390 [1.132-1.707]), and SIRI (HR = 1.501 [1.210-1.862]) exhibited an elevated risk of all-cause mortality compared to those in the lowest quartile of these inflammation-derived indicators. These associations were similarly observed in cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.874 [1.169-3.003] for MLR, HR = 1.838 [1.175-2.878] for SIRI). The RSF analysis indicated that MLR exhibited the highest predictive power for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among individuals with sarcopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the association between CBC-derived inflammatory indicators and mortality in adults with sarcopenia. Of note, MLR emerged as the most robust predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in this population.

Senotherapeutic Peptide 14 Suppresses Th1 and M1 Human T Cell and Monocyte Subsets In Vitro

Inflammation contributes to the onset and exacerbation of numerous age-related diseases, often manifesting as a chronic condition during aging. Given that cellular senescence fosters local and systemic inflammation, senotherapeutic interventions could potentially aid in managing or even reducing inflammation. Here, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of the senotherapeutic Peptide 14 (Pep 14) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocytes, and macrophages. We found that, despite failing to significantly influence T cell activation and proliferation, the peptide promoted a Th2/Treg gene expression and cytokine signature in PBMCs, characterized by increased expression of the transcription factors GATA3 and FOXP3, as well as the cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. These observations were partially confirmed through ELISA, in which we observed increased IL-10 release by resting and PHA-stimulated PBMCs. In monocytes from the U-937 cell line, Pep 14 induced apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells and upregulated IL-10 expression. Furthermore, Pep 14 prevented LPS-induced activation and promoted an M2-like polarization in U-937-derived macrophages, evidenced by decreased expression of M1 markers and increased expression of M2 markers. We also showed that the conditioned media from Pep 14-treated macrophages enhanced fibroblast migration, indicative of a functional M2 phenotype. Taken together, our findings suggest that Pep 14 modulates immune cell function towards an anti-inflammatory and regenerative phenotype, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic intervention to alleviate immunosenescence-associated dysregulation.

Global trends in research on aging associated with periodontitis from 2002 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis

Background

Aging has been implicated in many chronic inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by long-term irritation of the periodontal tissues by the plaque biofilm on the surface of the teeth. However, only a few bibliometric analyses have systematically studied this field to date. This work sought to visualize research hot spots and trends in aging associated with periodontitis from 2002 to 2023 through bibliometric approaches.

Methods

Graphpad prism v8.0.2 was used to analyse and plot annual papers, national publication trends and national publication heat maps. In addition, CtieSpace (6.1.6R (64-bit) Advanced Edition) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) were used to analyse these data and visualize the scientific knowledge graph.

Results

The number of documents related to aging associated with periodontitis has steadily increased over 21 years. With six of the top ten institutions in terms of publications coming from the US, the US is a major driver of research in this area. journal of periodontology is the most published journal in the field. Tonetti MS is the most prolific authors and co-cited authors in the field. Journal of Periodontology and Journal of Clinical Periodontology are the most popular journals in the field with the largest literature. Periodontitis, Alzheimer's disease, and peri-implantitis are current hot topics and trends in the field. Inflammation, biomarkers, oxidative stress cytokines are current research hotspots in this field.

Conclusion

Our research found that global publications regarding research on aging associated with periodontitis increased dramatically and were expected to continue increasing. Inflammation and aging, and the relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases, are topics worthy of attention.

The Impact of Exercise on Interleukin-6 to Counteract Immunosenescence: Methodological Quality and Overview of Systematic Reviews

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the methodological quality of published systematic reviews on randomized and non-randomized clinical trials to synthesize evidence on the association between IL-6, immunosenescence, and aerobic and/or resistance exercise.

METHOD

The Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Systematic Reviews (PRIO-harms) guideline was used, with registration number CRD42022346142-PROSPERO. Relevant databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using English Medical Subject Headings terms. Inclusion criteria were systematic reviews analyzing aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or a combination of both and assessing IL-6 as a biomarker of cellular immunosenescence in humans. The Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) was employed.

RESULTS

Out of 742 identified articles, 18 were eligible, and 13 were selected for analysis. Sample sizes ranged from 249 to 1421 participants, mostly female, with ages ranging from 17 to 95 years. Aerobic exercise was the most studied type (46.15%), followed by combined exercise (38.46%) and resistance exercise (15.38%). Aerobic exercise showed a statistically significant reduction in IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. Among the 13 reviews analyzed using AMSTAR-2, 8 were rated as critically low quality, and 5 were classified as low quality.

CONCLUSION

Aerobic exercise has anti-inflammatory properties and the potential to modulate IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α levels in immunosenescence. However, the limited methodological quality of the analyzed systematic reviews highlights the urgent need for robust, high-quality studies to improve access to information and facilitate evidence-based decision-making in healthcare.

Immunosenescence and inflammaging: Conspiracies against alveolar bone turnover

OBJECTIVE

Inflammaging and immunosenescence are characteristics of senescent immune system alterations. This review provides insights into inflammaging and immunosenescence in periodontitis and focuses on the innerlink of inflammaging and immunosenescence in alveolar bone turnover from a perspective of cell-cell interaction.

METHODS

This review is conducted by a narrative approach to discuss the effect of inflammaging and immunosenescence in aging-related alveolar bone loss. A comprehensive literature research in PubMed and Google was applied to identify reports in English.

RESULTS

Inflammaging is concerned with abnormal M1 polarization and increasing circulating inflammatory cytokines, while immunosenescence involves reduced infection and vaccine responses, depressed antimicrobial function, and infiltration of aged B cells and memory T cells. TLR-mediated inflammaging and altered adaptive immunity significantly affect alveolar bone turnover and aggravate aging-related alveolar bone loss. Besides, energy consumption also plays a vital role in aged immune and skeletal system of periodontitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Senescent immune system exerts a significant function in aging-related alveolar bone loss. Inflammaging and immunosenescence interact functionally and mechanistically, which affects alveolar bone turnover. Therefore, further clinical treatment strategies targeting alveolar bone loss could be based on the specific molecular mechanism connecting inflammaging, immunosenescence, and alveolar bone turnover.

The Impact of Immune System Aging on Infectious Diseases

Immune system aging is becoming a field of increasing public health interest because of prolonged life expectancy, which is not paralleled by an increase in health expectancy. As age progresses, innate and adaptive immune systems undergo changes, which are defined, respectively, as inflammaging and immune senescence. A wealth of available data demonstrates that these two conditions are closely linked, leading to a greater vulnerability of elderly subjects to viral, bacterial, and opportunistic infections as well as lower post-vaccination protection. To face this novel scenario, an in-depth assessment of the immune players involved in this changing epidemiology is demanded regarding the individual and concerted involvement of immune cells and mediators within endogenous and exogenous factors and co-morbidities. This review provides an overall updated description of the changes affecting the aging immune system, which may be of help in understanding the underlying mechanisms associated with the main age-associated infectious diseases.

Inactivation of a non-canonical gp130 signaling arm attenuates chronic systemic inflammation and multimorbidity induced by a high-fat diet

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major pro-inflammatory cytokine for which the levels in plasma demonstrate a robust correlation with age and body mass index (BMI) as part of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. IL-6 cytokines also play a crucial role in metabolic homeostasis and regenerative processes, primarily via the canonical STAT3 pathway. Thus, selective modulation of IL-6 signaling may offer a unique opportunity for therapeutic interventions. Recently, we discovered that a non-canonical signaling pathway downstream of tyrosine (Y) 814 within the intracellular domain of gp130, the IL-6 co-receptor, is responsible for the recruitment and activation of SRC family of kinases (SFK). Mice with constitutive genetic inactivation of gp130 Y814 (F814 mice) show accelerated resolution of inflammatory response and superior regenerative outcomes in skin wound healing and posttraumatic models of osteoarthritis. The current study was designed to explore if selective genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the non-canonical gp130-Y814/SFK signaling reduces systemic chronic inflammation and multimorbidity in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced model of accelerated aging. F814 mice showed significantly reduced inflammatory response to HFD in adipose and liver tissue, with significantly reduced levels of systemic inflammation compared to wild type mice. F814 mice were also protected from HFD-induced bone loss and cartilage degeneration. Pharmacological inhibition of gp130-Y814/SFK in mice on HFD mirrored the effects observed in F814 mice on HFD; furthermore, this pharmacological treatment also demonstrated a marked increase in physical activity levels and protective effects against inflammation-associated suppression of neurogenesis in the brain tissue compared to the control group. These findings suggest that selective inhibition of SFK signaling downstream of gp130 receptor represents a promising strategy to alleviate systemic chronic inflammation. Increased degenerative changes and tissue senescence are inevitable in obese and aged organisms, but we demonstrated that the systemic response and inflammation-associated multi-morbidity can be therapeutically mitigated.

Chronic otorrhea and osteomyelitis of the external auditory canal by Achromobacter xylosoxidans: an uncommon diagnosis

PURPOSE

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is an emerging pathogen mainly associated with resistant nosocomial infections. This bacteria had been isolated in the ear together with other pathogens in cultures from patients with chronic otitis media, but it had never been reported as a cause of osteomyelitis of the external auditory canal.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a unique case of a healthy 81-year-old woman who presented with left chronic otorrhea refractory to topical and oral antibiotic treatment. Otomicroscopy revealed an erythematous and exudative external auditory canal (EAC) with scant otorrhea. The tympanic membrane was intact, but an area of bone remodeling with a small cavity anterior and inferior to the bony tympanic frame was observed. Otic culture isolated multi-drug-resistant A. xylosoxidans, only sensitive to meropenem and cotrimoxazole. Temporal bone computed tomography showed an excavation of the floor of the EAC compatible with osteomyelitis. Targeted antibiotherapy for 12 weeks was conducted, with subsequent resolution of symptoms and no progression of the bone erosion.

CONCLUSIONS

Atypical pathogens such as A. xylosoxidans can be the cause of chronic otitis externa. Early diagnosis and specific antibiotherapy can prevent the development of further complications, such as osteomyelitis. In these cases, otic cultures play an essential role to identify the causal germ. This is the first case of EAC osteomyelitis due to A. xylosoxidans reported to date.

Assessing Biological Age: The Potential of ECG Evaluation Using Artificial Intelligence: JACC Family Series

Biological age may be a more valuable predictor of morbidity and mortality than a person's chronological age. Mathematical models have been used for decades to predict biological age, but recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to new capabilities in age estimation. Using deep learning methods to train AI models on hundreds of thousands of electrocardiograms (ECGs) to predict age results in a good, but imperfect, age prediction. The error predicting age using ECG, or the difference between AI-ECG-derived age and chronological age (delta age), may be a surrogate measurement of biological age, as the delta age relates to survival, even after adjusting for chronological age and other covariates associated with total and cardiovascular mortality. The relative affordability, noninvasiveness, and ubiquity of ECGs, combined with ease of access and potential to be integrated with smartphone or wearable technology, presents a potential paradigm shift in assessment of biological age.

The efferocytosis process in aging: Supporting evidence, mechanisms, and therapeutic prospects for age-related diseases

BACKGROUND

Aging is characterized by an ongoing struggle between the buildup of damage caused by a combination of external and internal factors. Aging has different effects on phagocytes, including impaired efferocytosis. A deficiency in efferocytosis can cause chronic inflammation, aging, and several other clinical disorders.

AIM OF REVIEW

Our review underscores the possible feasibility and extensive scope of employing dual targets in various age-related diseases to reduce the occurrence and progression of age-related diseases, ultimately fostering healthy aging and increasing lifespan. Key scientific concepts of review Hence, the concurrent implementation of strategies aimed at augmenting efferocytic mechanisms and anti-aging treatments has the potential to serve as a potent intervention for extending the duration of a healthy lifespan. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the concept and physiological effects of efferocytosis. Subsequently, we investigated the association between efferocytosis and the hallmarks of aging. Finally, we discuss growing evidence regarding therapeutic interventions for age-related disorders, focusing on the physiological processes of aging and efferocytosis.

Impact of Immunosenescence in Older Kidney Transplant Recipients: Associated Clinical Outcomes and Possible Risk Stratification for Immunosuppression Reduction

The number of older individuals receiving a kidney transplant as replacement therapy has significantly increased in the past decades and this increase is expected to continue. Older patients have a lower rate of acute rejection but an increased incidence of death with a functioning graft. Several factors, including an increased incidence of infections, post-transplant malignancy and cardiovascular comorbidity and mortality, contribute to this increased risk. Notwithstanding, kidney transplantation is still the best form of kidney replacement therapy in all patients with chronic kidney disease, including in older individuals. The best form of immunosuppression and the optimal dose of these medications in older recipients remains a topic of discussion. Pharmacological studies have usually excluded older patients and when included, patients were highly selected and their numbers insignificant to draw a reasonable conclusion. The reduced incidence of acute rejection in older recipients has largely been attributed to immunosenescence. Immunosenescence refers to the aging of the innate and adaptive immunity, accumulating in phenotypic and functional changes. These changes influences the response of the immune system to new challenges. In older individuals, immunosenescence is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious pathogens, a decreased response after vaccinations, increased risk of malignancies and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease is associated with premature immunosenescent changes, and these are independent of aging. The immunosenescent state is associated with low-grade sterile inflammation termed inflammaging. This chronic low-grade inflammation triggers a compensatory immunosuppressive state to avoid further tissue damage, leaving older individuals with chronic kidney disease in an immune-impaired state before kidney transplantation. Immunosuppression after transplantation may further enhance progression of this immunosenescent state. This review covers the role of immunosenescence in older kidney transplant recipients and it details present knowledge of the changes in chronic kidney disease and after transplantation. The impact of immunosuppression on the progression and complications of an immunosenescent state are discussed, and the future direction of a possible clinical implementation of immunosenescence to individualize/reduce immunosuppression in older recipients is laid out.

Extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells: the wine in Hebe's hands to treat skin aging

Owing to its constant exposure to the external environment and various stimuli, skin ranks among the organs most vulnerable to manifestations of aging. Preventing and delaying skin aging has become one of the prominent research subjects in recent years. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells derived from mesoderm with high self-renewal ability and multilineage differentiation potential. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are nanoscale biological vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication and regulate biological behavior. Recent studies have shown that MSC-EVs have potential applications in anti-aging therapy due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and wound healing promoting abilities. This review presents the latest progress of MSC-EVs in delaying skin aging. It mainly includes the MSC-EVs promoting the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, resisting oxidative stress, and regulating inflammation. We then briefly discuss the recently discovered treatment methods of MSC-EVs in the field of skin anti-aging. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of EV-based treatments are also presented.

Senescence on Dental Pulp Cells: Effects on Morphology, Migration, Proliferation, and Immune Response

INTRODUCTION

Evidence indicates that senescence can affect essential dental pulp functions, such as defense capacity and repair, consequently affecting the successes of conservative endodontic treatments. This study aims to evaluate the effects of senescence on the morphology, migration, proliferation, and immune response of human dental pulp cells.

METHODS

Cells were treated with doxorubicin to induce senescence, confirmed by β-galactosidase staining. Morphological changes, cellular proliferation, and migration were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, trypan blue cells, and the scratch method, respectively. Modifications in the immune response were evaluated by measuring the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor beta 1 and IL-10 using the real time polymerase chain reaction assay.

RESULTS

An increase in cell size and a decrease in the number of extensions were observed in senescent cells. A reduction in the proliferative and migratory capacity was also found in senescent cells. In addition, there was an increase in the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-6 and a decrease in the gene expression of IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta-1, suggesting an exacerbated inflammatory situation associated with immunosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS

Cellular senescence is possibly a condition that affects prognoses of conservative endodontic treatments, as it affects primordial cellular functions related to this treatment.

The interaction between ageing and Alzheimer's disease: insights from the hallmarks of ageing

Ageing is a crucial risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is characterised by systemic changes in both intracellular and extracellular microenvironments that affect the entire body instead of a single organ. Understanding the specific mechanisms underlying the role of ageing in disease development can facilitate the treatment of ageing-related diseases, such as AD. Signs of brain ageing have been observed in both AD patients and animal models. Alleviating the pathological changes caused by brain ageing can dramatically ameliorate the amyloid beta- and tau-induced neuropathological and memory impairments, indicating that ageing plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological process of AD. In this review, we summarize the impact of several age-related factors on AD and propose that preventing pathological changes caused by brain ageing is a promising strategy for improving cognitive health.

Neutrophil heterogeneity and aging: implications for COVID-19 and wound healing

Neutrophils play a critical role in the immune response to infection and tissue injury. However, recent studies have shown that neutrophils are a heterogeneous population with distinct subtypes that differ in their functional properties. Moreover, aging can alter neutrophil function and exacerbate immune dysregulation. In this review, we discuss the concept of neutrophil heterogeneity and how it may be affected by aging. We then examine the implications of neutrophil heterogeneity and aging for COVID-19 pathogenesis and wound healing. Specifically, we summarize the evidence for neutrophil involvement in COVID-19 and the potential mechanisms underlying neutrophil recruitment and activation in this disease. We also review the literature on the role of neutrophils in the wound healing process and how aging and neutrophil heterogeneity may impact wound healing outcomes. Finally, we discuss the potential for neutrophil-targeted therapies to improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19 and wound healing.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4): new insight immune and aging

TLR4, a transmembrane receptor, plays a central role in the innate immune response. TLR4 not only engages with exogenous ligands at the cellular membrane's surface but also interacts with intracellular ligands, initiating intricate intracellular signaling cascades. Through MyD88, an adaptor protein, TLR4 activates transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1, thereby facilitating the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Another adapter protein linked to TLR4, known as TRIF, autonomously propagates signaling pathways, resulting in heightened interferon expression. Recently, TLR4 has garnered attention as a significant factor in the regulation of symptoms in aging-related disorders. The persistent inflammatory response triggered by TLR4 contributes to the onset and exacerbation of these disorders. In addition, alterations in TLR4 expression levels play a pivotal role in modifying the manifestations of age-related diseases. In this review, we aim to consolidate the impact of TLR4 on cellular senescence and aging-related ailments, highlighting the potential of TLR4 as a novel therapeutic target that extends beyond immune responses.

A 2-week time-restricted feeding attenuates psoriasis-like lesions with reduced inflammatory cytokines and immunosenescence in mice

Psoriasis, a well-established T-cell mediated dermatosis, exhibits a robust correlation with obesity and systemic inflammation, manifesting psoriasis skin lesions and premature immunosenescence within the peripheral blood and lesion. Intermittent fasting (IF) has exhibited various beneficial effects in reducing inflammation, resisting oxidative stress and slowing ageing, as well as losing weight. A form of IF known as time-restricted feeding (TRF) restricts daily caloric intake within 4-8 h. Nonetheless, the advantageous impacts of TRF on psoriasis still require further verification. We measured the acanthosis in Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mice and evaluated their pathological phenotypes. Our study examined the effects of a 2-week TRF on body weight and metabolic parameters. The subsets of T cells in spleens and skin lesions were accessed by flow cytometry. Cytokines and senescence-associated genes were evaluated by immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR. RNA sequencing was conducted on skin lesions. According to our findings, a 2-week TRF attenuates psoriasis-like lesions in mice with reduced inflammatory cytokines and mitigated immunosenescence. TRF increased the counts of CD4+ Treg cells in skin lesions while reducing the counts of Th2 and Th17 cells in spleens. Furthermore, the administration of TRF resulted in a decrease in the population of CD4+ senescent T cells in both the dermis and spleens, concomitant with the expression of senescence-associated genes in spleen CD4+ T cells. The outcomes mentioned above provide valuable evidence in support of TRF for the management of psoriasis.

Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates D-galactose-induced neural stem cell senescence via the Sirt1-Nrf2-BDNF pathway

With the ageing of society's population, neurodegenerative diseases have become an important factor affecting the quality of life and mortality in the elderly. Since its physiopathological processes are complex and the authorized medications have recently been shown to have several adverse effects, the development of safe and efficient medications is urgently needed. In this study, we looked at how ginsenoside Rg1 works to postpone neural stem cell ageing and brain ageing, giving it a solid scientific foundation for use as a therapeutic therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Reconstructing the immunosenescence core pathway reveals global characteristics in pan-cancer

Immunosenescence has been demonstrated to play an important role in tumor progression. However, there is lacking comprehensive analyses of immunosenescence-related pathways. Meanwhile, the sex disparities of immunosenescence in cancer are still poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the multi-omics data of 12,836 tumor samples, including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. We systematically identified immunosenescence pathways that were disordered across cancer types. The mutations and copy number variations of immunosenescence pathways were found to be more active in pan-cancer. We reconstructed the immunosenescence core pathways (ISC-pathways) to improve the ability of prognostic stratification in 33 cancer types. We also found the head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) contained abundant sex-specific immunosenescence features and showed sex differences in survival. We found that OSI-027 was a potential sex-specific drug in HNSC tumors, which tended to be more effective in male HNSC by targeting the MTOR gene in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study provided a systematic understanding of immunosenescence pathways and revealed the global characteristics of immunosenescence in pan-cancer. We highlighted MTOR gene could be a powerful immunosenescence biomarker of HNSC that helps to develop sex-specific immunosenescence drugs.

Cellular senescence in skeletal disease: mechanisms and treatment

The musculoskeletal system supports the movement of the entire body and provides blood production while acting as an endocrine organ. With aging, the balance of bone homeostasis is disrupted, leading to bone loss and degenerative diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration. Skeletal diseases have a profound impact on the motor and cognitive abilities of the elderly, thus creating a major challenge for both global health and the economy. Cellular senescence is caused by various genotoxic stressors and results in permanent cell cycle arrest, which is considered to be the underlying mechanism of aging. During aging, senescent cells (SnCs) tend to aggregate in the bone and trigger chronic inflammation by releasing senescence-associated secretory phenotypic factors. Multiple signalling pathways are involved in regulating cellular senescence in bone and bone marrow microenvironments. Targeted SnCs alleviate age-related degenerative diseases. However, the association between senescence and age-related diseases remains unclear. This review summarises the fundamental role of senescence in age-related skeletal diseases, highlights the signalling pathways that mediate senescence, and discusses potential therapeutic strategies for targeting SnCs.

Impact of patient characteristics on innate immune responses and inflammasome activation in ex vivo human lung tissues infected with influenza A virus

Background

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection poses a persistent global health challenge, necessitating a nuanced grasp of host immune responses for optimal interventions. While the interplay between aging, immunosenescence, and IAV is recognized as key in severe lower respiratory tract infections, the role of specific patient attributes in shaping innate immune reactions and inflammasome activity during IAV infection remains under-investigated. In this study, we utilized an ex vivo infection model of human lung tissues with H3N2 IAV to discern relationships among patient demographics, IAV nucleoprotein (NP) expression, toll-like receptor (TLR) profiles, PD-1/PD-L1 markers, and cytokine production.

Methods

Our cohort consisted of thirty adult patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery during 2018-2019. Post-surgical lung tissues were exposed to H3N2 IAV for ex vivo infections, and the ensuing immune responses were profiled using flow cytometry.

Results

We observed pronounced IAV activity within lung cells, as indicated by marked NP upregulation in both epithelial cells (P = 0.022) and macrophages (P = 0.003) in the IAV-exposed group relative to controls. Notably, interleukin-2 levels correlated with variations in TLR1 expression on epithelial cells and PD-L1 markers on macrophages. Age emerged as a modulating factor, dampening innate immune reactions, as evidenced by reduced interleukin-2 and interferon-γ concentrations (both adjusted P < 0.05). Intriguingly, a subset of participants with pronounced tumor necrosis factor-alpha post-mock infection (Cluster 1) showed attenuated cytokine responses in contrast to their counterparts in Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 (all adjusted P < 0.05). Individuals in Cluster 2, characterized by a low post-mock infection NP expression in macrophages, exhibited reduced variations in both NP and TLR1-3 expressions on these cells and a decreased variation in interleukin-2 secretion in comparison to their Cluster 3 counterparts, who were identified by their elevated NP macrophage expression (all adjusted P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our work elucidates the multifaceted interplay of patient factors, innate immunity, and inflammasome responses in lung tissues subjected to ex vivo H3N2 IAV exposure, reflecting real-world lower respiratory tract infections. While these findings provide a foundation for tailored therapeutic strategies, supplementary studies are requisite for thorough validation and refinement.

Deconvolution reveals cell-type-specific transcriptomic changes in the aging mouse brain

Mounting evidence highlights the crucial role of aging in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have previously explored human apoE-targeted replacement mice across different ages and identified distinct molecular pathways driven by aging. However, the specific contribution of different brain cell types to the gene modules underlying these pathways remained elusive. To bridge this knowledge gap, we employed a computational deconvolution approach to examine cell-type-specific gene expression profiles in major brain cell types, including astrocytes (AS), microglia (MG), oligodendroglia (OG), neurons (NEU), and vascular cells (VC). Our findings revealed that immune module genes were predominantly expressed in MG, OG, and VC. The lipid metabolism module genes were primarily expressed in AS, MG, and OG. The mitochondria module genes showed prominent expression in VC, and the synapse module genes were primarily expressed in NEU and VC. Furthermore, we identified intra- and inter-cell-type interactions among these module genes and validated their aging-associated expression changes using published single cell studies. Our study dissected bulk brain transcriptomics data at the cellular level, providing a closer examination of the cell-type contributions to the molecular pathways driven by aging.

Longevity through diet restriction and immunity

The share of the population that is aging is growing rapidly. In an aging society, technologies and interventions that delay the aging process are of great interest. Dietary restriction (DR) is the most reproducible and effective nutritional intervention tested to date for delaying the aging process and prolonging the health span in animal models. Preventive effects of DR on age-related diseases have also been reported in human. In addition, highly conserved signaling pathways from small animal models to human mediate the effects of DR. Recent evidence has shown that the immune system is closely related to the effects of DR, and functions as a major mechanism of DR in healthy aging. This review discusses the effects of DR in delaying aging and preventing age-related diseases in animal, including human, and introduces the molecular mechanisms that mediate these effects. In addition, it reports scientific findings on the relationship between the immune system and DRinduced longevity. The review highlights the role of immunity as a potential mediator of the effects of DR on longevity, and provides insights into healthy aging in human. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(10): 537-544].

Transcriptome analysis of immune-related genes of Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis [Guenée]) after oral bacterial infection

The Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) is an important agricultural pest causing serious damage to economic crops, such as corn and sorghum. The gut is the first line of defense against pathogens that enter through the mouth. Staphylococcus aureus was used to infect the O. furnacalis midgut to understand the midgut immune mechanism against exogenous pathogens to provide new ideas and methods for the prevention and control of O. furnacalis. A sequencing platform was used for genome assembly and gene expression. The unigene sequences were annotated and functionally classified by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Significant differences were found in the induced expression profiles before and after infection. Some differentially expressed genes have important relations with lipid metabolism and immune mechanism, suggesting that they play an important role in the innate immune response of O. furnacalis. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used to identify the key genes involved in the signaling pathway, and the expression patterns of these key genes were confirmed. The results could help study the innate immune system of lepidopteran insects and provide theoretical support for the control of related pests and the protection of beneficial insects.

Probiotics and Their Bioproducts: A Promising Approach for Targeting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus

Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health problem that poses a threat to the successful treatment of various bacterial infections, especially those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Conventional treatment of MRSA and VRE infections is challenging and often requires alternative or combination therapies that may have limited efficacy, higher costs, and/or more adverse effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Probiotics and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are two promising approaches that have shown potential benefits in various diseases. Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts. AMPs, usually produced with probiotic bacteria, are short amino acid sequences that have broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Both probiotics and AMPs can modulate the host immune system, inhibit the growth and adhesion of pathogens, disrupt biofilms, and enhance intestinal barrier function. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the role of probiotics and AMPs in targeting multi-drug-resistant bacteria, with a focus on MRSA and VRE. In addition, we discuss future directions for the clinical use of probiotics.

Metabolism and senescence in the immune microenvironment of osteosarcoma: focus on new therapeutic strategies

Osteosarcoma is a highly aggressive and metastatic malignant tumor. It has the highest incidence of all malignant bone tumors and is one of the most common solid tumors in children and adolescents. Osteosarcoma tissues are often richly infiltrated with inflammatory cells, including tumor-associated macrophages, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells, forming a complex immune microenvironment. The expression of immune checkpoint molecules is also high in osteosarcoma tissues, which may be involved in the mechanism of anti-tumor immune escape. Metabolism and senescence are closely related to the immune microenvironment, and disturbances in metabolism and senescence may have important effects on the immune microenvironment, thereby affecting immune cell function and immune responses. Metabolic modulation and anti-senescence therapy are gaining the attention of researchers as emerging immunotherapeutic strategies for tumors. Through an in-depth study of the interconnection of metabolism and anti- senescence in the tumor immune microenvironment and its regulatory mechanism on immune cell function and immune response, more precise therapeutic strategies can be developed. Combined with the screening and application of biomarkers, personalized treatment can be achieved to improve therapeutic efficacy and provide a scientific basis for clinical decision-making. Metabolic modulation and anti- senescence therapy can also be combined with other immunotherapy approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and tumor vaccines, to form a multi-level and multi-dimensional immunotherapy strategy, thus further enhancing the effect of immunotherapy. Multidisciplinary cooperation and integrated treatment can optimize the treatment plan and maximize the survival rate and quality of life of patients. Future research and clinical practice will further advance this field, promising more effective treatment options for patients with osteosarcoma. In this review, we reviewed metabolic and senescence characteristics in the immune microenvironment of osteosarcoma and related immunotherapies, and provide a reference for development of more personalized and effective therapeutic strategies.

Counteracting Immunosenescence-Which Therapeutic Strategies Are Promising?

Aging attenuates the overall responsiveness of the immune system to eradicate pathogens. The increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by innate immune cells under basal conditions, termed inflammaging, contributes to impaired innate immune responsiveness towards pathogen-mediated stimulation and limits antigen-presenting activity. Adaptive immune responses are attenuated as well due to lowered numbers of naïve lymphocytes and their impaired responsiveness towards antigen-specific stimulation. Additionally, the numbers of immunoregulatory cell types, comprising regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, that inhibit the activity of innate and adaptive immune cells are elevated. This review aims to summarize our knowledge on the cellular and molecular causes of immunosenescence while also taking into account senescence effects that constitute immune evasion mechanisms in the case of chronic viral infections and cancer. For tumor therapy numerous nanoformulated drugs have been developed to overcome poor solubility of compounds and to enable cell-directed delivery in order to restore immune functions, e.g., by addressing dysregulated signaling pathways. Further, nanovaccines which efficiently address antigen-presenting cells to mount sustained anti-tumor immune responses have been clinically evaluated. Further, senolytics that selectively deplete senescent cells are being tested in a number of clinical trials. Here we discuss the potential use of such drugs to improve anti-aging therapy.

Predictors of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adverse events in older patients with lung cancer: a prospective real-world analysis

PURPOSE

Older patients with cancer are underrepresented in pivotal trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study aimed to investigate immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that occur in older patients with lung cancer treated with ICIs, and explore predictors of the occurrence of irAEs.

METHODS

A prospective analysis was performed on older patients with lung cancer aged ≥ 65 years who were treated with anti-programmed cell death-1/-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors in Beijing Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. The incidence and risk factors of irAEs were estimated by the Chi-square test or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. The predictive power of Geriatric-8 (G-8) for irAEs was tested by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Lymphocyte counts were measured by flow cytometry. Cytokine levels were tested by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculated progression-free survival (PFS) curves, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate differences.

RESULTS

A total of 201 older patients aged ≥ 65 years with lung cancer were enrolled in this study. The most common irAEs were interstitial pneumonia, dermatological toxicity and hypothyroidism, with rates of 17.2%, 16.1% and 5.6%, respectively. ROC showed that G-8 could predict the occurrence of irAEs in patients aged 65-71 years (≥ G2 irAEs: AUC = 0.757, p < 0.001; ≥ G3 irAEs: AUC = 0.862, p < 0.001), but not for patients aged ≥ 71 years. NLR, LMR, PNI, hypertension and diabetes were associated with irAEs. Lower CD4 + T cells and B cells, and lower levels of IL-10 were associated with the development of irAEs.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirmed the accuracy of G-8 for predicting irAEs in older patients. We also identified several predictors of irAEs in older patients with lung cancer.

Immunosenescence and Skin: A State of Art of Its Etiopathogenetic Role and Crucial Watershed for Systemic Implications

Immunosenescence is a complex multifactorial phenomenon consisting of wide-ranging remodeling of the immune system during the life span, resulting in an age-related qualitative-quantitative decline of immune cells and cytokines. A growing body of evidence in the international literature is highlighting the etiopathogenetic role of skin immunosenescence in the onset of various dermatologic conditions. Skin immunosenescence also serves as an interesting watershed for the onset of system-wide conditions in the context of allergic inflammation. Moreover, in recent years, an increasingly emerging and fascinating etiopathogenetic parallelism has been observed between some mechanisms of immunosenescence, both at cutaneous and systemic sites. This would help to explain the occurrence of apparently unconnected comorbidities. Throughout our review, we aim to shed light on emerging immunosenescent mechanisms shared between dermatologic disorders and other organ-specific diseases in the context of a more extensive discussion on the etiopathogenetic role of skin immunosenescence. A promising future perspective would be to focus on better understanding the mutual influence between skin and host immunity, as well as the influence of high inter-individual variability on immunosenescence/inflammaging. This can lead to a more comprehensive "immunobiographic" definition of each individual.

The role of frailty in advanced HF and cardiac transplantation

Frailty is a complex, multi-system condition often associated with multimorbidity. It has become an important prognostic maker across a range of conditions and is particularly relevant in patients with cardiovascular disease. Frailty encompasses a range of domains including, physical, psychological, and social. There are currently a range of validated tools available to measure frailty. It is an especially important measurement in advanced HF, because frailty occurs in up to 50% of HF patients and is potentially reversible with therapies such as mechanical circulatory support and transplantation. Moreover, frailty is dynamic, and therefore serial measurements are important. This review delves into the measurement of frailty, mechanisms, and its role in different cardiovascular cohorts. Understanding frailty will help determine patients that will benefit from therapies, as well as prognosticate outcomes.

Immunosenescence, Inflammaging, and Frailty: Role of Myeloid Cells in Age-Related Diseases

The immune system is the central regulator of tissue homeostasis, ensuring tissue regeneration and protection against both pathogens and the neoformation of cancer cells. Its proper functioning requires homeostatic properties, which are maintained by an adequate balance of myeloid and lymphoid responses. Aging progressively undermines this ability and compromises the correct activation of immune responses, as well as the resolution of the inflammatory response. A subclinical syndrome of "homeostatic frailty" appears as a distinctive trait of the elderly, which predisposes to immune debilitation and chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), causing the uncontrolled development of chronic and degenerative diseases. The innate immune compartment, in particular, undergoes to a sequela of age-dependent functional alterations, encompassing steps of myeloid progenitor differentiation and altered responses to endogenous and exogenous threats. Here, we will review the age-dependent evolution of myeloid populations, as well as their impact on frailty and diseases of the elderly.

Activation of α7nAChR by PNU282987 improves cognitive impairment through inhibiting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in D-galactose induced aging via regulating α7nAChR/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Aging is an important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. The activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is involved in inflammation and cognition, but the specific role it plays in aging remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the anti-aging effect of the activation of α7nAChR on aging rats and BV2 cells induced by D-galactose, as well as its potential mechanism. D-galactose induced an increase in the SA-β-Gal positive cells, expression of p16 and p21 in vivo and in vitro. α7nAChR selective agonist PNU282987 decreased levels of pro-inflammatory factors, MDA, and Aβ, enhanced SOD activity and levels of anti-inflammatory factor (IL10) in vivo. PNU282987 enhanced the expression of Arg1, decreased the expression of iNOS, IL1β and TNFα in vitro. PNU282987 upregulated the levels of α7nAChR, Nrf2 and HO-1 in vivo and in vitro. The results of Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests showed that PNU282987 improved cognitive impairment in aging rats. Furthermore, α7nAChR selective inhibitor methyllycaconitine (MLA) results were opposite with PNU282987. PNU282987 improves cognitive impairment through inhibiting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in D-galactose induced aging via regulating the α7nAChR/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Therefore, targeting the α7nAChR may be a viable therapeutic approach for anti-inflammaging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Bibliometric and visualization analysis of global research trends on immunosenescence (1970-2021)

BACKGROUND

Immunosenescence, the aging of the immune system, leads to a decline in the body's adaptability to the environment and plays an important role in various diseases. Immunosenescence has been widely studied in recent years. However, to date, no relevant bibliometric analyses have been conducted. This study aimed to analyze the foundation and frontiers of immunosenescence research through bibliometric analysis.

METHODS

Articles and reviews on immunosenescence from 1970 to 2021 were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection. Countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords were analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. The R language and Microsoft Excel 365 were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 3763 publications were included in the study. The global literature on immunosenescence research has increased from 1970 to 2021. The United States was the most productive country with 1409 papers and the highest H-index. Italy had the highest average number of citations per article (58.50). Among the top 10 institutions, 50 % were in the United States. The University of California was the most productive institution, with 159 articles. Kroemer G, Franceschi C, Goronzy JJ, Solana R, and Fulop T were among the top 10 most productive and co-cited authors. Experimental Gerontology (n = 170) published the most papers on immunosenescence. The analysis of keywords found that current research focuses on "inflammaging", "gut microbiota", "cellular senescence", and "COVID-19".

CONCLUSIONS

Immunosenescence research has increased over the years, and future cooperation and interaction between countries and institutions must be expanded. The connection between inflammaging, gut microbiota, age-related diseases, and immunosenescence is a current research priority. Individualized treatment of immunosenescence, reducing its negative effects, and promoting healthy longevity will become an emerging research direction.

Lonicera japonica polysaccharides improve longevity and fitness of Caenorhabditis elegans by activating DAF-16

Polysaccharide is one of the main active ingredients in Lonicera japonica Thunb. (L. japonica). In this study, we examined the anti-aging activities of L.japonica polysaccharides (LJPs) and further explored the mechanisms. Polysaccharides from L.japonica including the crude LJP (CLJP) and the purified fraction (LJP-2-1) were characterized. The molecular weights of CLJP and LJP-2-1 were 1450 kDa and 1280 kDa, respectively. Meanwhile, CLJP was mainly composed of galacturonic acid (23.57 %), galactose (23.45 %) and arabinose (23.45 %). LJP-2-1 was mainly composed of galacturonic acid (51.25 %) and arabinose (22.89 %). In Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), LJPs maximally prolonged mean lifespan by 13.97 %, promoted fitness with increased motility by 40.92 % and pharyngeal pumping by 25.72 %, and decreased lipofuscin accumulation by 38.9 % with intact body length and fecundity. Moreover, CLJP extended the mean lifespan of nematodes under oxidative and heat stress by 16.76 % and 14.05 % respectively by activating stress-related genes and the antioxidant system. Further, CLJP required DAF-16 to prolong the lifespan of nematodes. CLJP upregulated the expression of daf-16 and its targeted downstream genes, including sod-3, gst-4 and hsp-16.2. Moreover, nuclear accumulation of DAF-16 was promoted upon CLJP treatment. Together, our data uncover the role of LJPs in extending lifespan and healthspan through DAF-16.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Flavonoids in Common Neurological Disorders Associated with Aging

Aging reduces homeostasis and contributes to increasing the risk of brain diseases and death. Some of the principal characteristics are chronic and low-grade inflammation, a general increase in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and inflammatory markers. Aging-related diseases include focal ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Flavonoids are the most common class of polyphenols and are abundantly found in plant-based foods and beverages. A small group of individual flavonoid molecules (e.g., quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and myricetin) has been used to explore the anti-inflammatory effect in vitro studies and in animal models of focal ischemic stroke and AD and PD, and the results show that these molecules reduce the activated neuroglia and several proinflammatory cytokines, and also, inactivate inflammation and inflammasome-related transcription factors. However, the evidence from human studies has been limited. In this review article, we highlight the evidence that individual natural molecules can modulate neuroinflammation in diverse studies from in vitro to animal models to clinical studies of focal ischemic stroke and AD and PD, and we discuss future areas of research that can help researchers to develop new therapeutic agents.

Pan-cancer transcriptomic analysis identified six classes of immunosenescence genes revealed molecular links between aging, immune system and cancer

Aging is a complex process that significantly impacts the immune system. The aging-related decline of the immune system, termed immunosenescence, can lead to disease development, including cancer. The perturbation of immunosenescence genes may characterize the associations between cancer and aging. However, the systematical characterization of immunosenescence genes in pan-cancer remains largely unexplored. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the expression of immunosenescence genes and their roles in 26 types of cancer. We developed an integrated computational pipeline to identify and characterize immunosenescence genes in cancer based on the expression profiles of immune genes and clinical information of patients. We identified 2218 immunosenescence genes that were significantly dysregulated in a wide variety of cancers. These immunosenescence genes were divided into six categories based on their relationships with aging. Besides, we assessed the importance of immunosenescence genes in clinical prognosis and identified 1327 genes serving as prognostic markers in cancers. BTN3A1, BTN3A2, CTSD, CYTIP, HIF1AN, and RASGRP1 were associated with ICB immunotherapy response and served as prognostic factors after ICB immunotherapy in melanoma. Collectively, our results furthered the understanding of the relationship between immunosenescence and cancer and provided insights into immunotherapy for patients.

Thymic Exhaustion and Increased Immune Activation Are the Main Mechanisms Involved in Impaired Immunological Recovery of HIV-Positive Patients under ART

Decades of studies in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have passed, and the mechanisms that determine impaired immunological recovery in HIV-positive patients receiving ART have not been completely elucidated yet. Thus, T-lymphocytes immunophenotyping and cytokines levels were analyzed in 44 ART-treated HIV-positive patients who had a prolonged undetectable plasma viral load. The patients were classified as immunological non-responders (INR = 13) and immunological responders (IR = 31), according to their CD4+ T cell levels. Evaluating pre-CD4+ levels, we observed a statistically significant trend between lower CD4+ T cell levels and INR status (Z = 3.486, p < 0.001), and during 18 months of ART, the CD4+ T cell levels maintained statistical differences between the INR and IR groups (WTS = 37.252, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the INRs were associated with an elevated age at ART start; a lower pre-treatment CD4+ T cell count and a percentage that remained low even after 18 months of ART; lower levels of recent thymic emigrant (RTE) CD4+ T cell (CD45RA + CD31+) and a naïve CD4+ T cell (CD45RA + CD62L+); higher levels of central memory CD4+ T cells (CD45RA-CD62L+); and higher immune activation by CD4+ expressing HLA-DR+ or both (HLA-DR+ and CD38+) when compared with IRs. Our study demonstrates that thymic exhaustion and increased immune activation are two mechanisms substantially implicated in the impaired immune recovery of ART-treated HIV patients.

Identification of novel pathways and immune profiles related to sarcopenia

Introduction

Sarcopenia is a progressive deterioration of skeletal muscle mass strength and function.

Methods

To uncover the underlying cellular and biological mechanisms, we studied the association between sarcopenia's three stages and the patient's ethnicity, identified a gene regulatory network based on motif enrichment in the upregulated gene set of sarcopenia, and compared the immunological landscape among sarcopenia stages.

Results

We found that sarcopenia (S) was associated with GnRH, neurotrophin, Rap1, Ras, and p53 signaling pathways. Low muscle mass (LMM) patients showed activated pathways of VEGF signaling, B-cell receptor signaling, ErbB signaling, and T-cell receptor signaling. Low muscle mass and physical performance (LMM_LP) patients showed lower enrichment scores in B-cell receptor signaling, apoptosis, HIF-1 signaling, and the adaptive immune response pathways. Five common genes among DEGs and the elastic net regression model, TTC39DP, SLURP1, LCE1C, PTCD2P1, and OR7E109P, were expressed between S patients and healthy controls. SLURP1 and LCE1C showed the highest expression levels among sarcopenic Chinese descent than Caucasians and Afro-Caribbeans. Gene regulatory analysis of top upregulated genes in S patients yielded a top-scoring regulon containing GATA1, GATA2, and GATA3 as master regulators and nine predicted direct target genes. Two genes were associated with locomotion: POSTN and SLURP1. TTC39DP upregulation was associated with a better prognosis and stronger immune profile in S patients. The upregulation of SLURP1 and LCE1C was associated with a worse prognosis and weaker immune profile.

Conclusion

This study provides new insight into sarcopenia's cellular and immunological prospects and evaluates the age and sarcopenia-related modifications of skeletal muscle.

Toll-like receptors and NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pathways in Parkinson's disease: mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor disturbances as a result of a complex and not fully understood pathogenesis, probably including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and formation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates. As age is the main risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders including PD, progressive aging of the immune system leading to inflammaging and immunosenescence may contribute to neuroinflammation leading to PD onset and progression; abnormal α-syn aggregation in the context of immune dysfunction may favor activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NOD) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome within microglial cells through interaction with toll-like receptors (TLRs). This process would further lead to activation of Caspase (Cas)-1, and increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (PC), with subsequent impairment of mitochondria and damage to dopaminergic neurons. All these phenomena are mediated by the translocation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and enhanced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). To date, drugs to treat PD are mainly aimed at relieving clinical symptoms and there are no disease-modifying options to reverse or stop disease progression. This review outlines the role of the TLR/NLRP3/Cas-1 pathway in PD-related immune dysfunction, also focusing on specific therapeutic options that might be used since the early stages of the disease to counteract neuroinflammation and immune dysfunction.

The DARC Side of Inflamm-Aging: Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC/ACKR1) as a Potential Biomarker of Aging, Immunosenescence, and Breast Oncogenesis among High-Risk Subpopulations

The proclivity of certain pre-malignant and pre-invasive breast lesions to progress while others do not continues to perplex clinicians. Clinicians remain at a crossroads with effectively managing the high-risk patient subpopulation owing to the paucity of biomarkers that can adequately risk-stratify and inform clinical decisions that circumvent unnecessary administration of cytotoxic and invasive treatments. The immune system mounts the most important line of defense against tumorigenesis and progression. Unfortunately, this defense declines or "ages" over time-a phenomenon known as immunosenescence. This results in "inflamm-aging" or the excessive infiltration of pro-inflammatory chemokines, which alters the leukocyte composition of the tissue microenvironment, and concomitant immunoediting of these leukocytes to diminish their antitumor immune functions. Collectively, these effects can foster the sequelae of neoplastic transformation and progression. The erythrocyte cell antigen, Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines(DARC/ACKR1), binds and internalizes chemokines to maintain homeostatic levels and modulate leukocyte trafficking. A negative DARC status is highly prevalent among subpopulations of West African genetic ancestry, who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer and disease progression at a younger age. However, the role of DARC in accelerated inflamm-aging and malignant transformation remains underexplored. Herein, we review compelling evidence suggesting that DARC may be protective against inflamm-aging and, therefore, reduce the risk of a high-risk lesion progressing to malignancy. We also discuss evidence supporting that immunotherapeutic intervention-based on DARC status-among high-risk subpopulations may evade malignant transformation and progression. A closer look into this unique role of DARC could glean deeper insight into the immune response profile of individual high-risk patients and their predisposition to progress as well as guide the administration of more "cyto-friendly" immunotherapeutic intervention to potentially "turn back the clock" on inflamm-aging-mediated oncogenesis and progression.

Long-term assessment of systemic microcirculatory function and plasma cytokines after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Systemic microvascular dysfunction has been shown to be present in COVID-19, and serum cytokines are known to be involved in the regulation of vascular function. We sought to evaluate systemic microvascular endothelial function, with laser doppler perfusion monitoring (LDPM), and plasma levels of cytokines after acute COVID-19. Individuals admitted to a Cardiology hospital with acute COVID-19 and followed for 12-15 months after recovery underwent noninvasive evaluation of systemic endothelium-dependent microvascular reactivity by cutaneous LDPM with local thermal hyperemia (LTH). A multiplex biometric immunoassay panel was used to assess 48 serum cytokines and chemokines. Twenty patients and 14 control volunteers were enrolled. The areas under the curves of vasodilation induced by LTH were significantly increased after recovery (P=0.009) and were not different from values obtained in healthy volunteers (P = 0.85). The peak microvascular flow during LTH did also significantly increase (P = 0.02), and was not different form values obtained in healthy volunteers (P = 0.55). Several cytokines displayed significantly reduced serum concentrations after recovery from COVID-19. In conclusion, endothelium-dependent systemic microvascular reactivity improved after recovery from COVID-19 in patients with cardiovascular diseases, in parallel with a reduction in the levels of several serum cytokines and chemokines involved in the regulation of vascular function and inflammation.

Immunosenescence in Caenorhabditis elegans

Immunosenescence is an age-dependent decline in immune functions and hallmark of aging in diverse species, ranging from invertebrates to mammals. However, identifying the factors responsible for immunosenescence is challenging because of the complexity of immune systems and aging in mammals. The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans is suitable for understanding immunosenescence because of its simple immune system and rapid aging process. In this review, we discuss the advances in our understanding of immunosenescence in C. elegans. PMK-1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), SKN-1/NRF, and ZIP-10/bZIP transcription factor regulate immunosenescence through p38 MAPK and insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathways. Because these factors and pathways are evolutionarily conserved, the findings discussed in this review may help understand the mechanisms underlying immunosenescence and develop new treatment therapy for immunosenescence in humans.

Physical resilience in older adults: Potential use in promoting healthy aging

Physical resilience is a dynamic concept referring to the physiological response when the body is exposed to stressors. The level of physical resilience is the sum of underlying physiological reserves. Moreover, it may not only be determined by age, genetics, or exposure to a variety of diseases, but is also closely related to the psychological, social, and environmental factors of an individual. This paper summarizes our present understanding of the relationship between physical resilience and other concepts closely related to it. Furthermore, we illustrate the current research progress on physical resilience models and clinical resilience assessment. Besides, this paper intends to present a better understanding of physical resilience and its use in treatment decision-making, personalized diagnosis and disease management, and prevention and rehabilitation strategies.

Deciphering clock genes as emerging targets against aging

The old people often suffer from circadian rhythm disturbances, which in turn accelerate aging. Many aging-related degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and osteoarthritis have an inextricable connection with circadian rhythm. In light of the predominant effects of clock genes on regulating circadian rhythm, we systematically present the elaborate network of roles that clock genes play in aging in this review. First, we briefly introduce the basic background regarding clock genes. Second, we systemically summarize the roles of clock genes in aging and aging-related degenerative diseases. Third, we discuss the relationship between clock genes polymorphisms and aging. In summary, this review is intended to clarify the indispensable roles of clock genes in aging and sheds light on developing clock genes as anti-aging targets.