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Wang S, Yue Y, Wang X, Tan Y, Zhang Q. SCARF2 is a target for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Evidence from multi-omics research and cohort validation. Aging Cell 2024:e14266. [PMID: 38958042 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related chronic inflammatory lung diseases impose a threat on public health, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, their etiology and potential targets have not been clarified. We performed genome-wide meta-analysis for IPF with the largest sample size (2883 cases and 741,929 controls) and leveraged the summary statistics of COPD (17,547 cases and 617,598 controls). Transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) designs, together with genetic colocalization, were implemented to find robust targets. The mediation effect was assessed using leukocyte telomere length (LTL). The single-cell transcriptome analysis was performed to link targets with cell types. Individual-level data from UK Biobank (UKB) were used to validate our findings. Sixteen genetically predicted plasma proteins were causally associated with the risk of IPF and 6 proteins were causally associated with COPD. Therein, genetically-elevated plasma level of SCARF2 protein should reduce the risk of both IPF (odds ratio, OR = 0.9974 [0.9970, 0.9978]) and COPD (OR = 0.7431 [0.6253, 0.8831]) and such effects were not mediated by LTL. Genetic colocalization further corroborated these MR results of SCARF2. The transcriptome-wide MR confirmed that higher expression level of SCARF2 was associated with a reduced risk of both. However, the single-cell RNA analysis indicated that SCARF2 expression level was only relatively lower in epithelial cells of COPD lung tissue compared to normal lung tissue. UKB data implicated an inverse association of serum SCARF2 protein with COPD (hazard ratio, HR = 1.215 [1.106, 1.335]). The SCARF2 gene should be a novel target for COP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuanyi Yue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xueqing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Tan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Tao Y, Wang H, Luo J, Zhang H, Zhang W, Yu M, Ji S, Peng S, Zhang X. The Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Frailty: A Systematic Review. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024; 25:105042. [PMID: 38796164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105042] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Based on life-course theory, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have emerged as risk factors for health in later life. This study aimed to explore the association between ACEs and frailty. DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Frail older adults who have experienced ACEs. METHODS We searched 7 databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The last searched date was October 27, 2023. Included studies should have investigated the association between exposure to at least 1 ACE and frailty. Two researchers independently assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and an adapted version of the NOS scale and also extracted relevant characteristics and outcomes of the included studies. RESULTS A total of 14 studies were finally included. Consistent associations with increased risk of frailty were only shown in studies that assessed family members with mental illness, low neighborhood quality, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and combinations of ACEs. In addition, women exposed to ACEs were more likely to be at risk for frailty than men, and greater numbers or types of exposure to ACEs were associated with higher odds of frailty. The results of the quality assessment showed a moderate risk of bias in half of the studies. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This study summarizes for the first time the evidence for an association between ACEs and frailty. Considered collectively, increased attention to ACEs may be one way to prevent frailty, and unhealthy lifestyles resulting from ACEs may serve as a breakthrough in developing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Tao
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Sichuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingsong Luo
- Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Sichuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Meng Yu
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuyang Ji
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Sihan Peng
- Affiliated hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xiangeng Zhang
- Sichuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Ashe JJ, Evans MK, Zonderman AB, Waldstein SR. Absent Relations of Religious Coping to Telomere Length in African American and White Women and Men. Exp Aging Res 2024; 50:459-481. [PMID: 37258109 PMCID: PMC10687320 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2023.2219187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated whether race and sex moderated the relations of religious coping to telomere length (TL), a biomarker of cellular aging implicated in race-related health disparities. METHODS Participant data were drawn from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, which included 252 socioeconomically diverse African American and White men and women aged (30-64 years old). Cross-sectional multivariable regression analyses examined interactive associations of religious coping, race, and sex to TL, adjusting for other sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS Religious coping was unrelated to TL in this sample (p's > .05). There were no notable race or sex differences. Post hoc exploratory analyses similarly found that neither secular social support coping use nor substance use coping was associated with TL. CONCLUSION There was no evidence to support that religious coping use provided protective effects to TL in this sample of African American and White women and men. Nevertheless, future studies should use more comprehensive assessments of religious coping and intersectional identities to provide an in-depth examination of religiosity/spirituality as a potential culturally salient protective factor in cellular aging among African Americans in the context of specific chronic stressors such as discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J. Ashe
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Michele K. Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Alan B. Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Shari R. Waldstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, US
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, US
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Desai P, Ng TKS, Krueger KR, Wilson RS, Evans DA, Rajan KB. Perceived Stress, Blood Biomarkers, and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:507-511. [PMID: 38648023 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a substantial gap in knowledge regarding how perceived stress may influence the relationship between serum-measured biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. METHODS This study consists of 1118 older adult participants from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP) (60% Black participants and 63% female participants). Linear mixed effects regression models were conducted to examine the role of perceived stress in the association between three blood biomarkers: total tau (t-tau), glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) on global cognitive decline. Stratified analysis by stress level was also conducted to evaluate the associations between each blood biomarker and baseline cognitive function and decline. All models adjusted for age, race, sex, education, time, and their interactions with time. RESULTS The interaction of stress, NfL concentration, and time was statistically significant on global cognition ( β = -0.064 [SE = 0.028], p = .023) and on episodic memory ( β = -0.097 [SE = 0.036], p = .007). CONCLUSIONS Greater stress level worsens the association between high NfL concentration and cognitive decline. Stress management interventions may be helpful to reduce the rate of cognitive decline in individuals with high concentrations of NfL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaja Desai
- From the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging (Desai, Ng, Krueger, Evans, Rajan) and Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center (Wilson), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; and Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis (Rajan), Davis, California
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Kidd E, Meimaridou E, Williams J, Metherell LA, Walley AJ, Fairbrother UL. Choice of gDNA isolation method has a significant impact on average murine Telomere Length estimates. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2024; 54:788-795. [PMID: 38088914 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2023.2288572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Telomere Length (TL) and integrity is significantly associated with age-related disease, multiple genetic and environmental factors. We observe mouse genomic DNA (gDNA) isolation methods to have a significant impact on average TL estimates. The canonical qPCR method does not measure TL directly but via the ratio of telomere repeats to a single copy gene (SCG) generating a T/S ratio. We use a monochromatic-multiplex-qPCR (mmqPCR) method which multiplexes the PCR and enables quantification of the target and the single copy gene within the same qPCR reaction. We demonstrate that TL measurements, from murine gDNA, isolated via Spin Columns (SC) and Magnetic Beads (MB), generate significantly smaller T/S ratios compared to gDNA isolated via traditional phenol/chloroform methods. The former methods may impede correct TL estimation by producing non representative fragment sets and reducing qPCR efficacy. This work highlights discrepancies in TL measurements due to different extraction techniques. We recommend the use of gDNA isolation methods that are shown to preserve DNA length and integrity, such as phenol/chloroform isolation. We propose that widely used high throughput DNA isolation methodologies can create spurious associations within a sample set, thus creating misleading data. We suggest that published TL associations should be revisited in the light of these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Kidd
- School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London, UK
| | - E Meimaridou
- School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London, UK
| | - J Williams
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - L A Metherell
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - A J Walley
- Section of Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - U L Fairbrother
- School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London, UK
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Duarte M, Pedrosa SS, Khusial PR, Madureira AR. Exploring the interplay between stress mediators and skin microbiota in shaping age-related hallmarks: A review. Mech Ageing Dev 2024; 220:111956. [PMID: 38906383 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2024.111956] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Psychological stress is a major contributing factor to several health problems (e.g., depression, cardiovascular disease). Around 35 % of the world's population suffers from it, including younger generations. Physiologically, stress manifests through neuroendocrine pathways (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and Sympathetic-Adrenal-Medullary (SAM) system) which culminate in the production of stress mediators like cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Stress and its mediators have been associated to body aging, through molecular mechanisms such as telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis, among others. Regarding its impact in the skin, stress impacts its structural integrity and physiological function. Despite this review focusing on several hallmarks of aging, emphasis was placed on skin microbiota dysbiosis. In this line, several studies, comprising different age groups, demographic contexts and body sites, have reported skin microbiota alterations associated with aging, and some effects of stress mediators on skin microbiota have also been reviewed in this paper. From a different perspective, since it is not a "traditional" stress mediator, oxytocin, a cortisol antagonist, has been related to glucorticoids inhibition and to display positive effects on cellular aging. This hormone dysregulation has been associated to psychological issues such as depression, whereas its upregulation has been linked to positive social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Duarte
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Santos Pedrosa
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal
| | - P Raaj Khusial
- Amyris Biotech INC, 5885 Hollis St Ste 100, Emeryville, CA 94608-2405, USA
| | - Ana Raquel Madureira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal.
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7
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Fu Y, Lou H, Chen Q, Wu S, Chen H, Liang K, Ge Y, Zhao C. Objective assessment of the association between telomere length, a biomarker of aging, and health screening indicators: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38533. [PMID: 38875394 PMCID: PMC11175970 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Physical examination data are used to indicate individual health status and organ health, and understanding which physical examination data are indicative of physiological aging is critical for health management and early intervention. There is a lack of research on physical examination data and telomere length. Therefore, the present study analyzed the association between blood telomere length and physical examination indices in healthy people of different ages to investigate the role and association of various organs/systems with physiological aging in the human body. The present study was a cross-sectional study. Sixteen physical examination indicators of different tissue and organ health status were selected and analyzed for trends in relation to actual age and telomere length (TL). The study included 632 individuals with a total of 11,766 data for 16 physical examination indicators. Age was linearly correlated with 11 indicators. Interestingly, telomere length was strongly correlated only with the renal indicators eGFR (P < .001), CYS-C (P < .001), and SCR (P < .001). The study established that renal aging or injury is a risk factor for Physical aging of the human body. Early identification and management are essential to healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiting Fu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Translational Medicine and Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Huiling Lou
- Department of Geriatrics, National Key Clinical Specialty, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaocong Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, National Key Clinical Specialty, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hansen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- GCH Regenerative Medicine Group-Jinan University Joint Research and Development Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kaixin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanlong Ge
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- GCH Regenerative Medicine Group-Jinan University Joint Research and Development Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunzhen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Translational Medicine and Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
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Al-Turki TM, Maranon DG, Nelson CB, Lewis AM, Luxton JJ, Taylor LE, Altina N, Wu F, Du H, Kim J, Damle N, Overbey E, Meydan C, Grigorev K, Winer DA, Furman D, Mason CE, Bailey SM. Telomeric RNA (TERRA) increases in response to spaceflight and high-altitude climbing. Commun Biol 2024; 7:698. [PMID: 38862827 PMCID: PMC11167063 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06014-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive nucleoprotein complexes at chromosomal termini essential for maintaining genome stability. Telomeric RNA, or TERRA, is a previously presumed long noncoding RNA of heterogeneous lengths that contributes to end-capping structure and function, and facilitates telomeric recombination in tumors that maintain telomere length via the telomerase-independent Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. Here, we investigated TERRA in the radiation-induced DNA damage response (DDR) across astronauts, high-altitude climbers, healthy donors, and cellular models. Similar to astronauts in the space radiation environment and climbers of Mt. Everest, in vitro radiation exposure prompted increased transcription of TERRA, while simulated microgravity did not. Data suggest a specific TERRA DDR to telomeric double-strand breaks (DSBs), and provide direct demonstration of hybridized TERRA at telomere-specific DSB sites, indicative of protective TERRA:telomeric DNA hybrid formation. Targeted telomeric DSBs also resulted in accumulation of TERRA foci in G2-phase, supportive of TERRA's role in facilitating recombination-mediated telomere elongation. Results have important implications for scenarios involving persistent telomeric DNA damage, such as those associated with chronic oxidative stress (e.g., aging, systemic inflammation, environmental and occupational radiation exposures), which can trigger transient ALT in normal human cells, as well as for targeting TERRA as a therapeutic strategy against ALT-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taghreed M Al-Turki
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - David G Maranon
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Christopher B Nelson
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Aidan M Lewis
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Jared J Luxton
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lynn E Taylor
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Noelia Altina
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Fei Wu
- Buck AI Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Huixun Du
- Buck AI Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eliah Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cem Meydan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kirill Grigorev
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel A Winer
- Buck AI Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - David Furman
- Buck AI Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, Argentina
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Susan M Bailey
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Chen Y, Ding X, Aierken A, Chen Y, Li Y. Related risk factors for age-dependent telomere shortening change with age from the perspective of life course. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 121:105349. [PMID: 38340585 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105349] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many related factors can accelerate the age-dependent telomere shortening, but some problems remain unresolved. This study aimed to assess the risk factors of telomere attrition at different age stages. METHODS This study was a population-based nationally representative survey study. All data were collected using a standard methodology by the national surveillance system. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure relative leukocyte telomere length. Multiple linear regression analysis with age stratification was used to estimate the association of shortened telomere length with risk factors at the different age stages. Covariance analysis was used to compare the telomere length of category variables, and the model was adjusted for potentially confounders. RESULTS A total of 7,659 eligible participants aged 20 years or older with DNA specimens participated in the study. Related risk factors for age-dependent telomere shortening included gender, race-ethnicity, education levels, family income, health insurance, marital status, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, and self-reported greatest weight, which were associated with change in telomere length at different age stages. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Related risk factors of telomere attrition were changed with age in life course. The evaluation of related risk factors for telomere attrition in terms of age may be a more accurate evaluation comparison with the specific age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Chen
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, China
| | - XiWen Ding
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Ayizuhere Aierken
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, China; Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, China; School of medicine, Zhejiang University, China.
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Millar K, Rodd C, Rempel G, Cohen E, Sibley KM, Garland A. The Clinical Definition of Children With Medical Complexity: A Modified Delphi Study. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023064556. [PMID: 38804054 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-064556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Children with medical complexity (CMC) comprise a subgroup of children with severe chronic diseases. A conceptual definition for CMC has been formulated, but there is no agreement on criteria to fulfill each of the 4 proposed domains: diagnostic conditions, functional limitations, health care use, and family-identified needs. Our objective with this study was to identify a standardized definition of CMC. METHODS Through a scoping review of the CMC literature, we identified potential criteria to fulfill each domain. These were incorporated into an electronic survey that was completed by a geographic and professionally varied panel of 81 American and Canadian respondents with expertise in managing CMC (response rate 70%) as part of a 4-iteration Delphi procedure. Respondents were asked to vote for the inclusion of each criterion in the definition, and for those with quantitative components (eg, hospitalization rates), to generate a consensus threshold value for meeting that criterion. The final criteria were analyzed by a committee and collapsed when situations of redundancy arose. RESULTS Of 1411 studies considered, 132 informed 55 criteria for the initial survey, which was presented to 81 respondents. Consensus for inclusion was reached on 48 criteria and for exclusion on 1 criterion. The committee collapsed those 48 criteria into 39 final criteria, 1 for diagnostic conditions, 2 for functional limitations, 13 for health care use, and 23 for family needs. CONCLUSIONS These results represent the first consensus-based, standardized definition of CMC. Standardized identification is needed to advance understanding of their epidemiology and outcomes, as well as to rigorously study treatment strategies and care models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eyal Cohen
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Allan Garland
- Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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11
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Walker CG, Thayer ZM, Marks EJ, Ly KN, Pillai A, Waldie K, Underwood L, Snell RG, Knowles SD, Cha JE, Morton SMB. Association between maternal depression symptoms and child telomere length. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 174:319-325. [PMID: 38685189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The biological mechanisms that explain how adverse early life events influence adult disease risk are poorly understood. One proposed mechanism is via the induction of accelerated biological aging, for which telomere length is considered a biomarker. We aimed to determine if maternal depression pre- and post-partum was associated with telomere length in children at 4 years of age (n = 4299). Mothers completed structured questionnaires assessing depression during pregnancy (Edinburgh Depression Scale), at 9 months (Edinburgh Depression Scale), and at 54 months postpartum (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). Regression methods were used to investigate the relationship between telomere length (DNA from saliva) and maternal depression score recorded at each stage. Significant covariates included in the final model were: maternal age at pregnancy; child sex; child ethnicity; gestational age group, and rurality group. Child telomere length was found to be longer if their mother had a higher depression score at both postpartum time points tested (9 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.01, 54 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.002, P = 0.02). Although these findings seem paradoxical, increased telomere length may be an adaptive response to early life stressors. We propose several testable hypotheses for these results and to determine if the positive association between depression and telomere length is a developmental adaptation or an indirect consequence of environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline G Walker
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Zaneta M Thayer
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emma J Marks
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kien N Ly
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Avinesh Pillai
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen Waldie
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand; School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lisa Underwood
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Russell G Snell
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sarah D Knowles
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Auckland Museum, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jane E Cha
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Susan M B Morton
- Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua and Growing Up in New Zealand, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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12
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Faria M, Ganz A, Galkin F, Zhavoronkov A, Snyder M. Psychogenic Aging: A Novel Prospect to Integrate Psychobiological Hallmarks of Aging. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:226. [PMID: 38816369 PMCID: PMC11139997 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02919-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychological factors are amongst the most robust predictors of healthspan and longevity, yet are rarely incorporated into scientific and medical frameworks of aging. The prospect of characterizing and integrating the psychological influences of aging is therefore an unmet step for the advancement of geroscience. Psychogenic Aging research is an emerging branch of biogerontology that aims to address this gap by investigating the impact of psychological factors on human longevity. It is an interdisciplinary field that integrates complex psychological, neurological, and molecular relationships that can be best understood with precision medicine methodologies. This perspective argues that psychogenic aging should be considered an integral component of the Hallmarks of Aging framework, opening the doors for future biopsychosocial integration in longevity research. By providing a unique perspective on frequently overlooked aspects of organismal aging, psychogenic aging offers new insights and targets for anti-aging therapeutics on individual and societal levels that can significantly benefit the scientific and medical communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Faria
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ariel Ganz
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Deep Longevity, Hong Kong, China
- Insilico Medicine, Hong Kong, China
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Michael Snyder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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13
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Korinek K, Young Y, Schmidt J, Toan TK, Zimmer Z. War-Related Life Course Stress and Late-Life Subjective Age in Northern Vietnam. Innov Aging 2024; 8:igae048. [PMID: 38912425 PMCID: PMC11192863 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igae048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives The role of early life stressors in subjective aging is weakly understood, especially in low- to middle-income countries. This paper investigated how early life stressors encountered in armed conflict influence subjective age among Vietnamese older adults who experienced war over decades of their early life. Research Design and Methods We analyzed survey data from the 2018 Vietnam Health and Aging Study involving 2,447 Vietnamese older adults who encountered diverse war-related stressors in early adulthood. The analytical sample (N = 2,341) included 50.9% women and 49.1% men, with an average age of 69.8. 41.1% are military veterans. We conducted survey-adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses with mediation to predict the probability of feeling younger or older than one's chronological age. We examined how childhood adversity (i.e., childhood hunger and low parental SES) and wartime stressors (i.e., war-related violence, malevolent environment, and military service) influenced late-life subjective age, both directly and as mediated by late-life mental, functional, and physical health. Results We found significant associations between early adulthood war-related stressors and subjective age. Formal military service significantly lessened the relative risk of feeling subjectively old, and more plentiful wartime violence exposures significantly increased the risk of feeling younger than one's chronological age. Violence exposure's effects were both direct and indirect through functional and mental health. Conversely, greater exposure to wartime malevolent conditions (e.g., shortages of clean water and evacuations) and multiple episodes of severe hunger in childhood increased the risk of feeling older, effects both direct and mediated by late-life functional and mental health. Discussion and Implications Results suggest wartime stressors, especially war's malevolent environments and severe childhood hunger, experienced in many conflict-affected populations globally, have the potential to subjectively "age" survivors. Yet, not all war exposures are equal, and some may yield psychological and socioeconomic resources that support healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Korinek
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Yvette Young
- Laboratory of Migration and Mobility, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jefferson Schmidt
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Tran Khanh Toan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Zachary Zimmer
- Department of Family Studies and Gerontology, Center for Global Aging and Community, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Canada
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14
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Murray TA. Equity and justice in health. Nurs Outlook 2024; 72:102178. [PMID: 38754268 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102178] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While justice is promised to all U.S. citizens, the truth is that the pathway to equity and justice in health is riddled with obstacles for many marginalized and minoritized groups. The United States ranks lower on crucial health measures than its high-income peer countries, reflecting differences in health outcomes for marginalized and minoritized populations. PURPOSE Promoting equity and justice in health is vital as health shapes the daily experiences of individuals and communities, specifically those from marginalized and minoritized backgrounds. METHOD This paper highlights the health care system and sociopolitical factors contributing to the longstanding structural barriers that impede health and the need for structural competence, advocacy, and activism in the nursing workforce. DISCUSSION Understanding systemic issues underlying health inequities provides an opportunity to develop targeted strategies to eliminate practices perpetuating inequities and pave the way for everyone to have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. CONCLUSION Specific education, practice, research, and policy recommendations can advance equity and justice in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teri A Murray
- Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO.
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15
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Nanda A, Logan A, Tennyson RL. The influence of perceived stress and motivation on telomere length among NCAA swimmers. Am J Hum Biol 2024:e24091. [PMID: 38747360 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telomere length (TL) shortening is associated with increased cellular senescence and functional decline with age. Regular physical activity is posited to safeguard against TL shortening, but there is disagreement on how concurrent psychosocial stress may influence this relationship. The current analysis explored whether psychosocial stress is associated with TL differences in highly physically active individuals. METHODS TL was measured from capillary dried blood spots collected from Division-I (D-1) and Division-III (D-3) National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) swimmers (N = 28) and non-athlete students from the same schools (N = 15). All participants completed Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and student-athletes completed an additional questionnaire to assess psychosocial factors associated with their lifestyle; The Student Athletes' Motivation towards Sports and Academics Questionnaire (SAMSAQ). Semi-structured interviews further contextualized how student-athletes internalize their stress. RESULTS There was no significant difference in TL or PSS scores between swimmers and controls. D-1 swimmers reported significantly higher career and student-athlete motivation scores compared to D-3, but non-significantly higher PSS and similar academic motivation scores. Themes from interviews with collegiate swimmers included COVID-19 stress, fear of injury, pressure from academics, expectations to perform, and financial pressures. CONCLUSIONS These themes may have contributed to higher PSS scores in D-1 swimmers compared to D-3 but did not appear to impact their TL. Given differences in perceived stress, sources of stress, and SAMSAQ scores, further analyses with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand how these factors influence human biology and health while engaged in intense physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Nanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alvin Logan
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robert L Tennyson
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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16
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McCollum SE, Canter O, Fasanello VJ, Gronsky S, Haussmann MF. Birds of a feather age together: telomere dynamics and social behavior predict life span in female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1363468. [PMID: 38808110 PMCID: PMC11130416 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1363468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Social support is vital for mental and physical health and is linked to lower rates of disease and early mortality. Conversely, anti-social behavior can increase mortality risks, both for the initiator and target of the behavior. Chronic stress, which also can increase mortality, may serve as an important link between social behavior and healthy lifespan. There is a growing body of literature in both humans, and model organisms, that chronic social stress can result in more rapid telomere shortening, a measure of biological aging. Here we examine the role of anti-social behavior and social support on physiological markers of stress and aging in the social Japanese quail, Coturnix Japonica. Birds were maintained in groups for their entire lifespan, and longitudinal measures of antisocial behavior (aggressive agonistic behavior), social support (affiliative behavior), baseline corticosterone, change in telomere length, and lifespan were measured. We found quail in affiliative relationships both committed less and were the targets of less aggression compared to birds who were not in these relationships. In addition, birds displaying affiliative behavior had longer telomeres, and longer lifespans. Our work suggests a novel pathway by which social support may buffer against damage at the cellular level resulting in telomere protection and subsequent longer lifespans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. McCollum
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Olivia Canter
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Sarah Gronsky
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
| | - Mark F. Haussmann
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
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17
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Gupta M, Rathored J. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: future prospects in regenerative therapy and anti-aging. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1368982. [PMID: 38757145 PMCID: PMC11097100 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1368982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) utilizes 100% oxygen at high atmospheric pressure for clinical applications. HBOT has proven to be an effective supplementary treatment for a variety of clinical and pathological disorders. HBOT's therapeutic results are based on the physiological effects of increased tissue oxygenation, or improved oxygen bioavailability. HBOT's current indications in illnesses like as wound healing, thermal or radiation burns, and tissue necrosis point to its function in facilitating the regeneration process. Various research has revealed that HBOT plays a function in vascularization, angiogenesis, and collagen production augmentation. Individual regeneration capacity is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Furthermore, the regenerating ability of different types of tissues varies, and this ability declines with age. HBOT affects physiological processes at the genetic level by altering gene expression, delaying cell senescence, and assisting in telomere length enhancement. The positive results in a variety of indications, ranging from tissue regeneration to better cognitive function, indicate that it has enormous potential in regenerative and anti-aging therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Gupta
- Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, India
| | - Jaishriram Rathored
- Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
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18
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Nelson S, Mitcheson M, Nestor B, Bosquet Enlow M, Borsook D. Biomarkers of stress as mind-body intervention outcomes for chronic pain: an evaluation of constructs and accepted measurement. Pain 2024:00006396-990000000-00566. [PMID: 38564185 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nelson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Morgan Mitcheson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bridget Nestor
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Borsook
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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19
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Connor A, Deschamps A, Busque L, Tardif JC, Bourgoin V, Dubé MP, Busseuil D, D'Antono B. Childhood Maltreatment and Leukocyte Telomere Length: Cardiac Vagal Activity Influences the Relation in Older Adults. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:146-156. [PMID: 38345296 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood maltreatment is associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL). However, the influence of cardiac vagal control on this relation is unknown. We examined whether cardiac vagal control at rest and in response to stress moderates or cross-sectionally mediates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and LTL. METHODS Participants were 1179 men and women (aged 65 [7.2] years) suffering from coronary artery disease or non-cardiovascular chronic disease. They completed a childhood maltreatment questionnaire and underwent a stress protocol while electrocardiogram was monitored. High-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) measures were obtained at rest, during stress, and after stress in absolute and normalized units (nu). LTL was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed. RESULT HF-HRV and HF-HRV in normalized units (HFnu) measures did not mediate the childhood maltreatment-LTL relation. However, baseline HFnu ( p = .027) and HFnu reactivity ( p = .051) moderated the relation. Specifically, maltreatment was associated with significantly lower LTL among those with baseline HFnu at ( b = -0.059, p = .003) or below the mean ( b = -0.103, p < .001), but not among those with higher baseline HFnu. It was also associated with significantly lower LTL among participants who showed either blunted ( b = -0.058, p = .004) or increased HFnu ( b = -0.099, p = .001) responses to stress but not in those with large decreases in HFnu. CONCLUSIONS Childhood maltreatment was associated with lower LTL in those who showed a distinct cardiac vagal profile at baseline and in response to stress. The mechanisms and implications remain to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Connor
- From the Research Centre, Montreal Heart Institute (Connor, Tardif, Dubé, Busseuil, D'Antono); Psychology Department, Université de Montréal (Connor, D'Antono); Department of Anesthesiology (Deschamps), Montreal Heart Institute; and Research Center, Hematology Division (Bourgoin), Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, and Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal (Tardif, Dubé), Montreal, Canada
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20
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Suglia SF, Clausing ES, Shelton RC, Conneely K, Prada-Ortega D, DeVivo I, Factor-Litvak P, Cirillo P, Baccarelli AA, Cohn B, Link BG. Cumulative Stress Across the Life Course and Biological Aging in Adulthood. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:137-145. [PMID: 38345302 PMCID: PMC11001534 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Psychosocial stressors have been linked with accelerated biological aging in adults; however, few studies have examined stressors across the life course in relation to biological aging. METHODS In 359 individuals (57% White, 34% Black) from the Child Health and Development Studies Disparities study, economic (income, education, financial strain), social (parent-child relations, caretaker responsibilities) and traumatic (death of a sibling or child, violence exposure) stressors were assessed at multiple time points (birth and ages 9, 15, and 50 years). Experiences of major discrimination were assessed at age 50. Life period stress scores were then assessed as childhood (birth-age 15 years) and adulthood (age 50 years). At age 50 years, participants provided blood samples, and DNA methylation was assessed with the EPIC BeadChip. Epigenetic age was estimated using six epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, Skin and Blood age, PhenoAge, GrimAge, Dunedin Pace of Aging). Age acceleration was determined using residuals from regressing chronologic age on each of the epigenetic age metrics. Telomere length was assessed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based methods. RESULTS In linear regression models adjusted for race and gender, total life stress, and childhood and adult stress independently predicted accelerated aging based on GrimAge and faster pace of aging based on the DunedinPace. Associations were attenuated after adjusting for smoking status. In sex-stratified analyses, greater childhood stress was associated with accelerated epigenetic aging among women but not men. No associations were noted with telomere length. CONCLUSIONS We found that cumulative stressors across the life course were associated with accelerated epigenetic age, with differences by sex (e.g., accelerated among women). Further research of this association in large and diverse samples is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakira F Suglia
- From the Department of Epidemiology (Suglia), Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; School of Global Integrative Studies (Clausing) and Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior (Clausing), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska; Department of Sociomedical Sciences (Shelton), Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York; Department of Human Genetics (Conneely, Baccarelli), School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Environmental Health (Prada-Ortega), Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York; Department of Epidemiology (DeVivo), Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; Channing Division of Network Medicine (DeVivo), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology (Factor-Litvak), Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York; Child Health and Development Studies (Cirillo, Cohn), Public Health Institute, Berkeley; and Department of Sociology (Link), University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
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21
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Mason CE, Sierra MA, Feng HJ, Bailey SM. Telomeres and aging: on and off the planet! Biogerontology 2024; 25:313-327. [PMID: 38581556 PMCID: PMC10998805 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-024-10098-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Improving human healthspan in our rapidly aging population has never been more imperative. Telomeres, protective "caps" at the ends of linear chromosomes, are essential for maintaining genome stability of eukaryotic genomes. Due to their physical location and the "end-replication problem" first envisioned by Dr. Alexey Olovnikov, telomeres shorten with cell division, the implications of which are remarkably profound. Telomeres are hallmarks and molecular drivers of aging, as well as fundamental integrating components of the cumulative effects of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that erode telomere length over time. Ongoing telomere attrition and the resulting limit to replicative potential imposed by cellular senescence serves a powerful tumor suppressor function, and also underlies aging and a spectrum of age-related degenerative pathologies, including reduced fertility, dementias, cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, very little data exists regarding the extraordinary stressors and exposures associated with long-duration space exploration and eventual habitation of other planets, nor how such missions will influence telomeres, reproduction, health, disease risk, and aging. Here, we briefly review our current understanding, which has advanced significantly in recent years as a result of the NASA Twins Study, the most comprehensive evaluation of human health effects associated with spaceflight ever conducted. Thus, the Twins Study is at the forefront of personalized space medicine approaches for astronauts and sets the stage for subsequent missions. We also extrapolate from current understanding to future missions, highlighting potential biological and biochemical strategies that may enable human survival, and consider the prospect of longevity in the extreme environment of space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria A Sierra
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine and WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Tri-Institutional Computational Biology & Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Henry J Feng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Susan M Bailey
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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22
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Rodseth E, Sumasgutner P, Tate G, Nilsson JF, Watson H, Maritz MF, Ingle RA, Amar A. Pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation: haemoparasite infection intensity but not telomere length is associated with plumage morph in black sparrowhawks. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:230370. [PMID: 38577209 PMCID: PMC10987988 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
There is increasing recognition of the potential pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation, particularly on immunity, with reports of variation in haemoparasite infection intensity and immune responses between the morphs of colour-polymorphic bird species. In a population of the black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) in western South Africa, light morphs have a higher haemoparasite infection intensity, but no physiological effects of this are apparent. Here, we investigate the possible effects of haemoparasite infection on telomere length in this species and explore whether relative telomere length is associated with either plumage morph or sex. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, we confirmed that dark morphs had a lower haemoparasite infection intensity than light morphs. However, we found no differences in telomere length associated with either the haemoparasite infection status or morph in adults, although males have longer telomeres than females. While differences in haemoparasite intensity between morphs are consistent with pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation in the black sparrowhawk, we found no evidence that telomere length was associated with haemoparasite infection. Further work is needed to investigate the implications of possible pleiotropic effects of plumage morph and their potential role in the maintenance of colour polymorphism in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Rodseth
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gareth Tate
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Birds of Prey Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Midrand, South Africa
| | - Johan F. Nilsson
- Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannah Watson
- Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Michelle F. Maritz
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert A. Ingle
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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23
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Zhang S, Huang Y, Wang X, Wang H. Health Disparities Among Family Decision-Makers in China: An Ordered Probit Analysis of the China Family Panel Studies. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2024; 17:635-647. [PMID: 38528941 PMCID: PMC10961237 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s443930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The family decision-makers serve as the backbone of the family, and their health status warrants consideration. This study aims to explore how the health status of this group of people, namely the family decision-making group, is affected, and to delve into the mechanisms of influence based on this. The goal is to provide reliable evidence and strategies for the health management of the family decision-makers group, contributing to the achievement of the "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline. Patients and Methods Drawing on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study utilizes an Ordered Probit Model to analyze and compare the health status of family decision-makers and non-decision-makers. Results The findings indicate that decision-makers tend to experience poorer health outcomes than other family members, with increased pressure related to decision-making identified as a significant contributor to their declining health. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the negative effect is less pronounced in households with higher net worth but more pronounced in those with more significant housing, education, and medical spending pressures. Moreover, this study analysis highlights that enhancing individual or family socioeconomic status can alleviate the adverse health effects experienced by family decision-makers. Conclusion The study reveals the presence of certain health adverse effects among family decision-makers. The implications drawn from this research hold significance for the health management of this demographic, underscoring the necessity for tailored interventions aimed at addressing the distinctive challenges confronted by this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songbiao Zhang
- School of Business, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuxuan Huang
- School of Business, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xining Wang
- School of Business, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huilin Wang
- School of Business, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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Alrosan AZ, Heilat GB, Alrosan K, Aleikish AA, Rabbaa AN, Shakhatreh AM, Alshalout EM, Al Momany EM. Autonomic brain functioning and age-related health concerns. Curr Res Physiol 2024; 7:100123. [PMID: 38510918 PMCID: PMC10950753 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2024.100123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and digestion, in addition to controlling motivation and behavior. In older adults, the ANS is dysregulated, which changes the ability of the ANS to respond to physiological signals, regulate cardiovascular autonomic functionality, diminish gastric motility, and exacerbate sleep problems. For example, a decrease in heart rate variability, or the variation in the interval between heartbeats, is one of the most well-known alterations in the ANS associated with health issues, including cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline. The inability to perform fundamental activities of daily living and compromising the physiological reactivity or motivational responses of older adults to moving toward or away from specific environmental stimuli are significant negative consequences of chronic and geriatric conditions that pose grave threats to autonomy, health, and well-being. The most updated research has investigated the associations between the action responsiveness of older adults and the maintenance of their physiological and physical health or the development of mental and physical health problems. Once autonomic dysfunction may significantly influence the development of different age-related diseases, including ischemic stroke, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases, this review aimed to assess the relationship between aging and autonomic functions. The review explored how motivational responses, physiological reactivity, cognitive processes, and lifelong developmental changes associated with aging impact the ANS and contribute to the emergence of health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Z. Alrosan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
| | - Ghaith B. Heilat
- Department of General Surgery and Urology, Faculty of Medicine, The Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Khaled Alrosan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
| | - Abrar A. Aleikish
- Master of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Aya N. Rabbaa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
| | - Aseel M. Shakhatreh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Ehab M. Alshalout
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
| | - Enaam M.A. Al Momany
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
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25
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Larson EA. 5Minutes4Myself: Development of a Wellness Program for Caregivers of Children with Autism. Can J Occup Ther 2024; 91:17-28. [PMID: 37106578 DOI: 10.1177/00084174231172036] [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] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Background. Many caregivers of autistic children experience increased stress, and diminished health often due to the caregiving demands. Purpose. The project aim was to design a feasible and sustainable wellness program tailored to these caregivers' lives. Methods. In this collaborative research-informed project, participants (N = 28) were mostly female, white, and well-educated. In focus groups, we delineated lifestyle issues, then designed, delivered and assessed an initial program with one cohort; and repeated this process with a second group. Findings. Focus group data were transcribed then coded qualitatively to inform following steps. Data analysis identified lifestyle issues key to program design, desired program elements, and after program delivery, affirmed elements and recommended changes. The team used meta-inferences to guide program revisions after each cohort. Implications. Caregivers viewed resulting 5Minutes4Myself program as filling a significant service gap; its hybrid design used in-person coaching and a habit-building app with mindfulness content to support lifestyle change.
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Praengam K, Tuntipopipat S, Muangnoi C, Jangwangkorn C, Piamkulvanich O. Efficacy of a dietary supplement derived from five edible plants on telomere length in Thai adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Food Sci Nutr 2024; 12:1592-1604. [PMID: 38455184 PMCID: PMC10916585 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Mylife/Mylife100® is a dietary supplement consisting of black sesame seed, guava fruit, mangosteen aril, pennywort leaves, and soy protein. These edible plants contain multiple high-potential bioactive compounds exerting various vital biological functions including antioxidants which contribute to delaying the rate of telomere shortening. Telomere length is associated with cellular aging and age-related diseases. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Mylife/Mylife100® on telomere length through a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The trial assessed the alteration of leukocyte telomere length after 32 adults aged 50-65 years received either Mylife/Mylife100® or placebo (five capsules/day) for 8-week supplementation. The results demonstrated a significant increase in mean telomere length from baseline (6313 bp) to the 8-week supplementation period (6655 bp; p < 0.05) in the group receiving the product, whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group. Additionally, the product group exhibited a significant improvement in plasma total antioxidant capacity levels compared to the placebo group (mean change, +35 vs -38; p = 0.006). This study also showed a significant correlation between telomere length and % CD4 + T cells (r = +0.325; p = 0.00003), % CD8 + T cells (r = +0.156; p = 0.048), and visceral fat (r = - 0.349; p = 0.000006). The findings suggest that consuming this dietary supplement (Mylife/Mylife100®) for 8 weeks has a positive effect on cellular aging by lengthening telomeres possible through their antioxidant capacities. Oxidative stress and cellular aging are underlying predisease mechanisms that might be alleviated by supplementing with this product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemika Praengam
- Institute of NutritionMahidol UniversityNakhon PathomThailand
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27
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Lunghi E, Bilandžija H. Telomere length and dynamics in Astyanax mexicanus cave and surface morphs. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16957. [PMID: 38435987 PMCID: PMC10908260 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Telomeres are non-coding DNA repeats at the chromosome ends and their shortening is considered one of the major causes of aging. However, they also serve as a biomarker of environmental exposures and their length and attrition is affected by various stressors. In this study, we examined the average telomere length in Astyanax mexicanus, a species that has both surface-dwelling and cave-adapted populations. The cave morph descended from surface ancestors and adapted to a markedly different environment characterized by specific biotic and abiotic stressors, many of which are known to affect telomere length. Our objective was to explore whether telomere length differs between the two morphs and whether it serves as a biological marker of aging or correlates with the diverse environments the morphs are exposed to. Methods We compared telomere length and shortening between laboratory-reared Pachón cavefish and Rio Choy surface fish of A. mexicanus across different tissues and ages. Results Astyanax mexicanus surface fish exhibited longer average telomere length compared to cavefish. In addition, we did not observe telomere attrition in either cave or surface form as a result of aging in adults up to 9 years old, suggesting that efficient mechanisms prevent telomere-mediated senescence in laboratory stocks of this species, at least within this time frame. Our results suggest that telomere length in Astyanax may be considered a biomarker of environmental exposures. Cavefish may have evolved shorter and energetically less costly telomeres due to the absence of potential stressors known to affect surface species, such as predator pressure and ultra-violet radiation. This study provides the first insights into telomere dynamics in Astyanax morphs and suggests that shorter telomeres may have evolved as an adaptation to caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Lunghi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Helena Bilandžija
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruder Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
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28
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Lucas T, Lipkus IM, Zhdanova L. Justice beliefs for self and others: Associations with positive and negative affectivity in African Americans and White Americans. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297762. [PMID: 38408086 PMCID: PMC10896541 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior research has shown that a belief in personal justice (i.e., justice for self) is associated with better health and well-being, whereas a belief in justice more generally (i.e., justice for others) is unrelated. However, an emerging perspective is that racial differences may overlay the relationships between multidimensional beliefs about justice and indices of well-being. This includes that well-being among African Americans may be additionally supported by rejecting rather than endorsing some forms of believing in justice. In the present study, we consider racial similarities and differences in the links between beliefs about justice for self and others and emotional well-being. African Americans (N = 117) and White Americans (N = 188) completed measures of beliefs about justice for self and others, and also measures of dispositional tendencies towards experiencing positive and negative emotion (i.e., positive and negative affectivity). In both groups, beliefs about justice for the self were associated with greater positive affect and reduced negative affect. However, beliefs about justice for others were additionally associated with greater negative affect only among African Americans. The link between justice for others and negative affect among African Americans was not attributable to measurement or mean differences in justice beliefs across racial groups, or to socioeconomic differences. Results align with an emerging perspective that simultaneously endorsing and rejecting justice beliefs may be vital to preserving well-being for some racial minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd Lucas
- Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Isaac M. Lipkus
- School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ludmila Zhdanova
- Department of Psychology, Adler University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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29
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Barcenilla BB, Kundel I, Hall E, Hilty N, Ulianich P, Cook J, Turley J, Yerram M, Min JH, Castillo-González C, Shippen DE. Telomere dynamics and oxidative stress in Arabidopsis grown in lunar regolith simulant. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1351613. [PMID: 38434436 PMCID: PMC10908177 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1351613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
NASA envisions a future where humans establish a thriving colony on the Moon by 2050. Plants will be essential for this endeavor, but little is known about their adaptation to extraterrestrial bodies. The capacity to grow plants in lunar regolith would represent a major step towards this goal by minimizing the reliance on resources transported from Earth. Recent studies reveal that Arabidopsis thaliana can germinate and grow on genuine lunar regolith as well as on lunar regolith simulant. However, plants arrest in vegetative development and activate a variety of stress response pathways, most notably the oxidative stress response. Telomeres are hotspots for oxidative damage in the genome and a marker of fitness in many organisms. Here we examine A. thaliana growth on a lunar regolith simulant and the impact of this resource on plant physiology and on telomere dynamics, telomerase enzyme activity and genome oxidation. We report that plants successfully set seed and generate a viable second plant generation if the lunar regolith simulant is pre-washed with an antioxidant cocktail. However, plants sustain a higher degree of genome oxidation and decreased biomass relative to conventional Earth soil cultivation. Moreover, telomerase activity substantially declines and telomeres shorten in plants grown in lunar regolith simulant, implying that genome integrity may not be sustainable over the long-term. Overcoming these challenges will be an important goal in ensuring success on the lunar frontier.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dorothy E. Shippen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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30
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Skinner HG, Palma-Gudiel H, Stewart JD, Love SA, Bhatti P, Shadyab AH, Wallace RB, Salmoirago-Blotcher E, Manson JE, Kroenke CH, Belsky DW, Li Y, Whitsel EA, Zannas AS. Stressful life events, social support, and epigenetic aging in the Women's Health Initiative. J Am Geriatr Soc 2024; 72:349-360. [PMID: 38149693 PMCID: PMC10922473 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated psychosocial stress has been linked with accelerated biological aging, including composite DNA methylation (DNAm) markers that predict aging-related outcomes ("epigenetic age"). However, no study has examined whether stressful life events (SLEs) are associated with epigenetic age acceleration in postmenopausal women, an aging population characterized by increased stress burden and disease risk. METHODS We leveraged the Women's Health Initiative, a large muti-ancestry cohort of postmenopausal women with available psychosocial stress measures over the past year and epigenomic data. SLEs and social support were ascertained via self-report questionnaires. Whole blood DNAm array (450 K) data were used to calculate five DNAm-based predictors of chronological age, health span and life span, and telomere length (HorvathAge, HannumAge, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DNAmTL). RESULTS After controlling for potential confounders, higher SLE burden was significantly associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, as measured by GrimAge (β: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.59) and DNAmTL (β: -0.016, 95% CI: -0.028, -0.004). Exploratory analyses showed that SLEs-GrimAge associations were stronger in Black women as compared to other races/ethnicities and in those with lower social support levels. In women with lower social support, SLEs-DNAmTL associations showed opposite association in Hispanic women as compared to other race/ethnicity groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that elevated stress burden is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in postmenopausal women. Lower social support and/or self-reported race/ethnicity may modify the association of stress with epigenetic age acceleration. These findings advance understanding of how stress may contribute to aging-related outcomes and have important implications for disease prevention and treatment in aging women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harlyn G. Skinner
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Helena Palma-Gudiel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - James D. Stewart
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shelly-Ann Love
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Social and Scientific Systems Inc, a DLH Holdings company, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Parveen Bhatti
- Cancer Control Research, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Program in Epidemiology, Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aladdin H. Shadyab
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert B. Wallace
- Department of Epidemiology and Internal Medicine, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - JoAnn E. Manson
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Candyce H. Kroenke
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric A. Whitsel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anthony S. Zannas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Stress Initiative, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Xiang M, Pilling LC, Melzer D, Kirk B, Duque G, Liu R, Kuchel GA, Wood AR, Metcalf B, Diniz BS, Hillsdon M, Kuo CL. Does physical activity moderate the association between shorter leukocyte telomere length and incident coronary heart disease? Data from 54,180 UK Biobank participants. GeroScience 2024; 46:1331-1342. [PMID: 37544968 PMCID: PMC10828302 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00890-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a biological aging hallmark. The effect of short telomere length may be targeted by increased physical activity to reduce the risk of multiple aging-related diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD). The objective was to assess the moderation effect of accelerometer-based physical activity (aPA) on the association between shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) relatively in the population sample and incident CHD. Data were from the UK Biobank participants with well-calibrated accelerometer data for at least 6.5 days (n = 54,180). Relative mean LTL at baseline (5-6 years prior to aPA assessment) was measured in T/S ratio, using a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology, by comparing the amount of the telomere amplification product (T) to that of a single-copy gene (S). aPA measures included total number of events (at least 10-s continued physical activity > 32 milligravities [mg]), total volume, mean duration, mean intensity, and peak intensity of all events. LTL, aPA measures, and their interactions were associated with incident CHD (mean follow-up 6.8 years) using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for covariates. Longer LTL (relative to the sample distribution) was associated with reduced incidence of CHD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.94 per standard deviation [SD] increase in LTL, [95% CI, 0.90 to 0.99], P = .010). Incidence of CHD was reduced by higher total volume of aPA (aHR = 0.82 per SD increase in LTL, [95% CI, 0.71 to 0.95], P = .010) but increased by higher total number of events (aHR = 1.11 per SD increase in LTL, [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.21], P = .020) after controlling for other aPA measures and covariates. However, none of the interactions between LTL and aPA measures was statistically significant (P = .171).
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiruo Xiang
- Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, 195 Farmington Avenue, Suite 2080, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Luke C Pilling
- Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - David Melzer
- Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Ben Kirk
- Department of Medicine - Western Health, The University of Melbourne Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Saint Albans, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gustavo Duque
- Department of Medicine - Western Health, The University of Melbourne Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Saint Albans, Victoria, Australia
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Health Sciences, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA
| | - George A Kuchel
- UConn Center On Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Andrew R Wood
- Genetics of Complex Traits, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Brad Metcalf
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Breno S Diniz
- UConn Center On Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Melvyn Hillsdon
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Chia-Ling Kuo
- Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, 195 Farmington Avenue, Suite 2080, Farmington, CT, USA.
- UConn Center On Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
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Sridhar A, Sekhon VK, Nguyen C, Abushalha K, Tahanan A, Rahbar MH, Jafri SH. Major Stressful Life Events and the Risk of Pancreatic, Head and Neck Cancers: A Case-Control Study. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:451. [PMID: 38275892 PMCID: PMC10814511 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major stressful life events have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and the development of various chronic illnesses. The stress response generated by our body results in a variety of physiological and metabolic changes which can affect the immune system and have been shown to be associated with tumor progression. In this study, we aim to determine if major stressful life events are associated with the incidence of head and neck or pancreatic cancer (HNPC). METHODS This is a matched case-control study. Cases (CAs) were HNPC patients diagnosed within the previous 12 months. Controls (COs) were patients without a prior history of malignancy. Basic demographic data information on major stressful life events was collected using the modified Holmes-Rahe stress scale. A total sample of 280 was needed (79 cases, 201 controls) to achieve at least 80% power to detect odds ratios (ORs) of 2.00 or higher at the 5% level of significance. RESULTS From 1 January 2018 to 31 August 2021, 280 patients were enrolled (CA = 79, CO = 201) in this study. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis after controlling for potential confounding variables (including sex, age, race, education, marital status, smoking history), there was no difference between the lifetime prevalence of major stressful event in cases and controls. However, patients with HNPC were significantly more likely to report a major stressful life event within the preceding 5 years when compared to COs (p = 0.01, OR = 2.32, 95% CI, 1.18-4.54). CONCLUSIONS Patients with head, neck and pancreatic cancers are significantly associated with having a major stressful life event within 5 years of their diagnosis. This study highlights the potential need to recognize stressful life events as risk factors for developing malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthi Sridhar
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vishaldeep Kaur Sekhon
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chandler Nguyen
- McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Kamelah Abushalha
- MetroWest Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Amirali Tahanan
- Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.T.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Mohammad Hossein Rahbar
- Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.T.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Syed Hasan Jafri
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Beauvieux A, Fromentin JM, Romero D, Couffin N, Brown A, Metral L, Bourjea J, Bertile F, Schull Q. Molecular fingerprint of gilthead seabream physiology in response to pollutant mixtures in the wild. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122789. [PMID: 37913978 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The increase in trace element concentrations in the aquatic environment due to anthropogenic activities, urges the need for their monitoring and potential toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification at different trophic levels. Gilthead seabream is a species of commercial importance in the Mediterranean Sea, both for the aquaculture and fisheries sectors, however very little is known about their trace element contamination accumulation and the resulting effect on their health status. In the present study, 135 juveniles were collected from seven coastal lagoons known to be essential nursery areas for this species. We measured seventeen different inorganic contaminants at the individual level in fish muscle (namely Al, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Ti, Tl and Zn). Our results revealed the accumulation of multiple trace elements in individuals and distinct contamination signatures between lagoons which might lead to contrasted quality as nurseries for juveniles of numerous ecologically and economically relevant fish species in addition to seabreams. We further evaluated the potential adverse effect of these complex contamination mixtures on the liver (the main organ implicated in the metabolism of xenobiotics) and red muscle (a highly metabolic organ) using a proteomic approach. Alterations in cellular organization pathways and protein transport were detected in both tissues (albeit they were not similarly regulated). Chromosome organization and telomere maintenance in the liver appeared to be affected by contaminant mixture which could increase mortality, age-related disease risk and shorter lifetime expectancy for these juveniles. Red muscle proteome also demonstrated an upregulation of pathways involved in metabolism in response to contamination which raises the issue of potential energy allocation trade-offs between the organisms' main functions such as reproduction and growth. This study provides new insights into the cellular and molecular responses of seabreams to environmental pollution and proposed biomarkers of health effects of trace elements that could serve as a starting point for larger-scale biomonitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Diego Romero
- Toxicology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Nathan Couffin
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue du Loess, 67037, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France; Infrastructure Nationale de Protéomique ProFI, FR2048 CNRS, CEA, Strasbourg, 67087, France
| | - Adrien Brown
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue du Loess, 67037, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France; Infrastructure Nationale de Protéomique ProFI, FR2048 CNRS, CEA, Strasbourg, 67087, France
| | - Luisa Metral
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, Ifremer, IRD, CNRS, Sète, France
| | - Jérôme Bourjea
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, Ifremer, IRD, CNRS, Sète, France
| | - Fabrice Bertile
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue du Loess, 67037, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France; Infrastructure Nationale de Protéomique ProFI, FR2048 CNRS, CEA, Strasbourg, 67087, France
| | - Quentin Schull
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, Ifremer, IRD, CNRS, Sète, France
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Amir Abdul Nasir AF, Niehaus AC, Cameron SF, Ujvari B, Madsen T, von Hippel FA, Gao S, Dillon DM, Buck CL, Charters J, Heiniger J, Blomberg S, Wilson RS. Manganese Exacerbates Seasonal Health Declines in a Suicidally Breeding Mammal. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:74-86. [PMID: 37750553 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive costs must be balanced with survival to maximize lifetime reproductive rates; however, some organisms invest in a single, suicidal bout of breeding known as semelparity. The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is an endangered marsupial in which males, but not females, are semelparous. Northern quolls living near mining sites on Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Australia, accumulate manganese (Mn) in their brains, testes, and hair, and elevated Mn impacts motor performance. Whether Mn is associated with other health declines is yet unknown. In the present study we show that male and female northern quolls with higher Mn accumulation had a 20% reduction in immune function and a trend toward reduced cortisol concentrations in hair. The telomere lengths of male quolls did not change pre- to postbreeding, but those with higher Mn levels had longer telomeres; in contrast, the telomeres of females shortened during the breeding season but recovered between the first year and second year of breeding. In addition, the telomeres of quolls that were recaptured declined at significantly higher rates in quolls with higher Mn between prebreeding, breeding, and/or postbreeding seasons. Future research should determine whether changes in cortisol, immune function, or telomere length affect reproductive output or survival-particularly for semelparous males. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:74-86. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami F Amir Abdul Nasir
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda C Niehaus
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Skye F Cameron
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Subiaco East, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thomas Madsen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Frank A von Hippel
- Department of Community, Environment and Policy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sisi Gao
- Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Danielle M Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Jordan Charters
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jaime Heiniger
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Simone Blomberg
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robbie S Wilson
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Liu X, Zhang X, Zhao L, Long J, Feng Z, Su J, Gao F, Liu J. Mitochondria as a sensor, a central hub and a biological clock in psychological stress-accelerated aging. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 93:102145. [PMID: 38030089 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102145] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The theory that oxidative damage caused by mitochondrial free radicals leads to aging has brought mitochondria into the forefront of aging research. Psychological stress that encompasses many different experiences and exposures across the lifespan has been identified as a catalyst for accelerated aging. Mitochondria, known for their dynamic nature and adaptability, function as a highly sensitive stress sensor and central hub in the process of accelerated aging. In this review, we explore how mitochondria as sensors respond to psychological stress and contribute to the molecular processes in accelerated aging by viewing mitochondria as hormonal, mechanosensitive and immune suborganelles. This understanding of the key role played by mitochondria and their close association with accelerated aging helps us to distinguish normal aging from accelerated aging, correct misconceptions in aging studies, and develop strategies such as exercise and mitochondria-targeted nutrients and drugs for slowing down accelerated aging, and also hold promise for prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyun Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Xing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
| | - Lin Zhao
- Cardiometabolic Innovation Center, Ministry of Education, Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
| | - Jiangang Long
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Zhihui Feng
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Jiacan Su
- Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Feng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
| | - Jiankang Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China; School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Apsley AT, Lee SA, Bhat AC, Rush J, Almeida DM, Cole SW, Shalev I. Affective reactivity to daily stressors and immune cell gene expression in the MIDUS study. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:80-88. [PMID: 37797778 PMCID: PMC10841912 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Affective reactivity to stress is a person-level measurement of how well an individual copes with daily stressors. A common method of measuring affective reactivity entails the estimation of within-person differences of either positive or negative affect on days with and without stressors present. Individuals more reactive to common stressors, as evidenced by affective reactivity measurements, have been shown to have increased levels of circulating pro-inflammatory markers. While affective reactivity has previously been associated with inflammatory markers, the upstream mechanistic links underlying these associations are unknown. Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher study (N = 195; 52% female; 84% white), we quantified daily stress processes over 10 days and determined individuals' positive and negative affective reactivities to stressors. We then examined affective reactivity association with peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression of the immune-related conserved transcriptional response to adversity. Results indicated that individuals with a greater decrease in positive affect to daily stressors exhibited heightened PBMC JUNB expression after Bonferroni corrections (p-adjusted < 0.05). JUNB encodes a protein that acts as a transcription factor which regulates many aspects of the immune response, including inflammation and cell proliferation. Due to its critical role in the activation of macrophages and maintenance of CD4+ T-cells during inflammation, JUNB may serve as a potential upstream mechanistic target for future studies of the connection between affective reactivity and inflammatory processes. Overall, our findings provide evidence that affective reactivity to stress is associated with levels of immune cell gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abner T Apsley
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Sun Ah Lee
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
| | - Aarti C Bhat
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
| | - Jonathan Rush
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - David M Almeida
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
| | - Steven W Cole
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Robinson LG, Kalmbach K, Sumerfield O, Nomani W, Wang F, Liu L, Keefe DL. Telomere dynamics and reproduction. Fertil Steril 2024; 121:4-11. [PMID: 37993053 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.11.012] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The oocyte, a long-lived, postmitotic cell, is the locus of reproductive aging in women. Female germ cells replicate only during fetal life and age throughout reproductive life. Mechanisms of oocyte aging include the accumulation of oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption of proteins, including cohesion. Nobel Laureate Bob Edwards also discovered a "production line" during oogonial replication in the mouse, wherein the last oocytes to ovulate in the adult-derived from the last oogonia to exit mitotic replication in the fetus. On the basis of this, we proposed a two-hit "telomere theory of reproductive aging" to integrate the myriad features of oocyte aging. The first hit was that oocytes remaining in older women traversed more cell cycles during fetal oogenesis. The second hit was that oocytes accumulated more environmental and endogenous oxidative damage throughout the life of the woman. Telomeres (Ts) could mediate both of these aspects of oocyte aging. Telomeres provide a "mitotic clock," with T attrition an inevitable consequence of cell division because of the end replication problem. Telomere's guanine-rich sequence renders them especially sensitive to oxidative damage, even in postmitotic cells. Telomerase, the reverse transcriptase that restores Ts, is better at maintaining than elongating T. Moreover, telomerase remains inactive during much of oogenesis and early development. Oocytes are left with short Ts, on the brink of viability. In support of this theory, mice with induced T attrition and women with naturally occurring telomeropathy suffer diminished ovarian reserve, abnormal embryo development, and infertility. In contrast, sperm are produced throughout the life of the male by a telomerase-active progenitor, spermatogonia, resulting in the longest Ts in the body. In mice, cleavage-stage embryos elongate Ts via "alternative lengthening of telomeres," a recombination-based mechanism rarely encountered outside of telomerase-deficient cancers. Many questions about Ts and reproduction are raised by these findings: does the "normal" T attrition observed in human oocytes contribute to their extraordinarily high rate of meiotic nondisjunction? Does recombination-based T elongation render embryos susceptible to mitotic nondisjunction (and mosaicism)? Can some features of Ts serve as markers of oocyte quality?
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Affiliation(s)
- LeRoy G Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York; Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
| | - Keri Kalmbach
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Olivia Sumerfield
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Wafa Nomani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Lin Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - David L Keefe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York.
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Dutta S, Goodrich JM, Dolinoy DC, Ruden DM. Biological Aging Acceleration Due to Environmental Exposures: An Exciting New Direction in Toxicogenomics Research. Genes (Basel) 2023; 15:16. [PMID: 38275598 PMCID: PMC10815440 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological clock technologies are designed to assess the acceleration of biological age (B-age) in diverse cell types, offering a distinctive opportunity in toxicogenomic research to explore the impact of environmental stressors, social challenges, and unhealthy lifestyles on health impairment. These clocks also play a role in identifying factors that can hinder aging and promote a healthy lifestyle. Over the past decade, researchers in epigenetics have developed testing methods that predict the chronological and biological age of organisms. These methods rely on assessing DNA methylation (DNAm) levels at specific CpG sites, RNA levels, and various biomolecules across multiple cell types, tissues, and entire organisms. Commonly known as 'biological clocks' (B-clocks), these estimators hold promise for gaining deeper insights into the pathways contributing to the development of age-related disorders. They also provide a foundation for devising biomedical or social interventions to prevent, reverse, or mitigate these disorders. This review article provides a concise overview of various epigenetic clocks and explores their susceptibility to environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Dutta
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.M.G.); (D.C.D.)
| | - Dana C. Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.M.G.); (D.C.D.)
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Douglas M. Ruden
- C. S. Mott Center for Human Health and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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Ogletree SS, Huang JH, Reif D, Yang L, Dunstan C, Osakwe N, Oh JI, Hipp JA. The relationship between greenspace exposure and telomere length in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167452. [PMID: 37777139 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The exposome, reflecting the range of environmental exposures individuals encounter throughout their life, can influence a variety of health outcomes and can play a role in how the environment impacts our genes. Telomeres, genetic structures regulating cell growth and senescence, are one pathway through which the exposome may impact health. Greenspace exposure, representing the amount of green areas in one's neighborhood, is one component of the exposome and has been associated with multiple health benefits. To investigate the potential link between greenspace exposure and telomere length, we analyzed data from the 1999-2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sample. Our study examined individual, risk, and contextual factors. We found that greater greenspace exposure in one's neighborhood was associated with longer telomere lengths when considering individual and risk factors, suggesting a positive effect of living in greener neighborhoods. However, this relationship became non-significant when contextual factors, such as air pollution and deprivation, were included in the analysis. These findings highlight a complex relationship between greenspace and telomere length, warranting further research to explore contextual factors in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Scott Ogletree
- Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, OPENspace Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America.
| | - Jing-Huei Huang
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America; Montgomery County Parks Department, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, United States of America
| | - David Reif
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, United States of America
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Canada; Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Christopher Dunstan
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America
| | - Nnamdi Osakwe
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, United States of America
| | - Jae In Oh
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, United States of America
| | - J Aaron Hipp
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America; Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, United States of America
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Moshfeghinia R, Torabi A, Mostafavi S, Rahbar S, Moradi MS, Sadeghi E, Mootz J, Vardanjani HM. Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and newborn telomere length: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:947. [PMID: 38102621 PMCID: PMC10724935 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05387-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes, and shorter leukocyte telomeres are associated with major group diseases. Maternal psychological stress may be related to the shortening of telomeres in infants. This systematic review and meta-analysis set out to consolidate the varying effect sizes found in studies of maternal psychological stress and telomere length (TL) in newborns and identify moderators of the relationship between stress during pregnancy and newborn TL. METHODS Our systematic review was registered in Prospero. Six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL Complete) were searched for records in English from inception to February 10, 2023. Observational studies were included that measured the relationship of psychological stress of the mother during pregnancy on the TL of the newborn. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A random-effect model was selected. Statistical analysis performed by Stata software version 17. RESULTS Eight studies were included for qualitative and four for quantitative analysis. There was an inverse statistically significant relationship between maternal stress and newborn TL; A one score increase in maternal psychological stress resulted in a 0.04 decrease in the TL of the newborn (B = -0.04, 95% CI = [-0.08, 0.00], p = 0.05). Selectivity analysis showed that the pooled effect size was sensitive to one study; After removing this study, the pooled effect size remained significant (B = -0.06, 95% CI = [-0. 10, -0.02], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Physiological and environmental factors can significantly affect the TL of newborns. Our results support a significant impact of maternal psychological stress on the TL of a newborn. This association demonstrates the significance of stress in influencing the telomere length, which can be a contributing factor in the infant's future. Therefore, recognizing this association is crucial for understanding and addressing potential health risks and necessitates the need for additional future studies to validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Moshfeghinia
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- MD-MPH Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Torabi
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- MD-MPH Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sara Mostafavi
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- MD-MPH Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shiva Rahbar
- Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Erfan Sadeghi
- Research Consultation Center (RCC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Jennifer Mootz
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NYC, USA.
| | - Hossein Molavi Vardanjani
- MD-MPH Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, Shiraz, Iran.
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Boen CE, Yang YC, Aiello AE, Dennis AC, Harris KM, Kwon D, Belsky DW. Patterns and Life Course Determinants of Black-White Disparities in Biological Age Acceleration: A Decomposition Analysis. Demography 2023; 60:1815-1841. [PMID: 37982570 PMCID: PMC10842850 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11057546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite the prominence of the weathering hypothesis as a mechanism underlying racialized inequities in morbidity and mortality, the life course social and economic determinants of Black-White disparities in biological aging remain inadequately understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,782), multivariable regression, and Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to assess Black-White disparities across three measures of biological aging: PhenoAge, Klemera-Doubal biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation. It also examines the contributions of racial differences in life course socioeconomic and stress exposures and vulnerability to those exposures to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Across the outcomes, Black individuals exhibited accelerated biological aging relative to White individuals. Decomposition analyses showed that racial differences in life course socioeconomic exposures accounted for roughly 27% to 55% of the racial disparities across the biological aging measures, and racial disparities in psychosocial stress exposure explained 7% to 11%. We found less evidence that heterogeneity in the associations between social exposures and biological aging by race contributed substantially to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Our findings offer new evidence of the role of life course social exposures in generating disparities in biological aging, with implications for understanding age patterns of morbidity and mortality risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney E Boen
- Department of Sociology and Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Y Claire Yang
- Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis C Dennis
- Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kathleen Mullan Harris
- Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dayoon Kwon
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Chaudhary R, Prasad A, Agarwal V, Rehman M, Kumar A, Kaushik AS, Srivastava S, Srivastava S, Mishra V. Chronic stress predisposes to the aggravation of inflammation in autoimmune diseases with focus on rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111046. [PMID: 37879231 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111046] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The global incidence of autoimmune diseases is on the rise, and many healthcare professionals believe that chronic stress plays a prominent role in both the aggravation and remission of these conditions. It is believed that prolonged exposure to stress is associated with neuroimmune axis malfunction, which eventually dysregulates multiple immunological factors as well as deregulates autoimmune responses that play a central role in various autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Herein, we performed validation of an 8-week long rat model of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) which consisted of exposing groups of rats to random stressors daily for 8 weeks. Additionally, we developed a novel rat model combining 8-week long random stressor-induced CUS with CIA-triggered arthritis and IMQ-triggered psoriasis and have successfully used both these models to assess the role of chronic stress in the aggravation of arthritis and psoriasis, respectively. Notably, the 8-week CUS protocol extensively aggravated and prolonged both arthritis and psoriasis condition in the rat model by upregulating the release of different pro-inflammatory cytokines, dysregulation of immune cell responses and oxidative stress system, which were all related to severe inflammation. Further, CUS aggravated macroscopic features and the increase in destruction of joint tissue and epidermal thickness induced by CIA and IMQ, respectively, in rats. In conclusion, this study suggests that exposure to an 8-week long CUS paradigm aggravates the distinctive characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in rats via amplifying the inflammatory circuits and immune cell responses linked to these autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishabh Chaudhary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Ajay Prasad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Vipul Agarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Mujeeba Rehman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Anand Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Arjun Singh Kaushik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Siddhi Srivastava
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Sukriti Srivastava
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Vikas Mishra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India.
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Troxel WM, Madrigano J, Haas AC, Dubowitz T, Rosso AL, Prather AA, Ghosh-Dastidar M, Weinstein AM, Butters MA, Presto A, Gary-Webb TL. Examining the Cross-sectional Association Between Neighborhood Conditions, Discrimination, and Telomere Length in a Predominantly African American Sample. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023; 10:3159-3167. [PMID: 36607563 PMCID: PMC10323042 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01490-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Disproportionate exposure to adverse neighborhood conditions and greater discrimination may contribute to health disparities among African Americans (AAs). We examined whether adverse neighborhood conditions, alone or in conjunction with discrimination, associate with shorter leukocyte telomere length among a predominantly AA cohort. The sample included 200 residents from two low-income neighborhoods (96% AA; mean age = 67 years). Perceived neighborhood conditions and discrimination were surveyed in 2018, and objective neighborhood conditions (total crime rate, neighborhood walkability, ambient air pollution (PM2.5, black carbon)) were collected in 2017/2018. Relative telomere length (T/S; ratio of telomeric DNA to a single-gene copy) was assessed from blood samples. Linear regression models estimated the main effects of each neighborhood condition and discrimination and their interactions on the T/S ratio. Less walkable neighborhoods were associated with shorter telomeres. Higher air pollution (PM2.5) was associated with shorter telomeres among those experiencing greater discrimination. Findings highlight the importance of understanding the intersecting influences of historic and contemporary sources of systemic racism and how they contribute to accelerated aging among adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M Troxel
- Social and Economic Well-Being Division, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| | - Jaime Madrigano
- Social and Economic Well-Being Division, RAND Corporation, Arlington, VA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ann C Haas
- Social and Economic Well-Being Division, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Tamara Dubowitz
- Social and Economic Well-Being Division, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Andrea L Rosso
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aric A Prather
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Andrea M Weinstein
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Meryl A Butters
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Albert Presto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tiffany L Gary-Webb
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Gómez‐Blanco D, Tobler M, Hasselquist D. Why and when should organisms elongate their telomeres? Elaborations on the 'excess resources elongation' and 'last resort elongation' hypotheses. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10825. [PMID: 38099139 PMCID: PMC10719541 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length and telomere shortening are thought to be critical cellular attributes and processes that are related to an individual's life span and fitness. The general pattern across most taxa is that after birth telomere length gradually decreases with age. Telomere protection and restoration mechanisms are usually assumed to reduce the rate of shortening or at most keep telomere length constant. However, here we have compiled a list of 26 articles showing that there is an increasing number of studies reporting apparent elongation of telomeres (i.e., a net increase in TL from timet to timet+1) often in a considerable proportion of the individuals studied. Moreover, the few studies which have studied telomere elongation in detail show that increases in telomere length are unlikely to be due to measurement error alone. In this article, we argue that episodes of telomere elongation deserve more attention as they could reflect individual strategies to optimise life histories and maximise fitness, which may not be reflected in the overall telomere dynamics patterns. We propose that patterns of telomere (net) elongation may be partly determined by other factors than those causing telomere shortening, and therefore deserve analyses specifically targeted to investigate the occurrence of telomere elongation. We elaborate on two ecological hypotheses that have been proposed to explain patterns of telomere elongation (the 'excess resources elongation' and the 'last resort elongation' hypothesis) and we discuss the current evidence for (or against) these hypotheses and propose ways to test them.
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Gold NM, Okeke MN, He Y. Involvement of Inheritance in Determining Telomere Length beyond Environmental and Lifestyle Factors. Aging Dis 2023:AD.2023.1023. [PMID: 37962459 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
All linear chromosomal ends have specific DNA-protein complexes called telomeres. Telomeres serve as a "molecular clock" to estimate the potential length of cell replication. Shortening of telomere length (TL) is associated with cellular senescence, aging, and various age-related diseases in humans. Here we reviewed the structure, function, and regulation of telomeres and the age-related diseases associated with telomere attrition. Among the various determinants of TL, we highlight the connection between TL and heredity to provide a new overview of genetic determinants for TL. Studies across multiple species have shown that maternal and paternal TL influence the TL of their offspring, and this may affect life span and their susceptibility to age-related diseases. Hence, we reviewed the linkage between TL and parental influences and the proposed mechanisms involved. More in-depth studies on the genetic mechanism for TL attrition are needed due to the potential application of this knowledge in human medicine to prevent premature frailty at its earliest stage, as well as promote health and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naheemat Modupeola Gold
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Evolution and Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Michael Ngozi Okeke
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Nanomedical Technology Research, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yonghan He
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Evolution and Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Siwik CJ, Cash E, Sephton SE. Depressive symptoms and shorter survival in lung cancer: the role of leukocyte telomere length. Psychol Health 2023; 38:1649-1664. [PMID: 35240880 PMCID: PMC9440155 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2022.2040500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between depressive symptoms, leukocyte telomere length-a marker of cellular ageing, and survival amongst lung cancer patients. DESIGN Patients with non-small cell lung cancer were recruited from a university-affiliated cancer center clinic. MAIN OUTCOME Patients (N = 67) reported on depressive symptoms and provided a blood sample for leukocyte telomere length assessment at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Survival status was tracked over 3 years. RESULTS Age at diagnosis and depressive symptoms, as measured by the CES-D, were associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (p < .05), although only age at diagnosis contributed statistical significance to the model. Depressive symptoms predicted shorter survival from date of diagnosis (p < .01). Patients who reported experiencing clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D scores ≥ 16) demonstrated shorter survival than those who reported sub-clinical levels of depressive symptoms (p < .05). Leukocyte telomere length did not emerge as a predictor of shorter survival. CONCLUSION Clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms are associated with shorter survival amongst lung cancer patients. These findings support the on-going efforts to screen all cancer patients for low mood and to investigate mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and shorter survival in cancer contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea J. Siwik
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Cash
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United States
- UofL Health - James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Louisville, KY, United States
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Sandra E. Sephton
- UofL Health - James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Louisville, KY, United States
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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Huang J, Xiao X, Zhang L, Gao S, Wang X, Yang J. The effect of serum calcium on the association of depression with infertility among U.S. women. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22220. [PMID: 38045116 PMCID: PMC10692812 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explored the association between depressive symptoms and infertility among U.S. women, and the effect of serum calcium on this association. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2018), relating to women aged 20-45 years. Depressive symptoms were determined using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 scores ≥10), and interview data were used to identify self-reported infertility. Of 2708 women (mean age: 32.7 ± 7.5 years), 274 were depressed and 12.0 % self-reported being "ever-infertile." Depressive symptoms were associated with infertility in multivariable logistic regression (OR, 1.62; 95 % CI, 1.11-2.38). Depressive symptoms were associated with infertility among participants who were obese (OR, 1.68; 95 % CI, 1.03-2.74), had not received psychological counseling (OR, 1.60; 95 % CI, 1.03-2.50), were antidepressant users (OR 3.22; 95 % CI, 1.15-9.00), and had high serum calcium levels (OR, 2.05; 95 % CI, 1.25-3.35). A significant interaction between serum calcium and depression was observed for infertility (P = .038, interaction likelihood ratio test). In sensitivity analyses, the association between depressive symptoms and infertility remained after excluding women aged ≥35 years (OR, 1.87; 95 % CI, 1.08-3.23), lowering the cut-off for PHQ-9 scores (≥5) (OR, 1.48; 95 % CI, 1.12-1.96), excluding women with some gynecological diseases (OR, 1.63; 95 % CI, 1.07-2.49), and using inverse probability of treatment weighting (OR, 1.64; 95 % CI, 1.17-2.31). Conclusion Our findings indicate that depression is associated with infertility among U.S. women and serum calcium may have an effect on the association. Interventions such as serum calcium reduction, weight management and psychosocial counseling for infertility treatment in individuals with depression may be integrated into routine clinical practice. Additionally, more caution could be exercised when using antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Disease-Related Gene, Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Health Science Center, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710061, China
- Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, 341000, China
| | - Xuan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Disease-Related Gene, Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Health Science Center, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Linyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Disease-Related Gene, Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Health Science Center, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Shanfeng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Disease-Related Gene, Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Health Science Center, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Disease-Related Gene, Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Health Science Center, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Juan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Disease-Related Gene, Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Health Science Center, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710061, China
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Naudé PJW, Stein DJ, Lin J, Zar HJ. Investigating the association of prenatal psychological adversities with mother and child telomere length and neurodevelopment. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:675-685. [PMID: 37591348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to prenatal maternal psychological adversities can negatively affect the offspring's developing brain. Shortened telomere length (TL) has been implicated as a mechanism for the transgenerational effects of maternal psychological adversities on offspring. This study aimed to determine associations between prenatal psychological stressors and distress with maternal and early life TL, and associations between maternal, newborn and child TL with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age. METHODS Follow-up TL was measured in a subgroup of African mothers (n = 138) and their newborns (n = 142) and children (n = 96) at 2-years in the Drakenstein Child Health Study. Prenatal symptoms of depression, distress, intimate partner violence, posttraumatic stress-disorder and childhood trauma were measured at 27 weeks gestation. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 2 years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III. TLs were measured in whole bloods from mothers and their children at 2-years, and cord bloods in newborns. RESULTS Maternal prenatal stressors and distress were not significantly associated with TL in mothers or their children at birth or at 2-years. Furthermore, maternal psychological measures were not associated with early-life attrition of TL. Longer TL in children at 2-years was associated (p = 0.04) with higher motor functioning. LIMITATIONS Limited numbers of participants and single time-point psychological measures. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to provide information on the association of early life TL with prenatal psychological adversities and neurodevelopmental outcomes in a population of low-income African mothers and their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petrus J W Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; SA-MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Westneat DF, Young RC, Cones AG, Kucera AC, Anacleto A, Heidinger BJ. Early-life telomeres are influenced by environments acting at multiple temporal and spatial scales. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5959-5970. [PMID: 37837282 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
An individual's telomere length early in life may reflect or contribute to key life-history processes sensitive to environmental variation. Yet, the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in shaping early-life telomere length is not well understood as it requires samples collected from multiple generations with known developmental histories. We used a confirmed pedigree and conducted an animal model analysis of telomere lengths obtained from nestling house sparrows (Passer domesticus) sampled over a span of 22 years. We found significant additive genetic variation for early-life telomere length, but it comprised a small proportion (9%) of the total biological variation. Three sources of environmental variation were important: among cohorts, among-breeding attempts within years, and among nestmates. The magnitude of variation among breeding attempts and among nestmates also differed by cohort, suggesting that interactive effects of environmental factors across time or spatial scales were important, yet we were unable to identify the specific causes of these interactions. The mean amount of precipitation during the breeding season positively predicted telomere length, but neither weather during a given breeding attempt nor date in the breeding season contributed to an offspring's telomere length. At the level of individual nestlings, offspring sex, size and mass at 10 days of age also did not predict telomere length. Environmental effects appear especially important in shaping early-life telomere length in some species, and more focus on how environmental factors that interact across scales may help to explain some of the variation observed among studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David F Westneat
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Rebecca C Young
- Department of Biology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Alexandra G Cones
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Aurelia C Kucera
- Department of Biology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Angelo Anacleto
- Department of Biology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Britt J Heidinger
- Department of Biology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
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Tsikas D, Tsikas SA, Mikuteit M, Ückert S. Circulating and Urinary Concentrations of Malondialdehyde in Aging Humans in Health and Disease: Review and Discussion. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2744. [PMID: 37893117 PMCID: PMC10604150 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102744] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a major and stable product of oxidative stress. MDA circulates in the blood and is excreted in the urine in its free and conjugated forms, notably with L-lysine and L-serine. MDA is the most frequently measured biomarker of oxidative stress, namely lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress is generally assumed to be associated with disease and to increase with age. Here, we review and discuss the literature concerning circulating and excretory MDA as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation in aging subjects with regard to health and disease, such as kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and COVID-19. (2) Methods: Scientific articles, notably those reporting on circulating (plasma, serum) and urinary MDA, which concern health and disease, and which appeared in PubMed were considered; they formed the basis for evaluating the potential increase in oxidative stress, particularly lipid peroxidation, as humans age. (3) Results and Conclusions: The results reported in the literature thus far are contradictory. The articles considered in the present study are not supportive of the general view that oxidative stress increases with aging. Many functions of several organs, including the filtration efficiency of the kidneys, are physiologically reduced in men and women as they age. This effect is likely to result in the apparent "accumulation" of biomarkers of oxidative stress, concomitantly with the "accumulation" of biomarkers of an organ's function, such as creatinine. How free and conjugated MDA forms are transported in various organs (including the brain) and how they are excreted in the urine via the kidney is not known, and investigating these questions should be the objective of forthcoming studies. The age- and gender-related increase in circulating creatinine might be a useful factor to be taken into consideration when investigating oxidative stress and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Tsikas
- Core Unit Proteomics, Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, 30623 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanos A. Tsikas
- Dean’s of Office of Studies, Academic Controlling, Hannover Medical School, 30623 Hannover, Germany
| | - Marie Mikuteit
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30623 Hannover, Germany
- Dean’s Office, Curriculum Development, Hannover Medical School, 30623 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Ückert
- Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Division of Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30623 Hannover, Germany
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