Genetic association of FOXO1A and FOXO3A with longevity trait in Han Chinese populations

Gut microbiota in centenarians: A potential metabolic and aging regulator in the study of extreme longevity

Centenarians, those aged 100 years or older, are considered the most successful biological aging model in humans. This population is commonly characterized by a low prevalence of chronic diseases, with favorable maintenance of functionality and independence, thus determining a health phenotype of successful aging. There are many factors usually associated with extreme longevity: genetics, lifestyles, diet, among others. However, it is most likely a multifactorial condition where protective factors contribute individually to some extent. The gut microbiota (GM) has emerged as a potential factor associated with the establishment of a favorable health phenotype that allows for extreme longevity, as seen in centenarians. To understand the possible impact generated by the GM, its changes, and the probable causes for successful aging, the aim of this review was to synthesize evidence on the role of the GM as a potential protective factor for achieving extreme longevity, using its relationship with centenarians.

Novel protective effect of the FOXO3 longevity genotype on mechanisms of cellular aging in Okinawans

The genetic association of FOXO3 genotypes with human longevity is well established, although the mechanism is not fully understood. We now report on the relationship of the FOXO3 longevity variant rs2802292 with telomere length, telomerase activity, FOXO3 expression, and inflammatory cytokine levels in men and women. In agreement with earlier work, the FOXO3 longevity variant conferred protection against telomere shortening of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from adults aged 55 years and older. This was accompanied by higher levels of telomerase activity in mononuclear cells for carriers of the longevity-associated FOXO3 G-allele of SNP rs2802292 (P = 0.015). FOXO3 mRNA expression increased slightly with age in both young (P = 0.02) and old (P = 0.08) G-allele carriers. Older female G-allele carriers displayed a modest decline in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 with age (P = 0.07). In contrast, older male G-allele carriers displayed an age-dependent increase in levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 with age (P = 0.04). Thus, FOXO3 may act through several different pro-longevity mechanisms, which may differ by age and sex.

Genetic associations with longevity are on average stronger in females than in males

It is long observed that females tend to live longer than males in nearly every country. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we discovered that genetic associations with longevity are on average stronger in females than in males through bio-demographic analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) dataset of 2178 centenarians and 2299 middle-age controls of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS). This discovery is replicated across North and South regions of China, and is further confirmed by North-South discovery/replication analyses of different and independent datasets of Chinese healthy aging candidate genes with CLHLS participants who are not in CLHLS GWAS, including 2972 centenarians and 1992 middle-age controls. Our polygenic risk score analyses of eight exclusive groups of sex-specific genes, analyses of sex-specific and not-sex-specific individual genes, and Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis using all SNPs all reconfirm that genetic associations with longevity are on average stronger in females than in males. Our discovery/replication analyses are based on genetic datasets of in total 5150 centenarians and compatible middle-age controls, which comprises the worldwide largest sample of centenarians. The present study's findings may partially explain the well-known male-female health-survival paradox and suggest that genetic variants may be associated with different reactions between males and females to the same vaccine, drug treatment and/or nutritional intervention. Thus, our findings provide evidence to steer away from traditional view that "one-size-fits-all" for clinical interventions, and to consider sex differences for improving healthcare efficiency. We suggest future investigations focusing on effects of interactions between sex-specific genetic variants and environment on longevity as well as biological function.

Sex-biased gene expression and gene-regulatory networks of sex-biased adverse event drug targets and drug metabolism genes

BACKGROUND

Previous pharmacovigilance studies and a retroactive review of cancer clinical trial studies identified that women were more likely to experience drug adverse events (i.e., any unintended effects of medication), and men were more likely to experience adverse events that resulted in hospitalization or death. These sex-biased adverse events (SBAEs) are due to many factors not entirely understood, including differences in body mass, hormones, pharmacokinetics, and liver drug metabolism enzymes and transporters.

METHODS

We first identified drugs associated with SBAEs from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Next, we evaluated sex-specific gene expression of the known drug targets and metabolism enzymes for those SBAE-associated drugs. We also constructed sex-specific tissue gene-regulatory networks to determine if these known drug targets and metabolism enzymes from the SBAE-associated drugs had sex-specific gene-regulatory network properties and predicted regulatory relationships.

RESULTS

We identified liver-specific gene-regulatory differences for drug metabolism genes between males and females, which could explain observed sex differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In addition, we found that ~ 85% of SBAE-associated drug targets had sex-biased gene expression or were core genes of sex- and tissue-specific network communities, significantly higher than randomly selected drug targets. Lastly, we provide the sex-biased drug-adverse event pairs, drug targets, and drug metabolism enzymes as a resource for the research community.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, we provide evidence that many SBAEs are associated with drug targets and drug metabolism genes that are differentially expressed and regulated between males and females. These SBAE-associated drug metabolism enzymes and drug targets may be useful for future studies seeking to explain or predict SBAEs.

Sex-biased gene expression and gene-regulatory networks of sex-biased adverse event drug targets and drug metabolism genes

Background

Previous pharmacovigilance studies and a retroactive review of cancer clinical trial studies identified that women were more likely to experience drug adverse events (i.e., any unintended effects of medication), and men were more likely to experience adverse events that resulted in hospitalization or death. These sex-biased adverse events (SBAEs) are due to many factors not entirely understood, including differences in body mass, hormones, pharmacokinetics, and liver drug metabolism enzymes and transporters.

Methods

We first identified drugs associated with SBAEs from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Next, we evaluated sex-specific gene expression of the known drug targets and metabolism enzymes for those SBAE-associated drugs. We also constructed sex-specific tissue gene-regulatory networks to determine if these known drug targets and metabolism enzymes from the SBAE-associated drugs had sex-specific gene-regulatory network properties and predicted regulatory relationships.

Results

We identified liver-specific gene-regulatory differences for drug metabolism genes between males and females, which could explain observed sex differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In addition, we found that ~85% of SBAE-associated drug targets had sex-biased gene expression or were core genes of sex- and tissue-specific network communities, significantly higher than randomly selected drug targets. Lastly, we provide the sex-biased drug-adverse event pairs, drug targets, and drug metabolism enzymes as a resource for the research community.

Conclusions

Overall, we provide evidence that many SBAEs are associated with drug targets and drug metabolism genes that are differentially expressed and regulated between males and females. These SBAE-associated drug metabolism enzymes and drug targets may be useful for future studies seeking to explain or predict SBAEs.

FOXO family isoforms

FOXO family of proteins are transcription factors involved in many physiological and pathological processes including cellular homeostasis, stem cell maintenance, cancer, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. Genetic evidence has been accumulating to suggest a prominent role of FOXOs in lifespan regulation in animal systems from hydra, C elegans, Drosophila, and mice. Together with the observation that FOXO3 is the second most replicated gene associated with extreme human longevity suggests that pharmacological targeting of FOXO proteins can be a promising approach to treat cancer and other age-related diseases and extend life and health span. However, due to the broad range of cellular functions of the FOXO family members FOXO1, 3, 4, and 6, isoform-specific targeting of FOXOs might lead to greater benefits and cause fewer side effects. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the common and specific features of these proteins as well as their redundant and specific functions in our cells represents the basis of specific targeting strategies. In this review, we provide an overview of the evolution, structure, function, and disease-relevance of each of the FOXO family members.

Study of FOXO1-interacting proteins using TurboID-based proximity labeling technology

BACKGROUND

Protein‒protein interactions (PPIs) are the foundation of the life activities of cells. TurboID is a biotin ligase with higher catalytic efficiency than BioID or APEX that reduces the required labeling time from 18 h to 10 min. Since many proteins participate in binding and catalytic events that are very short-lived, it is theoretically possible to find relatively novel binding proteins using the TurboID technique. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and metabolic disorders underlie many diseases, and forkhead box transcription factor 1 (FOXO1) plays a key role in these physiological and pathological processes.

RESULTS

The FOXO1-TurboID fusion gene was transfected into U251 astrocytes, and a cell line stably expressing FOXO1 was constructed. While constructing the FOXO1 overexpression plasmid, we also added the gene sequence of TurboID to perform biotin labeling experiments in the successfully fabricated cell line to look for FOXO1 reciprocal proteins. Label-free mass spectrometry analysis was performed, and 325 interacting proteins were found. A total of 176 proteins were identified in the FOXO1 overexpression group, and 227 proteins were identified in the Lipopolysaccharide -treated group (Lipopolysaccharide, LPS). Wild-type U251 cells were used to exclude interference from nonspecific binding. The FOXO1-interacting proteins hnRNPK and RBM14 were selected for immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence verification.

CONCLUSION

The TurboID technique was used to select the FOXO1-interacting proteins, and after removing the proteins identified in the blank group, a large number of interacting proteins were found in both positive groups. This study lays a foundation for further study of the function of FOXO1 and the regulatory network in which it is involved.

FOXO3A-short is a novel regulator of non-oxidative glucose metabolism associated with human longevity

Intronic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FOXO3A are associated with human longevity. Currently, it is unclear how these SNPs alter FOXO3A functionality and human physiology, thereby influencing lifespan. Here, we identify a primate-specific FOXO3A transcriptional isoform, FOXO3A-Short (FOXO3A-S), encoding a major longevity-associated SNP, rs9400239 (C or T), within its 5' untranslated region. The FOXO3A-S mRNA is highly expressed in the skeletal muscle and has very limited expression in other tissues. We find that the rs9400239 variant influences the stability and functionality of the primarily nuclear protein(s) encoded by the FOXO3A-S mRNA. Assessment of the relationship between the FOXO3A-S polymorphism and peripheral glucose clearance during insulin infusion (Rd clamp) in a cohort of Danish twins revealed that longevity T-allele carriers have markedly faster peripheral glucose clearance rates than normal lifespan C-allele carriers. In vitro experiments in human myotube cultures utilizing overexpression of each allele showed that the C-allele represses glycolysis independently of PI3K signaling, while overexpression of the T-allele represses glycolysis only in a PI3K-inactive background. Supporting this finding inducible knockdown of the FOXO3A-S C-allele in cultured myotubes increases the glycolytic rate. We conclude that the rs9400239 polymorphism acts as a molecular switch which changes the identity of the FOXO3A-S-derived protein(s), which in turn alters the relationship between FOXO3A-S and insulin/PI3K signaling and glycolytic flux in the skeletal muscle. This critical difference endows carriers of the FOXO3A-S T-allele with consistently higher insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose clearance rates, which may contribute to their longer and healthier lifespans.

FoxO3 Regulates the Progress and Development of Aging and Aging-Related Diseases

Aging is an inevitable risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Investigation into the molecular mechanisms involved in aging and longevity will benefit the treatment of age-dependent diseases and the development of preventative medicine for agingrelated diseases. Current evidence has revealed that FoxO3, encoding the transcription factor (FoxO)3, a key transcription factor that integrates different stimuli in the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and is involved in cell differentiation, protein homeostasis, stress resistance and stem cell status, plays a regulatory role in longevity and in age-related diseases. However, the precise mechanisms by which the FoxO3 transcription factor modulates aging and promotes longevity have been unclear until now. Here, we provide a brief overview of the mechanisms by which FoxO3 mediates signaling in pathways involved in aging and aging-related diseases, as well as the current knowledge on the role of the FoxO3 transcription factor in the human lifespan and its clinical prospects. Ultimately, we conclude that FoxO3 signaling pathways, including upstream and downstream molecules, may be underlying therapeutic targets in aging and age-related diseases.

The landscape of aging

Aging is characterized by a progressive deterioration of physiological integrity, leading to impaired functional ability and ultimately increased susceptibility to death. It is a major risk factor for chronic human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological degeneration, and cancer. Therefore, the growing emphasis on “healthy aging” raises a series of important questions in life and social sciences. In recent years, there has been unprecedented progress in aging research, particularly the discovery that the rate of aging is at least partly controlled by evolutionarily conserved genetic pathways and biological processes. In an attempt to bring full-fledged understanding to both the aging process and age-associated diseases, we review the descriptive, conceptual, and interventive aspects of the landscape of aging composed of a number of layers at the cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, and organismal levels.

Screening Health-Promoting Compounds for Their Capacity to Induce the Activity of FOXO3

Several chemical compounds including natural products have been suggested as being effective against age-related diseases or as beneficial for a healthy life. On the other hand, forkhead box O (FOXO) proteins are emerging as key cellular components associated with extreme human longevity. FOXO proteins are mainly regulated by posttranslational modifications and as these modifications are reversible, activation and inactivation of FOXO are attainable through pharmacological treatment. Here, we questioned whether a panel of compounds with known health-beneficial properties has the capacity to induce the activity of FOXO factors. We show that resveratrol, a phytoalexin present in grapes and other food products, the amide alkaloid piperlongumine found in the fruit of the long pepper, and the plant-derived β-carboline compound harmine induced nuclear translocation of FOXO3. We also show that piperlongumine and harmine but not resveratrol activate FOXO-dependent transcription. We determined the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values for resveratrol, piperlongumine, and harmine for FOXO translocation, and analyzed their inhibitory impact on chromosomal maintenance 1 (CRM1)-mediated nuclear export and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also used chemical biology approach and Western blot analysis to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. We show that harmine, piperlongumine, and resveratrol activate FOXO3 independently of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling and the CRM1-mediated nuclear export. The effect of harmine on FOXO3 activity is at least partially mediated through the inhibition of dual-specificity tyrosine (Y) phosphorylationregulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) and can be reverted by the inhibition of sirtuins (SIRTs).

Longevity-Promoting Pathways and Transcription Factors Respond to and Control Extracellular Matrix Dynamics During Aging and Disease

Aging is one of the largest risk factors for cancer, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and other age-related pathologies. Here, we give a detailed description of the interplay of chronic age-related pathologies with the remodeling of the extracellular matrix during disease development and progression. Longevity-promoting signaling pathways slow or prevent age-related diseases. In particular, we focus on the mTOR signaling pathway, sirtuins, and canonical longevity-promoting transcription factors, such as FOXO, NF-κB, and Nrf2. We extend our analysis using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing and transcriptomic data and report that many established and emerging longevity-promoting transcription factors, such as CREB1, FOXO1,3, GATA1,2,3,4, HIF1A, JUN, KLF4, MYC, NFE2L2/Nrf2, RELA/NF-κB, REST, STAT3,5A, and TP53/p53, directly regulate many extracellular matrix genes and remodelers. We propose that modulation of these pathways increases lifespan and protects from age-related diseases in part due to their effects on extracellular matrix remodeling. Therefore, to successfully treat age-related diseases, it is necessary to better understand the connection between extracellular matrix components and longevity pathways.

Evolutionarily conserved transcription factors as regulators of longevity and targets for geroprotection

Aging is the single largest risk factor for many debilitating conditions, including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. While far from understood in its full complexity, it is scientifically well-established that aging is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, and can be modulated by various interventions. One of aging's early hallmarks are aberrations in transcriptional networks, controlling for example metabolic homeostasis or the response to stress. Evidence in different model organisms abounds that a number of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors, which control such networks, can affect lifespan and healthspan across species. These transcription factors thus potentially represent conserved regulators of longevity and are emerging as important targets in the challenging quest to develop treatments to mitigate age-related diseases, and possibly even to slow aging itself. This review provides an overview of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that impact longevity or age-related diseases in at least one multicellular model organism (nematodes, flies, or mice), and/or are tentatively linked to human aging. Discussed is the general evidence for transcriptional regulation of aging and disease, followed by a more detailed look at selected transcription factor families, the common metabolic pathways involved, and the targeting of transcription factors as a strategy for geroprotective interventions.

Effect of FOXO3 and Air Pollution on Cognitive Function: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Older Adults in China From 2000 to 2014

Forkhead Box O 3 (FOXO3) genotype is strongly associated with human longevity and may be protective against neurodegeneration. Air pollution is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. We aimed to study the individual and combined effects of FOXO3 and air pollution on cognitive function in a large prospective cohort with up to 14 years of follow-up. We measured cognitive function and impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We used tagging SNPs rs2253310, rs2802292, and rs4946936 to identify the FOXO3 gene, of which roughly half of the population had the longevity-associated polymorphism. We matched annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations within a 1 km2 grid. We conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using multivariable linear and logistic regression models and generalized estimating equations. At baseline, carriers of the longevity-associated homozygous minor alleles of FOXO3 SNPs had a higher MMSE score than the carriers of homozygous major alleles. In the longitudinal follow-up, carriers of FOXO3 homozygous minor alleles had lower odds of cognitive impairment compared with noncarriers. Higher PM2.5 was associated with a lower MMSE score and higher odds of cognitive impairment. The positive effects of FOXO3 were the strongest in females, older people, and residents in areas with lower air pollution.

Longevity Factor FOXO3: A Key Regulator in Aging-Related Vascular Diseases

Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) has been proposed as a homeostasis regulator, capable of integrating multiple upstream signaling pathways that are sensitive to environmental changes and counteracting their adverse effects due to external changes, such as oxidative stress, metabolic stress and growth factor deprivation. FOXO3 polymorphisms are associated with extreme human longevity. Intriguingly, longevity-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human FOXO3 correlate with lower-than-average morbidity from cardiovascular diseases in long-lived people. Emerging evidence indicates that FOXO3 plays a critical role in vascular aging. FOXO3 inactivation is implicated in several aging-related vascular diseases. In experimental studies, FOXO3-engineered human ESC-derived vascular cells improve vascular homeostasis and delay vascular aging. The purpose of this review is to explore how FOXO3 regulates vascular aging and its crucial role in aging-related vascular diseases.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphism of rs1937 in TFAM gene and longevity among the elderly Chinese population: based on the CLHLS study

Background

To investigate whether the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) rs1937 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with longevity.

Methods

We conducted a case-control study among Chinese long-lived individuals (≥90 years). Data were obtained on 3294 participants who were able to voluntarily provided a saliva sample during 2008–2009 from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). In this study, 1387 young elderly (65–74 years) were allocated to the control group, and 1907 long-lived individuals were recruited as the case group. SNP rs1937 on TFAM were genotyped. Logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association between rs1937 SNP and longevity.

Results

The genotype frequency of the SNP of rs1937 in the two groups had a significant difference (p = 0.003). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that compared to younger elderly, the long-lived individuals with “CC genotype” of rs1937 were more closely related to increased longevity than those with “GG genotype” (OR: 1.989, 95% CI: 1.160–3.411). The positive association between rs1937 SNP and longevity was robust in stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

We found the SNP of rs1937 may be a potential biomarker for longer human life span. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the biological mechanism of rs1937 on TFAM with promoting longevity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02655-3.

Sex Difference and Interaction of SIRT1 and FOXO3 Candidate Longevity Genes on Life Expectancy: A 10-year Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

SIRT1 and FOXO3 are both associated with longevity. Molecular biology research in many organisms (yeast, nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, and mice mammalian models) shows SIRT1 acts on the FOXO family of forkhead transcription factors to respond to oxidative stress better, shifting processes away from cell death towards stress resistance. Human population studies need epidemiologic evidence. We used an open cohort of 3,166 community-dwelling participants in China with follow-up from 2008 to 2018. The mean age at baseline was 84.6 years. In 16,375 person-years of follow-up, there were 1,968 mortality events. SIRT1 and FOXO3 exhibited mendelian randomization as there was no correlation with each other and with baseline study population characteristics. Some SIRT1 and FOXO3 SNPs showed protective effects for mortality risk. The FOXO3 protective effect was stronger in females, and the SIRT1 protective effect was stronger in male study participants. We did not see evidence of a synergistic effect of being carriers of both SIRT1 and FOXO3.

Comparing Effects of FOXO3A and Residing in Urban Areas on Longevity: A Gene-Environment Interaction Study

Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3A) is a candidate longevity gene. Urban residents are also positively associated with longer life expectancy. We conducted a gene-environment interaction to assess the synergistic effect of FOXO3A and urban/rural environments on mortality. We included 3085 older adults from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2253310, rs2802292, and rs4946936 to identify the FOXO3A gene and classified residential locations as "urban" and "rural." Given the open cohort design, we used the Cox-proportional hazard regression models to assess the mortality risk. We found the minor allele homozygotes of FOXO3A to have a protective effect on mortality [HR (95% CI) for rs4946936 TT vs. CC: 0.807 (0.653, 0.996); rs2802292 GG vs TT: 0.812 (0.67, 0.985); rs2253310 CC vs. GG: 0.808 (0.667, 0.978)]. Participants living in urban areas had a lower risk of mortality [HR of the urban vs. the rural: 0.854 (0.759, 0.962)]. The interaction between FOXO3A and urban and rural regions was statistically significant (pinteraction<0.01). Higher air pollution (fine particulate matter: PM2.5) and lower residential greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index: NDVI) both contributed to higher mortality. After adjusting for NDVI and PM2.5, the protective effect size of FOXO3A SNPs was slightly attenuated while the protective effect size of living in an urban environment increased. The effect size of the beneficial effect of FOXO3 on mortality is roughly equivalent to that of living in urban areas. Our research findings indicate the effect of places of residence and genetic predisposition of longevity are intertwined.

Association of FOXO3 Blood DNA Methylation with Cancer Risk, Cancer Survival, and Mortality

Genetic variants in FOXO3 are associated with longevity. Here, we assessed whether blood DNA methylation at FOXO3 was associated with cancer risk, survival, and mortality. We used data from eight prospective case–control studies of breast (n = 409 cases), colorectal (n = 835), gastric (n = 170), kidney (n = 143), lung (n = 332), prostate (n = 869), and urothelial (n = 428) cancer and B-cell lymphoma (n = 438). Case–control pairs were matched on age, sex, country of birth, and smoking (lung cancer study). Conditional logistic regression was used to assess associations between cancer risk and methylation at 45 CpGs of FOXO3 included on the HumanMethylation450 assay. Mixed-effects Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with cancer survival (total n = 2286 deaths). Additionally, using data from 1088 older participants, we assessed associations of FOXO3 methylation with overall and cause-specific mortality (n = 354 deaths). Methylation at a CpG in the first exon region of FOXO3 (6:108882981) was associated with gastric cancer survival (HR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.60–3.56, p = 1.9 × 10⁻⁵). Methylation at three CpGs in TSS1500 and gene body was associated with lung cancer survival (p < 6.1 × 10⁻⁵). We found no evidence of associations of FOXO3 methylation with cancer risk and mortality. Our findings may contribute to understanding the implication of FOXO3 in longevity.

Role of FoxO transcription factors in aging and age-related metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases

Aging happens to all of us as we live. Thanks to the improved living standard and discovery of life-saving medicines, our life expectancy has increased substantially across the world in the past century. However, the rise in lifespan leads to unprecedented increases in both the number and the percentage of individuals 65 years and older, accompanied by the increased incidences of age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease. FoxO transcription factors are evolutionarily conserved molecules that play critical roles in diverse biological processes, in particular aging and metabolism. Their dysfunction is often found in the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. Here, we summarize the signaling pathways and cellular functions of FoxO proteins. We also review the complex role of FoxO in aging and age-related diseases, with focus on type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease and discuss the possibility of FoxO as a molecular link between aging and disease risks.

Effects of Curcumin on Aging: Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Evidence

Aging is characterized by a progressive inability to maintain homeostasis, self-repair, renewal, performance, and fitness of different tissues throughout the lifespan. Senescence is occurring following enormous intracellular or extracellular stress stimuli. Cellular senescence serves as an antiproliferative process that causes permanent cell cycle arrest and restricts the lifespan. Senescent cells are characterized by terminal cell cycle arrest, enlarged lysosome, and DNA double-strand breaks as well as lipofuscin granularity, senescence-associated heterochromatin foci, and activation of DNA damage response. Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol, is a bioactive chemical constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn (turmeric), which has been extensively used for the alleviation of various human disorders. In addition to its pleiotropic effects, curcumin has been suggested to have antiaging features. In this review, we summarized the therapeutic potential of curcumin in the prevention and delaying of the aging process.

The association between FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of FOXO3a among chronic granulocytic leukemia patients treated with imatinib mesylate

Background: The gene  FOXO3a has been elucidated to govern the development of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). Moreover, it has been suggested that the levels of  FOXO3a in circulation are affected by the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism. However, no study has assessed the correlation between the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a. The objective of this study was to assess the association between the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a in CGL patients treated with imatinib mesylate.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2019 to February 2020. The genotyping of  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism was conducted using PCR-RFLP, and the levels of  FOXO3a were assessed using ELISA. The association between the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a were assessed using multiple logistic regression.  Results: A total of 60 CGL patients were assessed in our study. Among them, the CC, CT, and TT genotypes of the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism were 35.0%, 48.3%, and 16.7% respectively. Our calculation revealed that elevated levels of  FOXO3a were found in CGL patients with the CC genotype of the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism. While we failed to clarify the association between either the CT or the TT genotype of  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a.  Conclusion: Our study identifies that the CC genotype of the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism affects the elevated levels of  FOXO3a in CGL patients treated with imatinib mesylate.

The association between FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of FOXO3a among chronic granulocytic leukemia patients treated with imatinib mesylate

Background: The gene  FOXO3a has been elucidated to govern the development of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). Moreover, it has been suggested that the levels of  FOXO3a in circulation are affected by the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism. However, no study has assessed the correlation between the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a. The objective of this study was to assess the association between the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a in CGL patients treated with imatinib mesylate.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2019 to February 2020. The genotyping of  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism was conducted using PCR-RFLP, and the levels of  FOXO3a were assessed using ELISA. The association between the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a were assessed using multiple logistic regression.  Results: A total of 60 CGL patients were assessed in our study. Among them, the CC, CT, and TT genotypes of the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism were 35.0%, 48.3%, and 16.7% respectively. Our calculation revealed that elevated levels of  FOXO3a were found in CGL patients with the CC genotype of the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism. While we failed to clarify the association between either the CT or the TT genotype of  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism and the levels of  FOXO3a.  Conclusion: Our study identifies that the CC genotype of the  FOXO3a rs4946936 gene polymorphism affects the elevated levels of  FOXO3a in CGL patients treated with imatinib mesylate.

The interrelationship between female reproductive aging and survival

The link between survival and reproductive function is demonstrated across many species and is under both long-term evolutionary pressures and short-term environmental pressures. Loss of reproductive function is common in mammals and is strongly correlated with increased rates of disease in both males and females. However, the reproduction-associated change in disease rates is more abrupt and more severe in women, who benefit from a significant health advantage over men until the age of menopause. Young women with early ovarian failure also suffer from increased disease risks, further supporting the role of ovarian function in female health. Contemporary experiments where the influence of young ovarian tissue has been restored in post-reproductive-aged females with surgical manipulation were found to increase survival significantly. In these experiments, young, intact ovaries were used to replace the aged ovaries of females that had already reached reproductive cessation. As has been seen previously in primitive species, when the young mammalian ovaries were depleted of germ cells prior to transplantation to the post-reproductive female, survival was increased even further than with germ cell-containing young ovaries. Thus, extending reproductive potential significantly increases survival and appears to be germ cell and ovarian hormone-independent. The current review will discuss historical and contemporary observations and theories that support the link between reproduction and survival and provide hope for future clinical applications to decrease menopause-associated increases in disease risks.

Effects of High Dietary Carbohydrate and Lipid Intake on the Lifespan of C. elegans

Health and lifespan are influenced by dietary nutrients, whose balance is dependent on the supply or demand of each organism. Many studies have shown that an increased carbohydrate–lipid intake plays a critical role in metabolic dysregulation, which impacts longevity. Caenorhabditis elegans has been successfully used as an in vivo model to study the effects of several factors, such as genetic, environmental, diet, and lifestyle factors, on the molecular mechanisms that have been linked to healthspan, lifespan, and the aging process. There is evidence showing the causative effects of high glucose on lifespan in different diabetic models; however, the precise biological mechanisms affected by dietary nutrients, specifically carbohydrates and lipids, as well as their links with lifespan and longevity, remain unknown. Here, we provide an overview of the deleterious effects caused by high-carbohydrate and high-lipid diets, as well as the molecular signals that affect the lifespan of C. elegans; thus, understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms of high-glucose- and lipid-induced changes in whole organisms would allow the targeting of key regulatory factors to ameliorate metabolic disorders and age-related diseases.

Centenarians as models of healthy aging: Example of REST

Centenarians are a group of individuals exhibiting extreme longevity, who are characterized by a remarkable compression of morbidity. Therefore, centenarians have been postulated as a model of healthy aging. Different approaches have been used to decipher the biology and genetics of centenarians in order to identify key anti-aging pathways. The majority of studies have taken advantage of blood samples to perform their analysis. Besides, a recent study in human brain samples deciphered the transcription factor REST (Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor) as an important player of extreme longevity and cognitive activity. This study goes from human to animal models and revealed that REST acts as an epigenetic regulator of neuronal homeostasis, to control aging and longevity. The aim of this view point is to summarize recent literature describing genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as molecular pathways associated with centenarians and the biology of aging. We will pay particular attention to the impact of REST in centenarians and longevity.

The association between longevity associated FOXO3 allele and heart disease in Septuagenarians and Octogenarians: The SONIC study

The G allele of FOXO3 gene (single-nucleotide polymorphism; rs2802292) is strongly associated with human longevity. However, knowledge of the effect of FOXO3 in older populations, men or women, with heart disease is limited. This cross-sectional study in Japan included 1836 older adults in the 70- and 80-year-old groups. DNA samples isolated from buffy coat samples of peripheral blood were used to genotype FOXO3 (rs2802292). Self-reports were used to obtain heart disease data according to physician diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the association by adjusting for the traditional risk factor of heart disease. The prevalence of heart disease in women FOXO3 G-allele carriers was higher than noncarriers (16.7% vs 11.6%, p = .022). The prevalence of coronary heart disease was lower for FOXO3 G carriers in the 70-year-old group for both sexes (men: 9.3% vs 4.3%, p = .042 and women: 10% vs 9%, p = .079, respectively). The G allele was negatively associated with heart disease after adjusting for diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking in men (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70, 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.49–0.99, p = .046), although the association was weaker after full adjustment. In contrast, women carriers of the FOXO3 G allele showed a positive association with heart disease after total adjustment (OR = 1.49, 95% CI, 1.00–2.21, p = .049). In conclusion, the longevity-associated G allele of FOXO3 was observed to have contrasting associations with heart disease prevalence according to sex in older Japanese. To further confirm this association, a longitudinal study and a large sample size will be required.

rs2253310 and rs4946936 common variants of FOXO3 gene in octogenarians and cancer: a pilot study in north India

Background

Healthy aging perceives human longevity probably due to carrying the defensive genes. Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors provide the most convincing example of a conserved genetic pathway at the point between aging and cancer. This pilot study was performed to examine the single nucleotide variants rs2253310 and rs4946936 of the Forkhead box O 3 (FOXO3 gene) in octogenarians and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer patients in the north Indian population.

Main body

In silico mutational analysis of the FOXO3 gene in 25 participants. Two single nucleotide variants (SNVs) g.7556C>G (rs2253310) heterozygous and g.122284T>C (rs4946936) homozygous observed and reported previously. However, there is a common association of these SNVs in different ethnic groups. No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies for the study groups observed.

Short conclusion

This study observes two single nucleotide variants, g.7556C>G (rs2253310) and g.122284T>C (rs4946936), of the FOXO3 gene in the study groups which influence human longevity. Longevity-associated FOXO3 variants may be associated with GIT cancer in the north Indian population. As a result, looking for genes linked to longevity will lead to discovering new cancer targets. Further studies with a large population are necessary to elucidate the role of the FOXO3 gene in octogenarians.

Vascular Aging in the Invertebrate Chordate, Botryllus schlosseri

Vascular diseases affect over 1 billion people worldwide and are highly prevalent among the elderly, due to a progressive deterioration of the structure of vascular cells. Most of our understanding of these age-related cellular changes comes from in vitro studies on human cell lines. Further studies of the mechanisms underlying vascular aging in vivo are needed to provide insight into the pathobiology of age-associated vascular diseases, but are difficult to carry out on vertebrate model organisms. We are studying the effects of aging on the vasculature of the invertebrate chordate, Botryllus schlosseri. This extracorporeal vascular network of Botryllus is transparent and particularly amenable to imaging and manipulation. Here we use a combination of transcriptomics, immunostaining and live-imaging, as well as in vivo pharmacological treatments and regeneration assays to show that morphological, transcriptional, and functional age-associated changes within vascular cells are key hallmarks of aging in B. schlosseri, and occur independent of genotype. We show that age-associated changes in the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix reshape vascular cells into a flattened and elongated form and there are major changes in the structure of the basement membrane over time. The vessels narrow, reducing blood flow, and become less responsive to stimuli inducing vascular regression. The extracorporeal vasculature is highly regenerative following injury, and while age does not affect the regeneration potential, newly regenerated vascular cells maintain the same aged phenotype, suggesting that aging of the vasculature is a result of heritable epigenetic changes.

An Aging-Related Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism is Associated With Altered Clinical Outcomes and Distinct Inflammatory Profiles in Aged Blunt Trauma Patients

The contribution of individual genetic determinants of aging to the adverse clinical outcomes and altered inflammation mediator networks characteristic of aged trauma patients is unknown. The AA genotype of the aging-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2075650 in TOMM40 has been associated with longevity, while the AG and GG genotypes are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer disease. Here, we studied the effect of rs2075650 on clinical outcomes and dynamic biomarker patterns after traumatic injury. Genomic DNA was obtained from blunt trauma patients admitted to the ICU and examined for 551,839 SNPs using an Illumina microarray kit. Plasma was sampled from each patient three times within the first 24 h and daily from day 1 to 7 then assayed for 31 biomarkers using Luminex. Aged patients (65-90 years) were segregated into AA (n = 77) and AG/GG (n = 17) genotypes. Additional comparisons were made with matched groups of young patients (18-30 years), controlling for injury severity score (ISS) and sex ratio, and also segregated into AA (n = 56) and AG/GG (n = 19) genotypes. Aged patients with the AA genotype had a significantly lower requirement for ventilation and fewer days on mechanical ventilation, as well as significantly higher levels of one mediator and lower levels of two mediators. Dynamic Bayesian Network inference revealed IL-23 as a central node in each network regardless of age or genotype, with MIG and IP-10 also as key mediators in the networks of the aged patients. These findings suggest that an aging-related SNP, rs2075650, may influence clinical outcomes and inflammation networks in aged patients following blunt trauma, and thus may serve as a predictive outcome biomarker in the setting of polytrauma.

Role of Forkhead box O3a transcription factor in autoimmune diseases

Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) transcription factor, the most important member of Forkhead box O family, is closely related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and aging. The downregulation of FOXO3a has been verified to be associated with the poor prognosis, severer malignancy and chemoresistance in several human cancers. The activity of FOXO3a mainly regulated by phosphorylation of protein kinase B. FOXO3a plays a vital role in promoting the apoptosis of immune cells. FOXO3a could also modulate the activation, differentiation and function of T cells, regulate the proliferation and function of B cells, and mediate dendritic cells tolerance and immunity. FOXO3a accommodates the immune response through targeting nuclear factor kappa-B and FOXP3, as well as regulating the expression of cytokines. Besides, FOXO3a participates in intercellular interactions. FOXO3a inhibits dendritic cells from producing interleukin-6, which inhibits B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) and BCL-XL expression, thereby sparing resting T cells from apoptosis and increasing the survival of antigen-stimulated T cells. Recently, plentiful evidences further illustrated the significance of FOXO3a in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis, myositis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic sclerosis. In this review, we focused on the biological function of FOXO3a and related signaling pathways regarding immune system, and summarized the potential role of FOXO3a in the pathogenesis, progress and therapeutic potential of autoimmune diseases.

FOXO1 constrains activation and regulates senescence in CD8 T cells

Naive and memory T cells are maintained in a quiescent state, yet capable of rapid response and differentiation to antigen challenge via molecular mechanisms that are not fully understood. In naive cells, the deletion of Foxo1 following thymic development results in the increased expression of multiple AP-1 family members, rendering T cells less able to respond to antigenic challenge. Similarly, in the absence of FOXO1, post-infection memory T cells exhibit the characteristics of extended activation and senescence. Age-based analysis of human peripheral T cells reveals that levels of FOXO1 and its downstream target, TCF7, are inversely related to host age, whereas the opposite is found for AP-1 factors. These characteristics of aging also correlate with the formation of T cells manifesting features of cellular senescence. Our work illustrates a role for FOXO1 in the active maintenance of stem-like properties in T cells at the timescales of acute infection and organismal life span.

Down-regulated RGS5 by genetic variants impairs endothelial cell function and contributes to coronary artery disease

AIMS

Genetic contribution to coronary artery disease (CAD) remains largely unillustrated. Although transcriptomic profiles have identified dozens of genes that are differentially expressed in normal and atherosclerotic vessels, whether those genes are genetically associated with CAD remains to be determined. Here, we combined genetic association studies, transcriptome profiles and in vitro and in vivo functional experiments to identify novel susceptibility genes for CAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Through an integrative analysis of transcriptome profiles with genome-wide association studies for CAD, we obtained 18 candidate genes and selected one representative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for each gene for multi-centred validations. We identified an intragenic SNP, rs1056515 in RGS5 gene (odds ratio = 1.17, 95% confidence interval =1.10-1.24, P = 3.72 × 10-8) associated with CAD at genome-wide significance. Rare genetic variants in linkage disequilibrium with rs1056515 were identified in CAD patients leading to a decreased expression of RGS5. The decreased expression was also observed in atherosclerotic vessels and endothelial cells treated by various cardiovascular risk factors. Through siRNA knockdown and adenoviral overexpression, we further showed that RGS5 regulated endothelial inflammation, vascular remodelling, as well as canonical NF-κB signalling activation. Moreover, CXCL12, a specific downstream target of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway, was strongly affected by RGS5. However, the p100 processing, a well-documented marker for non-canonical NF-κB pathway activation, was not altered, suggesting an existence of a novel mechanism by which RGS5 regulates CXCL12.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified RGS5 as a novel susceptibility gene for CAD and showed that the decreased expression of RGS5 impaired endothelial cell function and functionally contributed to atherosclerosis through a variety of molecular mechanisms. How RGS5 regulates the expression of CXCL12 needs further studies.

Potential Anti-Aging Substances Derived from Seaweeds

Aging is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The exact mechanisms underlying the aging process are not fully elucidated. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that several pathways, such as sirtuin, AMP-activated protein kinase, insulin-like growth factor, autophagy, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 play critical roles in regulating aging. Furthermore, genetic or dietary interventions of these pathways can extend lifespan by delaying the aging process. Seaweeds are a food source rich in many nutrients, including fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. The health benefits of seaweeds include, but are not limited to, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obese activities. Interestingly, a body of studies shows that some seaweed-derived extracts or isolated compounds, can modulate these aging-regulating pathways or even extend lifespans of various animal models. However, few such studies have been conducted on higher animals or even humans. In this review, we focused on potential anti-aging bioactive substances in seaweeds that have been studied in cells and animals mainly based on their anti-aging cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Cohort profile: the Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study in Singapore

How diet is related with cognition and health has not been systematically examined in Asians whose eating habits are very different from their counterparts in the West and the biological mechanisms underlying such links are not well known yet. The diet and healthy aging (DaHA) study is a community-based longitudinal study conducted to examine the role of diet and nutrition in promoting cognitive, emotional, and physical health among community-living elderly Singaporeans. The first wave of DaHA, conducted from 2011 to 2017, provided detailed information on diet and baseline cognitive function and health from 1010 community-living elderly in Singapore. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and genetic information were collected. The ongoing second wave of DaHA is conducted from 2017 to 2020, which provides follow- up assessments using established cognitive tests and clinical tools. This well-characterized cohort, with its archived biological samples and high-quality data on diet and lifestyle factors will allow researchers to explore the relationships among diet, nutrition, genes, cognition, mental and physical health in an extremely cost-effective manner. Translations of the research findings into clinical and public health practices will potentially help to promote cognitive health at the population level and reduce healthcare costs related to cognitive impairment.

Therapeutic strategies targeting FOXO transcription factors

FOXO proteins are transcription factors that are involved in numerous physiological processes and in various pathological conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic neurological diseases. For example, FOXO proteins are context-dependent tumour suppressors that are frequently inactivated in human cancers, and FOXO3 is the second most replicated gene associated with extreme human longevity. Therefore, pharmacological manipulation of FOXO proteins is a promising approach to developing therapeutics for cancer and for healthy ageing. In this Review, we overview the role of FOXO proteins in health and disease and discuss the pharmacological approaches to modulate FOXO function.

Allelic distribution of ABO gene in Chinese centenarians

Objective

Human ABO blood groups are determined by the alleles A, B, and O (O01 and O02) of the ABO gene and have been linked to the risks for cardiovascular diseases and cancers that affect lifespan.

We examined the genetic associations of the ABO gene and blood groups with longevity.

Methods

We inspected the frequencies of the A, B, O, and O02 alleles in a large Chinese centenarian population (n = 2201) and in middle‐aged controls (n = 2330). The single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected as allele A (rs507666), B (rs8176743, rs8176746, and rs8176749), O (rs687289), and O02 (rs688976, rs549446, and rs512770).

Results

Supported by allelic and genotypic association studies, the frequencies of blood types A, B, O, and AB in centenarian versus control participants were not statistically different: 0.2821 versus 0.2781 (χ² = 0.09, P = 0.76), 0.2867 versus 0.3060 (χ² = 2.03, P = 0.15), 0.3380 versus 0.3159 (χ² = 2.52, P = 0.11), and 0.0859 versus 0.0910 (χ² = 0.37, P = 0.54), respectively. Sex had little effect on these distributions.

Conclusion

Integrated with other previous reports, we conclude from this large Chinese cohort that genetic variants of the ABO gene and blood groups are not associated with longevity.

No Association Between a Genetic Variant of FOXO3 and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population of North India

Aging can be considered an evolutionary process that is modulated by various genetic and biochemical processes. Therefore the genetic variants may interplay a role in human longevity as well as age related illness. Forkhead Box O (FOXO) gene is one of the major defensive genes that are known for ameliorating lifespan. FOXO proteins act as nuclear transcription factors that facilitate the action of insulin or insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in various physiological processes. The rationale of our study is to find out association between genetic variant rs2253310 of FOXO3 and risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in elderly population. This case control study involved 172 age sex matched elderly subjects while patients were recruited as per IDF criteria. Clinical, biochemical, ELISA methods were employed for assesement of clinical samples while Taqman method was used for genotyping analysis. Our results revealed that there was no significant difference in genotypic and allelic frequencies for the tested SNP (p > 0.05) between elderly T2DM patients and controls. The SNP rs2253310 was not associated with risk of T2DM in any genetic model. Also no association was found among the studied group between FOXO3 variant and HOMA-IR, HOMA-B index and Fasting plasma glucose. Serum level of inflammatory markers like CRP and TNF-α was significantly higher in patients but its not associated with SNP rs2253310. Our study concluded that, this intronic longevity-associated variant rs2253310 in FOXO3 is not associated with type 2 diabetes in geriatric patients of northern India.

Aging and the Biological Response to Liver Injury

Interest in understanding the aging process has recently risen in the scientific community. Aging, commonly defined as the functional decline in the function of organs and tissues, is indeed the major risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, pathologies of nervous system, or cancer. To date, the influence of aging in the pathophysiology of liver and biliary diseases is not fully understood. Although liver cells have a high regenerative capacity, hepatocytes and cholangiocytes undergo extensive molecular changes in response to aging. Following time-dependent damage induced by aging, liver cells initially activate compensatory mechanisms that, if hyperstimulated, may lead to the decline of regenerative capacity and the development of pathologies. A deeper understanding of molecular aging has undoubtedly the potential to improve the clinical management of patients, possibly unveiling new pathways for selective drug treatment.

Gene-Environment Interaction of FOXO and Residential Greenness on Mortality Among Older Adults

Residential greenness is an important environmental factor that is strongly associated with mortality. To our knowledge, there was no previous study on the gene-environment interaction analysis between residential greenness and forkhead box O (FOXO) gene, a candidate longevity gene. Our sample consisted of 3179 participants aged 65 and older from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Residential greenness was measured by satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using a 500-m radius around each residential location. Contemporaneous NDVI, cumulative NDVI, and changes in NDVI over time were calculated. We used Cox-proportional hazard regression models to assess the main effect and gene-environment interaction effect of FOXO single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and residential greenness on mortality. We found that participants carrying two minor alleles of the three studied FOXO3A SNPs had lower mortality risk than those without minor allele (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.803 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.654-0.987 for rs4946936, HR: 0.807 95% CI: 0.669-0.974 for rs2802292, HR: 0.803 95% CI: 0.666-0.968 for rs2253310). We found no difference in mortality among the genotypes of the other three FOXO1A SNPs (rs17630266, rs2755213, or rs2755209). Higher contemporaneous NDVI was associated with lower mortality risk (HR: 0.887 95% CI: 0.863-0.911 for 0.1-U of NDVI). The protective effect of both contemporaneous NDVI and cumulative NDVI was stronger for two minor allele carriers compared with zero minor allele carriers of the three FOXO3A SNPs. Compared with the zero minor allele genotype of the three FOXO3A SNPs, the protective effect on the mortality risk of minor allele homozygotes also increased with the increasing NDVI level at percentile 25, 50, and 75 (interaction term coefficient p < 0.05). We found gene-environment interaction between FOXO and residential greenness on mortality in this population study. A higher level of greenness may interact with FOXO pathways.

Genomic history of the Italian population recapitulates key evolutionary dynamics of both Continental and Southern Europeans

BACKGROUND

The cline of human genetic diversity observable across Europe is recapitulated at a micro-geographic scale by variation within the Italian population. Besides resulting from extensive gene flow, this might be ascribable also to local adaptations to diverse ecological contexts evolved by people who anciently spread along the Italian Peninsula. Dissecting the evolutionary history of the ancestors of present-day Italians may thus improve the understanding of demographic and biological processes that contributed to shape the gene pool of European populations. However, previous SNP array-based studies failed to investigate the full spectrum of Italian variation, generally neglecting low-frequency genetic variants and examining a limited set of small effect size alleles, which may represent important determinants of population structure and complex adaptive traits. To overcome these issues, we analyzed 38 high-coverage whole-genome sequences representative of population clusters at the opposite ends of the cline of Italian variation, along with a large panel of modern and ancient Euro-Mediterranean genomes.

RESULTS

We provided evidence for the early divergence of Italian groups dating back to the Late Glacial and for Neolithic and distinct Bronze Age migrations having further differentiated their gene pools. We inferred adaptive evolution at insulin-related loci in people from Italian regions with a temperate climate, while possible adaptations to pathogens and ultraviolet radiation were observed in Mediterranean Italians. Some of these adaptive events may also have secondarily modulated population disease or longevity predisposition.

CONCLUSIONS

We disentangled the contribution of multiple migratory and adaptive events in shaping the heterogeneous Italian genomic background, which exemplify population dynamics and gene-environment interactions that played significant roles also in the formation of the Continental and Southern European genomic landscapes.

A key control point in the T cell response to chronic infection and neoplasia: FOXO1

T cells able to control neoplasia or chronic infections display a signature gene expression profile similar or identical to that of central memory T cells. These cells have qualities of self-renewal and a plasticity that allow them to repeatedly undergo activation (growth, proliferation, and differentiation), followed by quiescence. It is these qualities that define the ability of T cells to establish an equilibrium with chronic infectious agents, and also preserve the ability of T cells to be re-activated (by checkpoint therapy) in response to malignant cancers. Here we describe distinctions between the forms of inhibition mediated by tumors and persistent viruses, we review the properties of T cells associated with long-term immunity, and we identify the transcription factor, FOXO1, as the control point for a program of gene expression that allows CD8⁺ T cells to undergo serial reactivation and self-renewal.

Increased REST to Optimize Life Span?

Reduced levels of neural activity are associated with a longer life span in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and in mice. Augmented neural activity is associated with a shorter life span. Recent studies show that levels of repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) increase with normal aging in mice and humans, and reduce neuronal excitation. In C. elegans, increased expression of spr-4, a functional REST homologue, increased the worm life span and is required for classical life span increase mediated by reduced DAF-2/insulin-IGF-1 and increased DAF-16. Preliminary evidence shows that REST and FOXO1, a DAF-16, homologue increase during mammalian aging, and that REST activity is needed for the age-related FOXO1 increase. On the contrary, REST is activated in epilepsy and plays a role in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease. A simple unifying hypothesis suggests that REST is a "goldilocks-effect factor": too little REST promotes excitotoxic activity, which in turn leads to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Appropriate increased levels of REST maintain the excitation/inhibition (E-I) balance by reducing potential excitotoxic activity. Increased levels of REST beyond this are toxic as neurons become dysfunctional due to loss of a neuronal phenotype.

Genetic Pathways of Aging and Their Relevance in the Dog as a Natural Model of Human Aging

Aging research has experienced a burst of scientific efforts in the last decades as the growing ratio of elderly people has begun to pose an increased burden on the healthcare and pension systems of developed countries. Although many breakthroughs have been reported in understanding the cellular mechanisms of aging, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to senescence on higher biological levels are still barely understood. The dog, Canis familiaris, has already served as a valuable model of human physiology and disease. The possible role the dog could play in aging research is still an open question, although utilization of dogs may hold great promises as they naturally develop age-related cognitive decline, with behavioral and histological characteristics very similar to those of humans. In this regard, family dogs may possess unmatched potentials as models for investigations on the complex interactions between environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors that determine the course of aging. In this review, we summarize the known genetic pathways in aging and their relevance in dogs, putting emphasis on the yet barely described nature of certain aging pathways in canines. Reasons for highlighting the dog as a future aging and gerontology model are also discussed, ranging from its unique evolutionary path shared with humans, its social skills, and the fact that family dogs live together with their owners, and are being exposed to the same environmental effects.

A new matrikine-derived peptide up-regulates longevity genes for improving extracellular matrix architecture and connections of dermal cell with its matrix

OBJECTIVE

Skin extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dense and well-organized structure produced by fibroblasts. This ECM transduces environmental mechano-signals to cell nucleus through the integrin-actin complex, thus triggering ECM protein syntheses. The aim of this study was to discover a novel peptide, structurally related to dermal matrikines, that promotes syntheses of ECM components.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Screening tests with 120 peptides were carried out by using normal dermal human fibroblasts (HF). As a result, one candidate of interest was isolated, the N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate (PP56), which increases collagen and fibronectin productions at gene and/or protein levels. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), a recent and innovative analytical technology, in addition to more traditional techniques, it was showed that two metabolic pathways were significantly modulated: one for collagen production and one for actin. Moreover, this peptide up-regulated the transcription of Forkhead Box O (FOXO) and sestrin messenger RNAs (mRNA), leading to production of proteins involved into longevity and more recently in collagen production.

RESULTS

Results indicated that this peptide is a potential candidate to improve ECM density and organization in a new way.

Regulation of lifespan by neural excitation and REST

The mechanisms that extend lifespan in humans are poorly understood. Here we show that extended longevity in humans is associated with a distinct transcriptome signature in the cerebral cortex that is characterized by downregulation of genes related to neural excitation and synaptic function. In Caenorhabditis elegans, neural excitation increases with age and inhibition of excitation globally, or in glutamatergic or cholinergic neurons, increases longevity. Furthermore, longevity is dynamically regulated by the excitatory-inhibitory balance of neural circuits. The transcription factor REST is upregulated in humans with extended longevity and represses excitation-related genes. Notably, REST-deficient mice exhibit increased cortical activity and neuronal excitability during ageing. Similarly, loss-of-function mutations in the C. elegans REST orthologue genes spr-3 and spr-4 elevate neural excitation and reduce the lifespan of long-lived daf-2 mutants. In wild-type worms, overexpression of spr-4 suppresses excitation and extends lifespan. REST, SPR-3, SPR-4 and reduced excitation activate the longevity-associated transcription factors FOXO1 and DAF-16 in mammals and worms, respectively. These findings reveal a conserved mechanism of ageing that is mediated by neural circuit activity and regulated by REST.

Genetic Variation in FOXO3 is Associated with Self-Rated Health in a Population-Based Sample of Older Individuals

Self-rated health (SRH) strongly predicts mortality. Twin studies estimate that genetic factors account for a substantial part of the variability in SRH. Variations in the gene FOXO3 (forkhead box O3), and in genes located at the APOE (apoplipoprotein E) locus, are associated with longevity. This study explores the relationship between SRH and genetic variation related to longevity, in a population-based cohort of older individuals. SRH was assessed among 1,520 individuals aged 75–87, and five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in APOE, TOMM40 (translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 homolog), and FOXO3 were genotyped. Two SNPs (rs10457180 and rs2802292) in FOXO3 were associated with SRH (OR = 2.18 [CI: 1.27–3.76], p = .005 and OR = 1.63 [CI: 1.11–2.40], p = .013), while no associations were found with SNPs in APOE and TOMM40. Several factors, such as depression, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes, were related to SRH, but the only factor that had any influence on the association with FOXO3 was CVD. Still, after including CVD as a covariate, the associations between FOXO3 SNPs and SRH remained significant. Our results suggest that FOXO3 is related to SRH in older individuals. This relationship seems to be influenced by CVD, but not by mental and cognitive status.

Genetic variants in Forkhead box O1 associated with predisposition to sepsis in a Chinese Han population

Background

Genetic variant is one of the causes of sepsis patients’ mortality. Now, many studies have identified several SNPs related to sepsis. However, none of these studies were identified in a genome-wide way. We aimed to detect genetic polymorphisms of sepsis patients.

Methods

The blood samples of eight normal controls and ten sepsis patients were collected for whole exome sequencing. Then, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected according to quality score and number of sepsis patients who had this variants. Synonymous mutations were removed. Genes including these remaining variants were used for functional analyses. After analyses, the remaining SNPs and indels were validated in 149 normal controls and 156 sepsis patients. Finally, serum levels of proteins coded by genes including these SNPs were evaluated.

Results

After whole exome sequencing, 97 SNPs and one indel site were left. Then, functional screening was performed. Only seven SNPs were used for further validation. As a result, the rs2721068 in dominant model and rs17446614 in recessive model were associated with sepsis, and the ORs of these two SNPs were 3.24 (95%CI, 1.25, 8.44) and 0.47 (0.026, 0.88), respectively. These two SNPs were both located in Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) gene. For rs2721068 (T/T, T/C-C/C) and rs17446614 (A/A-A/G, G/G), serum levels of foxo1 in sepsis patients were both significantly lower in normal controls.

Conclusions

We firstly reported that the rs2721068 and rs17446614 were correlated to genetic predisposition to sepsis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-4330-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.