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Liang X, Aouizerat BE, So‐Armah K, Cohen MH, Marconi VC, Xu K, Justice AC. DNA methylation-based telomere length is associated with HIV infection, physical frailty, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14174. [PMID: 38629454 PMCID: PMC11258465 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is an important indicator of cellular aging. Shorter TL is associated with several age-related diseases including coronary heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Recently, a DNA methylation-based TL (DNAmTL) estimator has been developed as an alternative method for directly measuring TL. In this study, we examined the association of DNAmTL with cancer prevalence and mortality risk among people with and without HIV in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study Biomarker Cohort (VACS, N = 1917) and Women's Interagency HIV Study Cohort (WIHS, N = 481). We profiled DNAm in whole blood (VACS) or in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (WIHS) using an array-based method. Cancer prevalence was estimated from electronic medical records and cancer registry data. The VACS Index was used as a measure of physiologic frailty. Models were adjusted for self-reported race and ethnicity, batch, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and five cell types (CD4, CD8, NK, B cell, and monocyte). We found that people with HIV had shorter average DNAmTL than those without HIV infection [beta = -0.25, 95% confidence interval (-0.32, -0.18), p = 1.48E-12]. Greater value of VACS Index [beta = -0.002 (-0.003, -0.001), p = 2.82E-05] and higher cancer prevalence [beta = -0.07 (-0.10, -0.03), p = 1.37E-04 without adjusting age] were associated with shortened DNAmTL. In addition, one kilobase decrease in DNAmTL was associated with a 40% increase in mortality risk [hazard ratio: 0.60 (0.44, 0.82), p = 1.42E-03]. In summary, HIV infection, physiologic frailty, and cancer are associated with shortening DNAmTL, contributing to an increased risk of all-cause mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Bradley E. Aouizerat
- Translational Research Center, College of DentistryNew York UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of DentistryNew York UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Kaku So‐Armah
- Boston University School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Mardge H. Cohen
- Department of MedicineStroger Hospital of Cook CountyChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Vincent C. Marconi
- Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public HealthThe Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical CenterAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of PsychiatryYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- VA Connecticut Healthcare SystemWest HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Amy C. Justice
- VA Connecticut Healthcare SystemWest HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of Internal MedicineYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Yale School of Public HealthNew HavenConnecticutUSA
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2
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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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3
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Romero-Haro AÁ, Mulder E, Haussmann MF, Tschirren B. The association between age and telomere length is age-dependent: Evidence for a threshold model of telomere length maintenance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:338-344. [PMID: 38258326 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2785] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Telomere length and dynamics are commonly used biomarkers of somatic state, yet the role of telomeres underlying the aging process is still debated. Indeed, to date, empirical evidence for an association between age and telomere length is mixed. Here, we test if the age-dependency of the association between age and telomere length can provide a potential explanation for the reported inconsistencies across studies. To this end, we quantified telomere length by telomere restriction fragment analysis in two groups of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) that differed in their age distribution. One group consisted of young adults only, whereas the second group consisted of adults across a wide range of ages. In the young adults group, there was a highly significant negative association between telomere length and age, whereas no association between age and telomere length was found in the all-ages adults group. This difference between groups was not due to telomere length-dependent selective disappearance. Our results shows that the association between telomere length and age is age-dependent and suggest that the costs and benefits associated with telomere maintenance are dynamic across an individual's life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Á Romero-Haro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Ellis Mulder
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark F Haussmann
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Barbara Tschirren
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
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4
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Ravindran S, Underwood SL, Dorrens J, Seeker LA, Watt K, Wilbourn RV, Sparks AM, Sinclair R, Chen Z, Pilkington JG, McNeilly TN, Harrington L, Pemberton JM, Nussey DH, Froy H. No correlative evidence of costs of infection or immunity on leucocyte telomere length in a wild population of Soay sheep. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232946. [PMID: 38565156 PMCID: PMC10987235 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2946] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker hypothesized to capture evolutionarily and ecologically important physiological costs of reproduction, infection and immunity. Few studies have estimated the relationships among infection status, immunity, TL and fitness in natural systems. The hypothesis that short telomeres predict reduced survival because they reflect costly consequences of infection and immune investment remains largely untested. Using longitudinal data from a free-living Soay sheep population, we tested whether leucocyte TL was predicted by infection with nematode parasites and antibody levels against those parasites. Helminth parasite burdens were positively associated with leucocyte TL in both lambs and adults, which is not consistent with TL reflecting infection costs. We found no association between TL and helminth-specific IgG levels in either young or old individuals which suggests TL does not reflect costs of an activated immune response or immunosenescence. Furthermore, we found no support for TL acting as a mediator of trade-offs between infection, immunity and subsequent survival in the wild. Our results suggest that while variation in TL could reflect short-term variation in resource investment or environmental conditions, it does not capture costs of infection and immunity, nor does it behave like a marker of an individual's helminth-specific antibody immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Ravindran
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sarah L. Underwood
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jennifer Dorrens
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Luise A. Seeker
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Kathryn Watt
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Rachael V. Wilbourn
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Alexandra M. Sparks
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Rona Sinclair
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Zhulin Chen
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jill G. Pilkington
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Tom N. McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Lea Harrington
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H3C 3J7
| | - Josephine M. Pemberton
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Daniel H. Nussey
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
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5
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Monaghan P. Linking telomere dynamics to evolution, life history and environmental change: perspectives, predictions and problems. Biogerontology 2024; 25:301-311. [PMID: 38252370 PMCID: PMC10998769 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10081-8] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
This perspectives paper considers the value of studying telomere biology outside of a biomedical context. I provide illustrative examples of the kinds of questions that evolutionary ecologists have addressed in studies of telomere dynamics in non-model species, primarily metazoan animals, and what this can contribute to our understanding of their evolution, life histories and health. I also discuss why the predicted relationships between telomere dynamics and life history traits, based on the detailed cellular studies in humans and model organisms, are not always found in studies in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pat Monaghan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, Graham Kerr Building University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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6
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Pepke ML. Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300187. [PMID: 38047504 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300187] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are short repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes. Telomere shortening occurs during cell division and may be accelerated by oxidative damage or ameliorated by telomere maintenance mechanisms. Consequently, telomere length changes with age, which was recently confirmed in a large meta-analysis across vertebrates. However, based on the correlation between telomere length and age, it was concluded that telomere length can be used as a tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Correlation should not be confused with predictability, and the current data and studies suggest that telomeres cannot be used to reliably predict individual chronological age. There are biological reasons for why there is large individual variation in telomere dynamics, which is mainly due to high susceptibility to a wide range of environmental, but also genetic factors, rendering telomeres unfeasible as a tool for age estimation. The use of telomeres for chronological age estimation is largely a misguided effort, but its occasional reappearance in the literature raises concerns that it will mislead resources in wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Pepke
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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7
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Sapozhnikova YP, Koroleva AG, Yakhnenko VM, Volkova AA, Avezova TN, Glyzina OY, Sakirko MV, Tolstikova LI, Sukhanova LV. Thermal Preconditioning Alters the Stability of Hump-Snout Whitefish ( Coregonus fluviatilis) and Its Hybrid Form, Showing Potential for Aquaculture. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1348. [PMID: 37887058 PMCID: PMC10603914 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
One of the little-studied ways that climate warming or temperature increases in aquaculture could affect aquatic animals is through accelerated aging. This study is dedicated to understanding the principles of molecular and cellular aging in the target tissues of juvenile whitefishes (Yenisei hump-snout whitefish and its hybrid) under the influence of acute heat stress (up to 26 °C), and the effects of thermal preconditioning as pre-adaptation. Non-adapted stressed hump-snout whitefish showed a higher induction threshold for functionally active mitochondria in the blood and a decrease in telomerase activity in the liver after heat shock exposure as a long-term compensatory response to prevent telomere shortening. However, we observed heat-induced telomere shortening in non-adapted hybrids, which can be explained by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane stability and a gradual increase in energy demand, leading to a decrease in protective telomerase activity. The pre-adapted groups of hump-snout whitefish and hybrids showed a long-term or delayed response of telomerase activity to heat shock, which served as a therapeutic mechanism against telomere shortening. We concluded that the telomerase and telomere responses to thermal stress demonstrate plasticity of tolerance limits and greater stability in hump-snout whitefish compared with hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia P. Sapozhnikova
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia; (V.M.Y.); (A.A.V.); (T.N.A.); (O.Y.G.); (M.V.S.); (L.I.T.); (L.V.S.)
| | - Anastasia G. Koroleva
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia; (V.M.Y.); (A.A.V.); (T.N.A.); (O.Y.G.); (M.V.S.); (L.I.T.); (L.V.S.)
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8
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Power ML, Ransome RD, Riquier S, Romaine L, Jones G, Teeling EC. Hibernation telomere dynamics in a shifting climate: insights from wild greater horseshoe bats. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231589. [PMID: 37817598 PMCID: PMC10565397 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is linked with various hypotheses to explain the extended lifespan of hibernating mammals compared with their non-hibernating counterparts. Studies on telomeres, markers of ageing and somatic maintenance, suggest telomere shortening slows during hibernation, and lengthening may reflect self-maintenance with favourable conditions. Bats in temperate zones adjust body temperatures during winter torpor to conserve energy and exploit mild conditions for foraging. Climate change may impact the hibernation cycle of bats, but more research is needed regarding the role of telomeres in understanding their response to a changing climate. Here, relative telomere length (rTL) was measured in the long-lived greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (n = 223 individuals) over three winters, considering climatic conditions. Cross-sectional analyses revealed between-individual variation in rTL with a strong year effect, likely linked to varying weather conditions and foraging success. Additionally, within-individual increases of rTL occurred in 51% of consecutive measurements, with evidence of increasing telomerase expression during hibernation in this species. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of hibernation on telomeres and potential consequences of changing climatic conditions for long-lived temperate bats. Understanding the interplay between hibernation, telomeres, and climate can provide insights into the adaptive capacity and survival of bat populations facing environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Roger D Ransome
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Sébastien Riquier
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Luke Romaine
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
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9
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Jain A, Casanova D, Padilla AV, Paniagua Bojorges A, Kotla S, Ko KA, Samanthapudi VSK, Chau K, Nguyen MTH, Wen J, Hernandez Gonzalez SL, Rodgers SP, Olmsted-Davis EA, Hamilton DJ, Reyes-Gibby C, Yeung SCJ, Cooke JP, Herrmann J, Chini EN, Xu X, Yusuf SW, Yoshimoto M, Lorenzi PL, Hobbs B, Krishnan S, Koutroumpakis E, Palaskas NL, Wang G, Deswal A, Lin SH, Abe JI, Le NT. Premature senescence and cardiovascular disease following cancer treatments: mechanistic insights. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1212174. [PMID: 37781317 PMCID: PMC10540075 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1212174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among the aging population. The "response-to-injury" model proposed by Dr. Russell Ross in 1999 emphasizes inflammation as a critical factor in atherosclerosis development, with atherosclerotic plaques forming due to endothelial cell (EC) injury, followed by myeloid cell adhesion and invasion into the blood vessel walls. Recent evidence indicates that cancer and its treatments can lead to long-term complications, including CVD. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, is implicated in CVD pathogenesis, particularly in cancer survivors. However, the precise mechanisms linking premature senescence to CVD in cancer survivors remain poorly understood. This article aims to provide mechanistic insights into this association and propose future directions to better comprehend this complex interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashita Jain
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Diego Casanova
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | | | - Sivareddy Kotla
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kyung Ae Ko
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Khanh Chau
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Minh T. H. Nguyen
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jake Wen
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Shaefali P. Rodgers
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Dale J. Hamilton
- Department of Medicine, Center for Bioenergetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Cielito Reyes-Gibby
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sai-Ching J. Yeung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - John P. Cooke
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Joerg Herrmann
- Cardio Oncology Clinic, Division of Preventive Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Eduardo N. Chini
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Xiaolei Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Syed Wamique Yusuf
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Momoko Yoshimoto
- Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Philip L. Lorenzi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Division of VP Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Brain Hobbs
- Department of Population Health, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Efstratios Koutroumpakis
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nicolas L. Palaskas
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anita Deswal
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Steven H. Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jun-ichi Abe
- Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nhat-Tu Le
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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Sirman AE, Schmidt JE, Clark ME, Kittilson JD, Reed WL, Heidinger BJ. Compensatory Growth Is Accompanied by Changes in Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 but Not Markers of Cellular Aging in a Long-Lived Seabird. Am Nat 2023; 202:78-91. [PMID: 37384761 DOI: 10.1086/724599] [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: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
AbstractDeveloping organisms often plastically modify growth in response to environmental circumstances, which may be adaptive but is expected to entail long-term costs. However, the mechanisms that mediate these growth adjustments and any associated costs are less well understood. In vertebrates, one mechanism that may be important in this context is the highly conserved signaling factor insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is frequently positively related to postnatal growth and negatively related to longevity. To test this idea, we exposed captive Franklin's gulls (Leucophaeus pipixcan) to a physiologically relevant nutritional stressor by restricting food availability during postnatal development and examined the effects on growth, IGF-1, and two potential biomarkers of cellular and organismal aging (oxidative stress and telomeres). During food restriction, experimental chicks gained body mass more slowly and had lower IGF-1 levels than controls. Following food restriction, experimental chicks underwent compensatory growth, which was accompanied by an increase in IGF-1 levels. Interestingly, however, there were no significant effects of the experimental treatment or of variation in IGF-1 levels on oxidative stress or telomeres. These findings suggest that IGF-1 is responsive to changes in resource availability but is not associated with increased markers of cellular aging during development in this relatively long-lived species.
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Burraco P, Hernandez-Gonzalez M, Metcalfe NB, Monaghan P. Ageing across the great divide: tissue transformation, organismal growth and temperature shape telomere dynamics through the metamorphic transition. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222448. [PMID: 36750187 PMCID: PMC9904946 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2448] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere attrition is considered a useful indicator of cellular and whole-organism ageing rate. While approximately 80% of animal species undergo metamorphosis that includes extensive tissue transformations (involving cell division, apoptosis, de-differentiation and de novo formation of stem cells), the effect on telomere dynamics is unknown. We measured telomeres in Xenopus laevis developing from larvae to adults under contrasting environmental temperatures. Telomere dynamics were linked to the degree of tissue transformation during development. Average telomere length in gut tissue increased dramatically during metamorphosis, when the gut shortens by 75% and epithelial cells de-differentiate into stem cells. In the liver (retained from larva) and hindlimb muscle (newly formed before metamorphosis), telomeres gradually shortened until adulthood, likely due to extensive cell division. Tail muscle telomere lengths were constant until tail resorption, and those in heart (retained from larva) showed no change over time. Telomere lengths negatively correlated with larval growth, but for a given growth rate, telomeres were shorter in cooler conditions, suggesting that growing in the cold is more costly. Telomere lengths were not related to post-metamorphic growth rate. Further research is now needed to understand whether telomere dynamics are a good indicator of ageing rate in species undergoing metamorphosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Burraco
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- Ecology, Evolution and Development Group, Doñana Biological Station (CSIC), 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel Hernandez-Gonzalez
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Neil B. Metcalfe
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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12
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Domínguez-de-Barros A, Sifaoui I, Borecka Z, Dorta-Guerra R, Lorenzo-Morales J, Castro-Fuentes R, Córdoba-Lanús E. An approach to the effects of longevity, sexual maturity, and reproduction on telomere length and oxidative stress in different Psittacidae species. Front Genet 2023; 14:1156730. [PMID: 37021005 PMCID: PMC10067728 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1156730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Aging is a multifactorial process that includes molecular changes such as telomere shortening. Telomeres shorten progressively with age in vertebrates, and their shortening rate has a significant role in determining the lifespan of a species. However, DNA loss can be enhanced by oxidative stress. The need for novel animal models has recently emerged as a tool to gather more information about the human aging process. Birds live longer than other mammals of the same size, and Psittacidae species are the most persevering of them, due to special key traits. Methods: We aimed to determine telomere length by qPCR, and oxidative stress status using colorimetric and fluorescence methods in different species of the order Psittaciformes with different lifespans. Results: We found that telomeres shorten with age for both long- and short-lived birds (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively), with long-lived birds presenting longer telomeres than short-lived ones (p = 0.001). In addition, short-lived birds accumulated more oxidative stress products than long-lived birds (p = 0.013), who showed a better antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001). Breeding was found related to telomere shortening in all species (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003 for long- and short-lived birds). Short-lived birds, especially breeding females, increased their oxidative stress products when breeding (p = 0.021), whereas long-lived birds showed greater resistance and even increased their antioxidant capacity (p = 0.002). Conclusion: In conclusion, the relationship between age and telomere length in Psittacidae was verified. The influence of breeding increased cumulative oxidative damage in short-lived species, while long-lived species may counteract this damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Domínguez-de-Barros
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Inés Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Zuzanna Borecka
- Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Roberto Dorta-Guerra
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Departamento de Matemáticas, Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Facultad de Ciencias Sección de Matemáticas, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Sección Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Castro-Fuentes
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud-Sección Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Córdoba-Lanús
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Elizabeth Córdoba-Lanús,
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13
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Power ML, Foley NM, Jones G, Teeling EC. Taking flight: An ecological, evolutionary and genomic perspective on bat telomeres. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6053-6068. [PMID: 34387012 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Over 20% of all living mammals are bats (order Chiroptera). Bats possess extraordinary adaptations including powered flight, laryngeal echolocation and a unique immune system that enables them to tolerate a diversity of viral infections without presenting clinical disease symptoms. They occupy multiple trophic niches and environments globally. Significant physiological and ecological diversity occurs across the order. Bats also exhibit extreme longevity given their body size with many species showing few signs of ageing. The molecular basis of this extended longevity has recently attracted attention. Telomere maintenance potentially underpins bats' extended healthspan, although functional studies are still required to validate the causative mechanisms. In this review, we detail the current knowledge on bat telomeres, telomerase expression, and how these relate to ecology, longevity and life-history strategies. Patterns of telomere shortening and telomerase expression vary across species, and comparative genomic analyses suggest that alternative telomere maintenance mechanisms evolved in the longest-lived bats. We discuss the unique challenges faced when working with populations of wild bats and highlight ways to advance the field including expanding long-term monitoring across species that display contrasting life-histories and occupy different environmental niches. We further review how new high quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies can enable us to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing telomere dynamics and how phylogenomic analyses can reveal the adaptive significance of telomere maintenance and variation in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Nicole M Foley
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
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14
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Brown TJ, Spurgin LG, Dugdale HL, Komdeur J, Burke T, Richardson DS. Causes and consequences of telomere lengthening in a wild vertebrate population. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5933-5945. [PMID: 34219315 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres have been advocated to be important markers of biological age in evolutionary and ecological studies. Telomeres usually shorten with age and shortening is frequently associated with environmental stressors and increased subsequent mortality. Telomere lengthening - an apparent increase in telomere length between repeated samples from the same individual - also occurs. However, the exact circumstances, and consequences, of telomere lengthening are poorly understood. Using longitudinal data from the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis), we tested whether telomere lengthening - which occurs in adults of this species - is associated with specific stressors (reproductive effort, food availability, malarial infection and cooperative breeding) and predicts subsequent survival. In females, telomere shortening was observed under greater stress (i.e., low food availability, malaria infection), while telomere lengthening was observed in females experiencing lower stress (i.e., high food availability, assisted by helpers, without malaria). The telomere dynamics of males were not associated with the key stressors tested. These results indicate that, at least for females, telomere lengthening occurs in circumstances more conducive to self-maintenance. Importantly, both females and males with lengthened telomeres had improved subsequent survival relative to individuals that displayed unchanged, or shortened, telomeres - indicating that telomere lengthening is associated with individual fitness. These results demonstrate that telomere dynamics are bidirectionally responsive to the level of stress that an individual faces, but may poorly reflect the accumulation of stress over an individuals lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Lewis G Spurgin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Nature Seychelles, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
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15
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Sepp T, Meitern R, Heidinger B, Noreikiene K, Rattiste K, Hõrak P, Saks L, Kittilson J, Urvik J, Giraudeau M. Parental age does not influence offspring telomeres during early life in common gulls (Larus canus). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6197-6207. [PMID: 33772917 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Parental age can affect offspring telomere length through heritable and epigenetic-like effects, but at what stage during development these effects are established is not well known. To address this, we conducted a cross-fostering experiment in common gulls (Larus canus) that enabled us distinguish between pre- and post-natal parental age effects on offspring telomere length. Whole clutches were exchanged after clutch completion within and between parental age classes (young and old) and blood samples were collected from chicks at hatching and during the fastest growth phase (11 days later) to measure telomeres. Neither the ages of the natal nor the foster parents predicted the telomere length or the change in telomere lengths of their chicks. Telomere length (TL) was repeatable within chicks, but increased across development (repeatability = 0.55, intraclass correlation coefficient within sampling events 0.934). Telomere length and the change in telomere length were not predicted by post-natal growth rate. Taken together, these findings suggest that in common gulls, telomere length during early life is not influenced by parental age or growth rate, which may indicate that protective mechanisms buffer telomeres from external conditions during development in this relatively long-lived species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuul Sepp
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Richard Meitern
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Britt Heidinger
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Kristina Noreikiene
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kalev Rattiste
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Peeter Hõrak
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lauri Saks
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jeffrey Kittilson
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Janek Urvik
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- CREEC, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.,MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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16
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Friesen CR, Wapstra E, Olsson M. Of telomeres and temperature: Measuring thermal effects on telomeres in ectothermic animals. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6069-6086. [PMID: 34448287 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Ectotherms are classic models for understanding life-history tradeoffs, including the reproduction-somatic maintenance tradeoffs that may be reflected in telomere length and their dynamics. Importantly, life-history traits of ectotherms are tightly linked to their thermal environment, with diverse or synergistic mechanistic explanations underpinning the variation. Telomere dynamics potentially provide a mechanistic link that can be used to monitor thermal effects on individuals in response to climatic perturbations. Growth rate, age and developmental stage are all affected by temperature, which interacts with telomere dynamics in complex and intriguing ways. The physiological processes underpinning telomere dynamics can be visualized and understood using thermal performance curves (TPCs). TPCs reflect the evolutionary history and the thermal environment during an individual's ontogeny. Telomere maintenance should be enhanced at or near the thermal performance optimum of a species, population and individual. The thermal sensitivity of telomere dynamics should reflect the interacting TPCs of the processes underlying them. The key processes directly underpinning telomere dynamics are mitochondrial function (reactive oxygen production), antioxidant activity, telomerase activity and telomere endcap protein status. We argue that identifying TPCs for these processes will significantly help design robust, repeatable experiments and field studies of telomere dynamics in ectotherms. Conceptually, TPCs are a valuable framework to predict and interpret taxon- and population-specific telomere dynamics across thermal regimes. The literature of thermal effects on telomeres in ectotherms is sparse and mostly limited to vertebrates, but our conclusions and recommendations are relevant across ectothermic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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17
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Vedder O, Moiron M, Bichet C, Bauch C, Verhulst S, Becker PH, Bouwhuis S. Telomere length is heritable and genetically correlated with lifespan in a wild bird. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6297-6307. [PMID: 33460462 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes that shorten with age and in response to stressful or resource-demanding conditions. Their length predicts individual health and lifespan across a wide range of animals, but whether the observed positive association between telomere length and lifespan is environmentally induced, or set at conception due to a shared genetic basis, has not been tested in wild animals. We applied quantitative genetic "animal models" to longitudinal telomere measurements collected over a 10-year period from individuals of a wild seabird (common tern; Sterna hirundo) with known pedigree. We found no variation in telomere shortening with age among individuals at the phenotypic and genetic level, and only a small permanent environmental effect on adult telomere length. Instead, we found telomere length to be highly heritable and strongly positively genetically correlated with lifespan. Such heritable differences between individuals that are set at conception may present a hitherto underappreciated component of variation in somatic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Vedder
- Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Moiron
- Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Christina Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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18
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Olsson M, Bererhi B, Miller E, Schwartz T, Rollings N, Lindsay W, Wapstra E. Inbreeding effects on telomeres in hatchling sand lizards (Lacerta agilis): An optimal family affair? Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6605-6616. [PMID: 36208022 PMCID: PMC10092626 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleotide-protein caps, predominantly at the ends of Metazoan linear chromosomes, showing complex dynamics with regard to their lengthening and shortening through life. Their complexity has entertained the idea that net telomere length and attrition could be valuable biomarkers of phenotypic and genetic quality of their bearer. Intuitively, those individuals could be more heterozygous and, hence, less inbred. However, some inbred taxa have longer, not shorter, telomeres. To understand the role of inbreeding in this complex scenario we need large samples across a range of genotypes with known maternity and paternity in telomere-screened organisms under natural conditions. We assessed the effects of parental and hatchling inbreeding on telomere length in >1300 offspring from >500 sires and dams in a population of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis). Maternal and paternal ID and their interactions predict hatchling telomere length at substantial effect sizes (R2 > .50). Deviation from mean maternal heterozygosity statistically predicts shorter offspring telomeres but this only when sibship is controlled for by paternal ID, and then is still limited (R2 = .06). Raw maternal heterozygosity scores, ignoring absolute deviation from the mean, explained 0.07% of the variance in hatchling telomere length. In conclusion, inbreeding is not a driver of telomere dynamics in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) study system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Badreddine Bererhi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emily Miller
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tonia Schwartz
- Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Nicky Rollings
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Willow Lindsay
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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19
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Heidinger BJ, Slowinski SP, Sirman AE, Kittilson J, Gerlach NM, Ketterson ED. Experimentally elevated testosterone shortens telomeres across years in a free-living songbird. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6216-6223. [PMID: 33503312 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive investment often comes at a cost to longevity, but the mechanisms that underlie these long-term effects are not well understood. In male vertebrates, elevated testosterone has been shown to increase reproductive success, but simultaneously to decrease survival. One factor that may contribute to or serve as a biomarker of these long-term effects of testosterone on longevity is telomeres, which are often positively related to lifespan and have been shown to shorten in response to reproduction. In this longitudinal study, we measured the effects of experimentally elevated testosterone on telomere shortening in free-living, male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis carolinensis), a system in which the experimental elevation of testosterone has previously been shown to increase reproductive success and reduce survival. We found a small, significant effect of testosterone treatment on telomeres, with testosterone-treated males exhibiting significantly greater telomere shortening with age than controls. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased telomere shortening may be a long-term cost of elevated testosterone exposure. As both testosterone and telomeres are conserved physiological mechanisms, our results suggest that their interaction may apply broadly to the long-term costs of reproduction in male vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt J Heidinger
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | | | - Aubrey E Sirman
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kittilson
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Nicole M Gerlach
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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20
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Madsen T, Klaassen M, Raven N, Dujon AM, Jennings G, Thomas F, Hamede R, Ujvari B. Transmissible cancer and longitudinal telomere dynamics in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6531-6540. [PMID: 36205590 PMCID: PMC10091798 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of intrinsic and environmental factors have been shown to influence the length of telomeres, the protector of chromosome ends. Despite the growing interest in infection-telomere interactions, there is very limited knowledge on how transmissible cancers influence telomere maintenance. An emblematic example of transmissible cancer occurs in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), whose populations have been dramatically reduced by infectious cancer cells. To investigate associations between telomere dynamics and the transmissible cancer, we used longitudinal data from a Tasmanian devil population that has been exposed to the disease for over 15 years. We detected substantial temporal variation in individual telomere length (TL), and a positive significant association between TL and age, as well as a marginally significant trend for devils with devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) having longer telomeres. A proportional hazard analysis yielded no significant effect of TL on the development of DFTD. Like previous studies, we show the complexity that TL dynamics may exhibit across the lifetime of organisms. Our work highlights the importance of long-term longitudinal sampling for understanding the effects of wildlife diseases on TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Madsen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nynke Raven
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.,CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Geordie Jennings
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Salmón P, Burraco P. Telomeres and anthropogenic disturbances in wildlife: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6018-6039. [PMID: 35080073 PMCID: PMC9790527 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Human-driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a comprehensive evaluation of organismal health is needed to determine their ultimate impact. Evidence suggests that telomeres (the terminal chromosomal regions) are sensitive to environmental conditions and have been posited as a surrogate for animal health and fitness. Evaluation of their use in an applied ecological context is still scarce. Here, using information from molecular and occupational biomedical studies, we aim to provide ecologists and evolutionary biologists with an accessible synthesis of the links between human disturbances and telomere length. In addition, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies measuring telomere length in wild/wild-derived animals facing anthropogenic disturbances. Despite the relatively small number of studies to date, our meta-analysis revealed a significant small negative association between disturbances and telomere length (-0.092 [-0.153, -0.031]; n = 28; k = 159). Yet, our systematic review suggests that the use of telomeres as a biomarker to understand the anthropogenic impact on wildlife is limited. We propose some research avenues that will help to broadly evaluate their suitability: (i) further causal studies on the link between human disturbances and telomeres; (ii) investigating the organismal implications, in terms of fitness and performance, of a given telomere length in anthropogenically disturbed scenarios; and (iii) better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of telomere dynamics. Future studies in these facets will help to ultimately determine their role as markers of health and fitness in wildlife facing anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Salmón
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK,Department of Plant Biology and EcologyFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain
| | - Pablo Burraco
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
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22
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Bauch C, Boonekamp JJ, Korsten P, Mulder E, Verhulst S. High heritability of telomere length and low heritability of telomere shortening in wild birds. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6308-6323. [PMID: 34532917 PMCID: PMC9787985 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length and telomere shortening predict survival in many organisms. This raises the question of the contribution of genetic and environmental effects to variation in these traits, which is still poorly known, particularly for telomere shortening. We used experimental (cross-fostering) and statistical (quantitative genetic "animal models") means to disentangle and estimate genetic and environmental contributions to telomere length variation in pedigreed free-living jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Telomere length was measured twice in nestlings, at ages 4 (n = 715) and 29 days (n = 474), using telomere restriction fragment (TRF) analysis, adapted to exclude interstitial telomeric sequences. Telomere length shortened significantly over the nestling period (10.4 ± 0.3 bp day-1 ) and was highly phenotypically (rP = 0.95 ± 0.01) and genetically (rG > 0.99 ± 0.01) correlated within individuals. Additive genetic effects explained a major part of telomere length variation among individuals, with its heritability estimated at h2 = 0.74 on average. We note that TRF-based studies reported higher heritabilities than qPCR-based studies, and we discuss possible explanations. Parent-offspring regressions yielded similar heritability estimates for mothers and fathers when accounting for changes in paternal telomere length over life. Year effects explained a small but significant part of telomere length variation. Heritable variation for telomere shortening was low (h2 = 0.09 ± 0.11). The difference in heritability between telomere length (high) and telomere shortening (low) agrees with evolutionary theory, in that telomere shortening has stronger fitness consequences in this population. Despite the high heritability of telomere length, its evolvability, which scales the additive genetic variance by mean telomere length, was on average 0.48%. Hence, evolutionary change of telomere length due to selection is likely to be slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Jelle J. Boonekamp
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands,Present address:
Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative MedicineCollege of Medical, Veterinary and Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Animal BehaviourBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Ellis Mulder
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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23
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Remot F, Ronget V, Froy H, Rey B, Gaillard JM, Nussey DH, Lemaitre JF. Decline in telomere length with increasing age across nonhuman vertebrates: A meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5917-5932. [PMID: 34437736 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prediction that telomere length (TL) shortens with increasing age is a major element in considering the role of telomeres as a key player in evolution. While telomere attrition is found in humans both in vitro and in vivo, the increasing number of studies reporting diverse age-specific patterns of TL challenges the hypothesis of a universal decline of TL with increasing age. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between TL and age across 175 estimates encompassing 98 species of vertebrates. We found that, on average, TL does decline with increasing age during adulthood. However, this decline was weak and variable across vertebrate classes, and we also found evidence for a publication bias that might weaken our current evidence of decreasing TL with increasing age. We found no evidence for a faster decline in TL with increasing age when considering the juvenile stage (from birth to age at first reproduction) compared to the adult stage. Heterogeneity in TL ageing rates was explained by the method used to measure telomeres: detectable TL declines with increasing age were found only among studies using TRF with in-gel hybridisation and qFISH methods, but not in studies using qPCR and Southern blot-based TRF methods. While we confirmed that TL declines with increasing age in most adult vertebrates, our results identify an influence of telomere measurement methodology, which highlights the need to examine more thoroughly the effect of the method of measurement on TL estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Remot
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Unité Eco-anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jean-François Lemaitre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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24
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Sheldon EL, Ton R, Boner W, Monaghan P, Raveh S, Schrey AW, Griffith SC. Associations between DNA methylation and telomere length during early life: Insight from wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6261-6272. [PMID: 34551154 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length and DNA methylation (DNAm) are two promising biomarkers of biological age. Environmental factors and life history traits are known to affect variation in both these biomarkers, especially during early life, yet surprisingly little is known about their reciprocal association, especially in natural populations. Here, we explore how variation in DNAm, growth rate, and early-life conditions are associated with telomere length changes during development. We tested these associations by collecting data from wild, nestling zebra finches in the Australian desert. We found that increases in the level of DNAm were negatively correlated with telomere length changes across early life. We also confirm previously documented effects of post hatch growth rate and clutch size on telomere length in a natural ecological context for a species that has been extensively studied in the laboratory. However, we did not detect any effect of ambient temperature during developmental on telomere length dynamics. We also found that the absolute telomere length of wild zebra finches, measured using the in-gel TRF method, was similar to that of captive birds. Our findings highlight exciting new opportunities to link and disentangle potential relationships between DNA based biomarkers of ageing, and of physiological reactions to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Sheldon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Riccardo Ton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Winnie Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Shirley Raveh
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Aaron W Schrey
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Simon C Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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25
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Bauch C, Gatt MC, Verhulst S, Granadeiro JP, Catry P. Higher mercury contamination is associated with shorter telomeres in a long-lived seabird - A direct effect or a consequence of among-individual variation in phenotypic quality? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156359. [PMID: 35654175 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156359] [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: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a heavy metal, which is pervasive and persistent in the marine environment. It bioaccumulates within organisms and biomagnifies in the marine food chain. Due to its high toxicity, mercury contamination is a major concern for wildlife and human health. Telomere length is a biomarker of aging and health, because it predicts survival, making it a potential tool to investigate sublethal effects of mercury contamination. However, the relationship between telomeres and mercury contamination is unclear. We measured feather mercury concentration in Cory's Shearwaters Calonectris borealis, long-lived seabirds and top predators, between 9 and 35 years of age and related it to telomere length in erythrocytes. Cory's Shearwaters with higher mercury concentrations had shorter telomeres and the effect was sex-dependent, reaching significance in males only. This may be explained by the fact that males have longer telomeres and higher and more variable mercury concentrations than females in this population. The mercury effect on telomere length was stronger on longer telomeres in the genome within individuals. We discuss the hypotheses that the negative correlation could either be a direct effect of mercury on telomere shortening and/or a consequence of variation in phenotypic quality among individuals that results in a covariation between mercury contamination and telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marie Claire Gatt
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - José Pedro Granadeiro
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal
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26
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Large mammal telomere length variation across ecoregions. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:105. [PMID: 36038827 PMCID: PMC9426267 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02050-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomere length provides a physiological proxy for accumulated stress in animals. While there is a growing consensus over how telomere dynamics and their patterns are linked to life history variation and individual experience, knowledge on the impact of exposure to different stressors at a large spatial scale on telomere length is still lacking. How exposure to different stressors at a regional scale interacts with individual differences in life history is also poorly understood. To better understand large-scale regional influences, we investigated telomere length variation in moose (Alces alces) distributed across three ecoregions. We analyzed 153 samples of 106 moose representing moose of both sexes and range of ages to measure relative telomere lengths (RTL) in white blood cells. Results We found that average RTL was significantly shorter in a northern (montane) and southern (sarmatic) ecoregion where moose experience chronic stress related to severe summer and winter temperatures as well as high anthropogenic land-use compared to the boreal region. Our study suggests that animals in the northern boreal forests, with relatively homogenous land use, are less disturbed by environmental and anthropogenic stressors. In contrast, animals in areas experiencing a higher rate of anthropogenic and environmental change experience increased stress. Conclusion Although animals can often adapt to predictable stressors, our data suggest that some environmental conditions, even though predictable and ubiquitous, can generate population level differences of long-term stress. By measuring RTL in moose for the first time, we provide valuable insights towards our current understanding of telomere biology in free-ranging wildlife in human-modified ecosystems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02050-5.
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27
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Precioso M, Molina-Morales M, Dawson DA, Burke TA, Martínez JG. Effects of long-term ethanol storage of blood samples on the estimation of telomere length. Evol Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10198-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTelomeres, DNA structures located at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes, shorten with each cellular cycle. The shortening rate is affected by factors associated with stress, and, thus telomere length has been used as a biomarker of ageing, disease, and different life history trade-offs. Telomere research has received much attention in the last decades, however there is still a wide variety of factors that may affect telomere measurements and to date no study has thoroughly evaluated the possible long-term effect of a storage medium on telomere measurements. In this study we evaluated the long-term effects of ethanol on relative telomere length (RTL) measured by qPCR, using blood samples of magpies collected over twelve years and stored in absolute ethanol at room temperature. We firstly tested whether storage time had an effect on RTL and secondly we modelled the effect of time of storage (from 1 to 12 years) in differences in RTL from DNA extracted twice in consecutive years from the same blood sample. We also tested whether individual amplification efficiencies were influenced by storage time, and whether this could affect our results. Our study provides evidence of an effect of storage time on telomere length measurements. Importantly, this effect shows a pattern of decreasing loss of telomere sequence with storage time that stops after approximate 4 years of storage, which suggests that telomeres may degrade in blood samples stored in ethanol. Our method to quantify the effect of storage time could be used to evaluate other storage buffers and methods. Our results highlight the need to evaluate the long-term effects of storage on telomere measurements, particularly in long-term studies.
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28
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Roast MJ, Eastwood JR, Aranzamendi NH, Fan M, Teunissen N, Verhulst S, Peters A. Telomere length declines with age, but relates to immune function independent of age in a wild passerine. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:212012. [PMID: 35601455 PMCID: PMC9043702 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.212012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) shortens with age but telomere dynamics can relate to fitness components independent of age. Immune function often relates to such fitness components and can also interact with telomeres. Studying the link between TL and immune function may therefore help us understand telomere-fitness associations. We assessed the relationships between erythrocyte TL and four immune indices (haptoglobin, natural antibodies (NAbs), complement activity (CA) and heterophil-lymphocyte (HL) ratio; n = 477-589), from known-aged individuals of a wild passerine (Malurus coronatus). As expected, we find that TL significantly declined with age. To verify whether associations between TL and immune function were independent of parallel age-related changes (e.g. immunosenescence), we statistically controlled for sampling age and used within-subject centring of TL to separate relationships within or between individuals. We found that TL positively predicted CA at the between-individual level (individuals with longer average TL had higher CA), but no other immune indices. By contrast, age predicted the levels of NAbs and HL ratio, allowing inference that respective associations between TL and age with immune indices are independent. Any links existing between TL and fitness are therefore unlikely to be strongly mediated by innate immune function, while TL and immune indices appear independent expressions of individual heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Roast
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Justin R. Eastwood
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | | | - Marie Fan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Niki Teunissen
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
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29
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Raftopoulou C, Paltoglou G, Charmandari E. Association between Telomere Length and Pediatric Obesity: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061244. [PMID: 35334902 PMCID: PMC8949519 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Telomere length (TL) is a robust marker of biological aging, and increased telomere attrition is noted in adults with obesity. The primary objective of this systematic review was to summarize current knowledge on the effects of childhood obesity in TL. The secondary objective was to assess the effect of weight management interventions in TL. Methods: The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Heal-link.gr from inception to September 2021. The search was performed using the following combinations of terms: “telomer*” [All Fields] AND (“length” [All Fields] OR “lengths” [All Fields]) AND “obes*” [All Fields] AND (“child*” [All Fields] OR “adolescen*” [All Fields]). Results: A total of 16 original articles were included in this systematic review. Eleven of them were cross-sectional and five were lifestyle interventions. Conclusions: There was a tendency towards a negative association between childhood obesity and TL. Life-style interventions in children have been associated with increased TL peripherally, indicating a possible association of the redistribution of younger cells in the periphery with the favorable effect of these interventions. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes that employ other markers of cell aging would potentially elucidate this important mechanistic relation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Raftopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - George Paltoglou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Evangelia Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +30-213-2013-384
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30
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Taub MA, Conomos MP, Keener R, Iyer KR, Weinstock JS, Yanek LR, Lane J, Miller-Fleming TW, Brody JA, Raffield LM, McHugh CP, Jain D, Gogarten SM, Laurie CA, Keramati A, Arvanitis M, Smith AV, Heavner B, Barwick L, Becker LC, Bis JC, Blangero J, Bleecker ER, Burchard EG, Celedón JC, Chang YPC, Custer B, Darbar D, de las Fuentes L, DeMeo DL, Freedman BI, Garrett ME, Gladwin MT, Heckbert SR, Hidalgo BA, Irvin MR, Islam T, Johnson WC, Kaab S, Launer L, Lee J, Liu S, Moscati A, North KE, Peyser PA, Rafaels N, Seidman C, Weeks DE, Wen F, Wheeler MM, Williams LK, Yang IV, Zhao W, Aslibekyan S, Auer PL, Bowden DW, Cade BE, Chen Z, Cho MH, Cupples LA, Curran JE, Daya M, Deka R, Eng C, Fingerlin TE, Guo X, Hou L, Hwang SJ, Johnsen JM, Kenny EE, Levin AM, Liu C, Minster RL, Naseri T, Nouraie M, Reupena MS, Sabino EC, Smith JA, Smith NL, Lasky-Su J, Taylor JG, Telen MJ, Tiwari HK, Tracy RP, White MJ, Zhang Y, Wiggins KL, Weiss ST, Vasan RS, Taylor KD, Sinner MF, Silverman EK, Shoemaker MB, Sheu WHH, Sciurba F, Schwartz DA, Rotter JI, Roden D, Redline S, Raby BA, Psaty BM, Peralta JM, Palmer ND, Nekhai S, Montgomery CG, Mitchell BD, Meyers DA, McGarvey ST, Mak AC, Loos RJ, Kumar R, Kooperberg C, Konkle BA, Kelly S, Kardia SL, Kaplan R, He J, Gui H, Gilliland FD, Gelb BD, Fornage M, Ellinor PT, de Andrade M, Correa A, Chen YDI, Boerwinkle E, Barnes KC, Ashley-Koch AE, Arnett DK, Albert C, Laurie CC, Abecasis G, Nickerson DA, Wilson JG, Rich SS, Levy D, Ruczinski I, Aviv A, Blackwell TW, Thornton T, O’Connell J, Cox NJ, Perry JA, Armanios M, Battle A, Pankratz N, Reiner AP, Mathias RA. Genetic determinants of telomere length from 109,122 ancestrally diverse whole-genome sequences in TOPMed. CELL GENOMICS 2022; 2:S2666-979X(21)00105-1. [PMID: 35530816 PMCID: PMC9075703 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2021.100084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Genetic studies on telomere length are important for understanding age-related diseases. Prior GWAS for leukocyte TL have been limited to European and Asian populations. Here, we report the first sequencing-based association study for TL across ancestrally-diverse individuals (European, African, Asian and Hispanic/Latino) from the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) of whole blood for variant genotype calling and the bioinformatic estimation of telomere length in n=109,122 individuals. We identified 59 sentinel variants (p-value <5×10-9) in 36 loci associated with telomere length, including 20 newly associated loci (13 were replicated in external datasets). There was little evidence of effect size heterogeneity across populations. Fine-mapping at OBFC1 indicated the independent signals colocalized with cell-type specific eQTLs for OBFC1 (STN1). Using a multi-variant gene-based approach, we identified two genes newly implicated in telomere length, DCLRE1B (SNM1B) and PARN. In PheWAS, we demonstrated our TL polygenic trait scores (PTS) were associated with increased risk of cancer-related phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A. Taub
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Matthew P. Conomos
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rebecca Keener
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kruthika R. Iyer
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua S. Weinstock
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lisa R. Yanek
- GeneSTAR Research Program, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John Lane
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tyne W. Miller-Fleming
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Brody
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Laura M. Raffield
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Caitlin P. McHugh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Deepti Jain
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Gogarten
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cecelia A. Laurie
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ali Keramati
- Department of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marios Arvanitis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Albert V. Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Benjamin Heavner
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lucas Barwick
- LTRC Data Coordinating Center, The Emmes Company, LLC, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Lewis C. Becker
- GeneSTAR Research Program, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua C. Bis
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John Blangero
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Eugene R. Bleecker
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetics, Genomics, and Precision Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Division of Pharmacogenomics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Esteban G. Burchard
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Juan C. Celedón
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yen Pei C. Chang
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Division of Cardiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lisa de las Fuentes
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Dawn L. DeMeo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Barry I. Freedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Nephrology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Melanie E. Garrett
- Department of Medicine and Duke Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mark T. Gladwin
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Susan R. Heckbert
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bertha A. Hidalgo
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Marguerite R. Irvin
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Talat Islam
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - W. Craig Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics, Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stefan Kaab
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilian’s University, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Lenore Launer
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiwon Lee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simin Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Brown Center for Global Cardiometabolic Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Arden Moscati
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kari E. North
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Patricia A. Peyser
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nicholas Rafaels
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Daniel E. Weeks
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Fayun Wen
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease and Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Marsha M. Wheeler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - L. Keoki Williams
- Center for Individualized and Genomic Medicine Research (CIGMA), Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ivana V. Yang
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stella Aslibekyan
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Paul L. Auer
- Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Donald W. Bowden
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Brian E. Cade
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhanghua Chen
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael H. Cho
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L. Adrienne Cupples
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Boston University’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Joanne E. Curran
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Michelle Daya
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ranjan Deka
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Celeste Eng
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tasha E. Fingerlin
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Xiuqing Guo
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shih-Jen Hwang
- Population Sciences Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jill M. Johnsen
- Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eimear E. Kenny
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Genomic Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Albert M. Levin
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Boston University’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
- The Population Sciences Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ryan L. Minster
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Take Naseri
- Ministry of Health, Government of Samoa, Apia, Samoa
- Department of Epidemiology & International Health Institute, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Mehdi Nouraie
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Ester C. Sabino
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jennifer A. Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nicholas L. Smith
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Lasky-Su
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James G. Taylor
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease and Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Marilyn J. Telen
- Department of Medicine and Duke Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hemant K. Tiwari
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Russell P. Tracy
- Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Biochemistry, Larrner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT, USA
| | - Marquitta J. White
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yingze Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kerri L. Wiggins
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Scott T. Weiss
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ramachandran S. Vasan
- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Boston University’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kent D. Taylor
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Moritz F. Sinner
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilian’s University, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Edwin K. Silverman
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M. Benjamin Shoemaker
- Departments of Medicine, Pharmacology, and Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wayne H.-H. Sheu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Frank Sciurba
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David A. Schwartz
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jerome I. Rotter
- Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Roden
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Susan Redline
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin A. Raby
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bruce M. Psaty
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Juan M. Peralta
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Nicholette D. Palmer
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sergei Nekhai
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease and Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Courtney G. Montgomery
- Genes and Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Braxton D. Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Deborah A. Meyers
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetics, Genomics, and Precision Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Division of Pharmacogenomics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Stephen T. McGarvey
- Department of Epidemiology & International Health Institute, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Angel C.Y. Mak
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ruth J.F. Loos
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Charles Kooperberg
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Barbara A. Konkle
- Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shannon Kelly
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Sharon L.R. Kardia
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Robert Kaplan
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jiang He
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Hongsheng Gui
- Center for Individualized and Genomic Medicine Research (CIGMA), Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Frank D. Gilliland
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bruce D. Gelb
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Myriam Fornage
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Patrick T. Ellinor
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariza de Andrade
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Adolfo Correa
- Jackson Heart Study and Departments of Medicine and Population Health Science, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Yii-Der Ida Chen
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen C. Barnes
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Allison E. Ashley-Koch
- Department of Medicine and Duke Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Donna K. Arnett
- College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Christine Albert
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Cathy C. Laurie
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Goncalo Abecasis
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | - James G. Wilson
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MI, USA
| | - Stephen S. Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Daniel Levy
- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Boston University’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
- The Population Sciences Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ingo Ruczinski
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Thomas W. Blackwell
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Timothy Thornton
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeff O’Connell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Program for Personalized and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nancy J. Cox
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute and Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - James A. Perry
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary Armanios
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexis Battle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Computer Science and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nathan Pankratz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander P. Reiner
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rasika A. Mathias
- GeneSTAR Research Program, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Lin J, Epel E. Stress and telomere shortening: Insights from cellular mechanisms. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 73:101507. [PMID: 34736994 PMCID: PMC8920518 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Short telomeres confer risk of degenerative diseases. Chronic psychological stress can lead to disease through many pathways, and research from in vitro studies to human longitudinal studies has pointed to stress-induced telomere damage as an important pathway. However, there has not been a comprehensive model to describe how changes in stress physiology and neuroendocrine pathways can lead to changes in telomere biology. Critically short telomeres or the collapse of the telomere structure caused by displacement of telomere binding protein complex shelterin elicit a DNA damage response and lead to senescence or apoptosis. In this narrative review, we summarize the key roles glucocorticoids, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondria, and inflammation play in mediating the relationship between psychological stress and telomere maintenance. We emphasis that these mediators are interconnected and reinforce each other in positive feedback loops. Telomere length has not been studied across the lifespan yet, but the initial setting point at birth appears to be the most influential point, as it sets the lifetime trajectory, and is influenced by stress. We describe two types of intergenerational stress effects on telomeres - prenatal stress effects on telomeres during fetal development, and 'telotype transmission" -the directly inherited transmission of short telomeres from parental germline. It is clear that the initial simplistic view of telomere length as a mitotic clock has evolved into a far more complex picture of both transgenerational telomere influences, and of interconnected molecular and cellular pathways and networks, as hallmarks of aging where telomere maintenance is a key player interacting with mitochondria. Further mechanistic investigations testing this comprehensive model of stress mediators shaping telomere biology and the telomere-mitochondrial nexus will lead to better understanding from cell to human lifespan aging, and could lead to anti-aging interventions.
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Andrews C, Zuidersma E, Verhulst S, Nettle D, Bateson M. Exposure to food insecurity increases energy storage and reduces somatic maintenance in European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:211099. [PMID: 34540262 PMCID: PMC8441118 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Birds exposed to food insecurity-defined as temporally variable access to food-respond adaptively by storing more energy. To do this, they may reduce energy allocation to other functions such as somatic maintenance and repair. To investigate this trade-off, we exposed juvenile European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris, n = 69) to 19 weeks of either uninterrupted food availability or a regime where food was unpredictably unavailable for a 5-h period on 5 days each week. Our measures of energy storage were mass and fat scores. Our measures of somatic maintenance were the growth rate of a plucked feather, and erythrocyte telomere length (TL), measured by analysis of the terminal restriction fragment. The insecure birds were heavier than the controls, by an amount that varied over time. They also had higher fat scores. We found no evidence that they consumed more food overall, though our food consumption data were incomplete. Plucked feathers regrew more slowly in the insecure birds. TL was reduced in the insecure birds, specifically, in the longer percentiles of the within-individual TL distribution. We conclude that increased energy storage in response to food insecurity is achieved at the expense of investment in somatic maintenance and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Andrews
- Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Erica Zuidersma
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Nettle
- Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Melissa Bateson
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
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Salmón P, Millet C, Selman C, Monaghan P. Growth acceleration results in faster telomere shortening later in life. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211118. [PMID: 34375555 PMCID: PMC8354743 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a wealth of evidence for a lifespan penalty when environmental conditions influence an individual's growth trajectory, such that growth rate is accelerated to attain a target size within a limited time period. Given this empirically demonstrated relationship between accelerated growth and lifespan, and the links between lifespan and telomere dynamics, increased telomere loss could underpin this growth-lifespan trade. We experimentally modified the growth trajectory of nestling zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), inducing a group of nestlings to accelerate their growth between 7 and 15 days of age, the main phase of body growth. We then sequentially measured their telomere length in red blood cells at various time points from 7 days to full adulthood (120 days). Accelerated growth between 7 and 15 days was not associated with a detectable increase in telomere shortening during this period compared with controls. However, only in the treatment group induced to show growth acceleration was the rate of growth during the experimental period positively related to the amount of telomere shortening between 15 and 120 days. Our findings provide evidence of a long-term influence of growth rate on later-life telomere shortening, but only when individuals have accelerated growth in response to environmental circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Salmón
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Caroline Millet
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Colin Selman
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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Nettle D, Gadalla SM, Lai TP, Susser E, Bateson M, Aviv A. Measurement of Telomere Length for Longitudinal Analysis: Implications of Assay Precision. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:1406-1413. [PMID: 33564874 PMCID: PMC8245883 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers increasingly wish to test hypotheses concerning the impact of environmental or disease exposures on telomere length (TL), and they use longitudinal study designs to do so. In population studies, TL is usually measured with a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based method. This method has been validated by calculating its correlation with a gold standard method such as Southern blotting (SB) in cross-sectional data sets. However, in a cross-section, the range of true variation in TL is large, and measurement error is introduced only once. In a longitudinal study, the target variation of interest is small, and measurement error is introduced at both baseline and follow-up. In this paper, we present results from a small data set (n = 20) in which leukocyte TL was measured twice 6.6 years apart by means of both qPCR and SB. The cross-sectional correlations between qPCR and SB were high at both baseline (r = 0.90) and follow-up (r = 0.85), yet their correlation for TL change was poor (r = 0.48). Moreover, the qPCR data but not the SB data showed strong signatures of measurement error. Through simulation, we show that the statistical power gain from performing a longitudinal analysis is much greater for SB than for qPCR. We discuss implications for optimal study design and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nettle
- Correspondence to Dr. Daniel Nettle, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Henry Wellcome Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom (e-mail: )
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35
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Caccavo JA, Raclot T, Poupart T, Ropert-Coudert Y, Angelier F. Anthropogenic activities are associated with shorter telomeres in chicks of Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae). Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02892-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractDefining the impact of anthropogenic stressors on Antarctic wildlife is an active aim for investigators. Telomeres represent a promising molecular tool to investigate the fitness of wild populations, as their length may predict longevity and survival. We examined the relationship between telomere length and human exposure in Adélie penguin chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae) from East Antarctica. Telomere length was compared between chicks from areas with sustained human activity and on neighboring protected islands with little or no human presence. Adélie penguin chicks from sites exposed to human activity had significantly shorter telomeres than chicks from unexposed sites in nearby protected areas, with exposed chicks having on average 3.5% shorter telomeres than unexposed chicks. While sampling limitations preclude our ability to draw more sweeping conclusions at this time, our analysis nonetheless provides important insights into measures of colony vulnerability. More data are needed both to understand the proximate causes (e.g., stress, feeding events) leading to shorter telomeres in chicks from human exposed areas, as well as the fitness consequences of reduced telomere length. We suggest to further test the use of telomere length analysis as an eco-indicator of stress in wildlife among anthropized sites throughout Antarctica.
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36
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Minimal changes in telomere length after a 12-week dietary intervention with almonds in mid-age to older, overweight and obese Australians: results of a randomised clinical trial. Br J Nutr 2021; 127:872-884. [PMID: 33971995 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114521001549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Diet is a modifiable risk factor for chronic disease and a potential modulator of telomere length (TL). The study aim was to investigate associations between diet quality and TL in Australian adults after a 12-week dietary intervention with an almond-enriched diet (AED). Participants (overweight/obese, 50-80 years) were randomised to an AED (n 62) or isoenergetic nut-free diet (NFD, n 62) for 12 weeks. Diet quality was assessed using a Dietary Guideline Index (DGI), applied to weighed food records, that consists of ten components reflecting adequacy, variety and quality of core food components and discretionary choices within the diet. TL was measured by quantitative PCR in samples of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and whole blood. There were no significant associations between DGI scores and TL at baseline. Diet quality improved with AED and decreased with NFD after 12 weeks (change from baseline AED + 9·8 %, NFD - 14·3 %; P < 0·001). TL increased in neutrophils (+9·6 bp, P = 0·009) and decreased in whole blood, to a trivial extent (-12·1 bp, P = 0·001), and was unchanged in lymphocytes. Changes did not differ between intervention groups. There were no significant relationships between changes in diet quality scores and changes in lymphocyte, neutrophil or whole blood TL. The inclusion of almonds in the diet improved diet quality scores but had no impact on TL mid-age to older Australian adults. Future studies should investigate the impact of more substantial dietary changes over longer periods of time.
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Ingles ED, Deakin JE. Telomeres, species differences, and unusual telomeres in vertebrates: presenting challenges and opportunities to understanding telomere dynamics. AIMS GENETICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3934/genet.2016.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThere has been increasing interest in the use of telomeres as biomarkers of stress, cellular ageing and life-histories. However, the telomere landscape is a diverse feature, with noticeable differences between species, a fact which is highlighted by the unusual telomeres of various vertebrate organisms. We broadly review differences in telomere dynamics among vertebrates, and emphasize the need to understand more about telomere processes and trends across species. As part of these species differences, we review unusual telomeres in vertebrates. This includes mega-telomeres, which are present across a diverse set of organisms, but also focusing on the unusual telomeres traits of marsupials and monotremes, which have seen little to no prior discussion, yet uniquely stand out from other unusual telomere features discovered thus far. Due to the presence of at least two unique telomere features in the marsupial family Dasyuridae, as well as to the presence of physiological strategies semelparity and torpor, which have implications for telomere life-histories in these species, we suggest that this family has a very large potential to uncover novel information on telomere evolution and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emory D. Ingles
- Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Janine E. Deakin
- Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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38
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Quque M, Paquet M, Zahn S, Théron F, Faivre B, Sueur C, Criscuolo F, Doutrelant C, Covas R. Contrasting associations between nestling telomere length and pre and postnatal helpers' presence in a cooperatively breeding bird. Oecologia 2021; 196:37-51. [PMID: 33864121 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04917-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Studies on cooperative breeders have addressed the effects of non-breeding 'helpers' on reproduction and parental care, but the consequences for offspring physiology and long-term survival are less understood. Helpers are expected to benefit offspring, but their presence can also lead to decreased pre- or post-natal parental reproductive effort. To examine whether prenatal and postnatal helpers influence offspring condition, we conducted a whole-clutch cross-fostering experiment in sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) that altered the nestlings' social environment (presence/absence of helpers). We tested whether relative telomere length (rTL), an indicator of somatic maintenance, was influenced by prenatal and/or postnatal presence of helpers 9 and 17 days after hatching, and whether rTL predicted long-term survival. Nine days after hatching, we found an overall positive effect of postnatal helpers on rTL: for nestlings with prenatal helpers, a reduction in the number of helpers post-hatch was associated with shorter telomeres, while nestlings swapped from nests without helpers to nests with helpers had a larger rTL. However, when prenatal helpers were present, an increased number of helpers after hatching led to shorter telomeres. Nine-day old chicks with longer rTL tended to be more likely to survive over the 5 years following hatching. However, close to fledging, there was no detectable effect of the experiment on rTL and no link between rTL and survival. This experimental study of a wild cooperative breeder, therefore, presents partial support for the importance of the presence of helpers for offspring rTL and the link between early-life telomere length and long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Quque
- CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Matthieu Paquet
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Frank Théron
- CNRS, CEFE UMR 5175, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Faivre
- Biogéosciences, CNRS UMR 6282, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Cédric Sueur
- CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | | | - Claire Doutrelant
- CNRS, CEFE UMR 5175, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Research Centre On Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, CIBIO-InBio, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Covas
- Research Centre On Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, CIBIO-InBio, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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39
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Heritable variation in telomere length predicts mortality in Soay sheep. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2020563118. [PMID: 33876756 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020563118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is considered an important biomarker of whole-organism health and aging. Across humans and other vertebrates, short telomeres are associated with increased subsequent mortality risk, but the processes responsible for this correlation remain uncertain. A key unanswered question is whether TL-mortality associations arise due to positive effects of genes or early-life environment on both an individual's average lifetime TL and their longevity, or due to more immediate effects of environmental stressors on within-individual TL loss and increased mortality risk. Addressing this question requires longitudinal TL and life history data across the entire lifetimes of many individuals, which are difficult to obtain for long-lived species like humans. Using longitudinal data and samples collected over nearly two decades, as part of a long-term study of wild Soay sheep, we dissected an observed positive association between TL and subsequent survival using multivariate quantitative genetic models. We found no evidence that telomere attrition was associated with increased mortality risk, suggesting that TL is not an important marker of biological aging or exposure to environmental stress in our study system. Instead, we find that among-individual differences in average TL are associated with increased lifespan. Our analyses suggest that this correlation between an individual's average TL and lifespan has a genetic basis. This demonstrates that TL has the potential to evolve under natural conditions, and suggests an important role of genetics underlying the widespread observation that short telomeres predict mortality.
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Silva Pinto BG, Marques Soares TK, Azevedo Linhares M, Castilhos Ghisi N. Occupational exposure to pesticides: Genetic danger to farmworkers and manufacturing workers - A meta-analytical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 748:141382. [PMID: 32818891 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, the use of pesticides has grown worldwide. However, there is great worry about the impact of pesticides on human health, due to their wide distribution and possible long-term effects. Complex mixtures with different formulations are often used, including a variety of genotoxic compounds. Thus, genotoxicity tests form an important part of cancer research and risk assessment of potential carcinogens. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analytical review of possible genetic damage resulting from occupational exposure in farmworkers and workers employed in pesticide production, both ever in comparison to non-exposed people, using comet assay (CA), micronucleus test (MN) and telomere length (TL) data available in the scientific literature. A total of 145 datasets were evaluated. The results showed that the occupationally exposed workers had more DNA damage in CA and MN than non-exposed workers. The TL result did not show difference between groups. When the data were categorized by gender (male, female or both), crop (general, tobacco, fruits, soybeans, cotton) and occupation (manufacturing or farmworkers), the study found that the exposed group always presented higher damage than the non-exposed individuals, in CA and MN. More studies with TL are needed to obtain a more precise response, and to segregate the effect of tobacco farming from pesticide exposure. When TL was segregated by gender, women and men presented difference between exposed and non-exposed groups. In general, the publication bias impact was modest. If all relevant studies were included, the key finding (i.e. the effect of pesticide exposure increases the genotoxicity and mutation rate) would probably remain unchanged. Lastly, it is important to highlight the importance of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and offer safer options to farmworkers (e.g. organic farming or less toxic alternatives).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Gabriele Silva Pinto
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Estrada para Boa Esperança, s/n, km 04, P.O. Box 157, CEP: 85660-000 Dois Vizinhos, PR, Brazil.
| | - Tábatta Kim Marques Soares
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Estrada para Boa Esperança, s/n, km 04, P.O. Box 157, CEP: 85660-000 Dois Vizinhos, PR, Brazil.
| | - Maristela Azevedo Linhares
- Centro de Tecnologia em Saúde e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Tecnologia do Paraná (Tecpar), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775, CEP: 81350-10 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
| | - Nédia Castilhos Ghisi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Estrada para Boa Esperança, s/n, km 04, P.O. Box 157, CEP: 85660-000 Dois Vizinhos, PR, Brazil.
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Vernasco BJ, Dakin R, Majer AD, Haussmann MF, Brandt Ryder T, Moore IT. Longitudinal dynamics and behavioural correlates of telomeres in male wire‐tailed manakins. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Vernasco
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
| | - Roslyn Dakin
- Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC USA
| | | | | | - T. Brandt Ryder
- Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC USA
| | - Ignacio T. Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
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Power ML, Power S, Bertelsen MF, Jones G, Teeling EC. Wing: A suitable nonlethal tissue type for repeatable and rapid telomere length estimates in bats. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 21:421-432. [PMID: 33049101 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are used increasingly in ecology and evolution as biomarkers for ageing and environmental stress, and are typically measured from DNA extracted from nonlethally sampled blood. However, obtaining blood is not always possible in field conditions and only limited amounts can be taken from small mammals, such as bats, which moreover lack nucleated red blood cells and hence yield relatively low amounts of DNA. As telomere length can vary within species according to age and tissue, it is important to determine which tissues serve best as a representation of the organism as a whole. Here, we investigated whether wing tissue biopsies, a rapid and relatively noninvasive tissue collection method, could serve as a proxy for other tissues when measuring relative telomere length (rTL) in the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Telomeres were measured from blood, brain, heart, kidney, liver lung, muscle and wing, and multiple wing biopsies were taken from the same individuals to determine intra-individual repeatability of rTL measured by using qPCR. Wing rTL correlated with rTL estimates from most tissues apart from blood. Blood rTL was not significantly correlated with rTL from any other tissue. Blood and muscle rTLs were significantly longer compared with other tissues, while lung displayed the shortest rTLs. Individual repeatability of rTL measures from wing tissue was high (>70%). Here we show the relationships between tissue telomere dynamics for the first time in a bat, and our results provide support for the use of wing tissue for rTL measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sarahjane Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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Louzon M, Zahn S, Capelli N, Massemin S, Coeurdassier M, Pauget B, Gimbert F, de Vaufleury A. Impact of ageing and soil contaminants on telomere length in the land snail. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 201:110766. [PMID: 32531572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres (TLs) are non-coding DNA sequences that are usually shortened with ageing and/or chemical exposure. Bioindicators such as the land snail can be used to assess the environmental risk of contaminated soils. As for most invertebrates, the evolution of TLs with ageing or exposure to contaminants is unknown in this mollusc. The aims of this study were to explore the relationships between ageing, contaminant exposure, sublethal effects and TL length in the terrestrial gastropod Cantareus aspersus. TL length was investigated in haemocytes from five age classes of C. aspersus. The impact of contaminants on sub-adult snails exposed to Cd, Hg or a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils for one or two months was studied. Bioaccumulation, growth, sexual maturity and TLs were measured. TL attrition was significant for the juvenile and sub-adult stages, but not later. Exposure to Cd increased the mortality (around 30%). Exposure to polluted soils inhibited growth (19-40%) and sexual maturity (6-100%). Although the health of the snails exposed to Cd, Hg and PAHs was altered, TL length in haemocytes was not disturbed, suggesting a high capacity of this snail species to maintain its TLs in haemocytes under chemical stress. These results first address TL length in snails and reveal that the relationship commonly proposed for vertebrates between TL shortening and ageing or exposure to contaminants cannot be generalized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Louzon
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- IPHC UMR 7178 DEPE CNRS, University of Strasbourg, 23 Rue du loess, 67087, Strasbourg, Cedex 3, France
| | - Nicolas Capelli
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Sylvie Massemin
- IPHC UMR 7178 DEPE CNRS, University of Strasbourg, 23 Rue du loess, 67087, Strasbourg, Cedex 3, France
| | - Michaël Coeurdassier
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France
| | | | - Frédéric Gimbert
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France.
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Burraco P, Comas M, Reguera S, Zamora-Camacho FJ, Moreno-Rueda G. Telomere length mirrors age structure along a 2200-m altitudinal gradient in a Mediterranean lizard. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 247:110741. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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45
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Hudon SF, Palencia Hurtado E, Beck JD, Burden SJ, Bendixsen DP, Callery KR, Sorensen Forbey J, Waits LP, Miller RA, Nielsen ÓK, Heath JA, Hayden EJ. Primers to highly conserved elements optimized for qPCR-based telomere length measurement in vertebrates. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 21:59-67. [PMID: 32762107 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length dynamics are an established biomarker of health and ageing in animals. The study of telomeres in numerous species has been facilitated by methods to measure telomere length by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). In this method, telomere length is determined by quantifying the amount of telomeric DNA repeats in a sample and normalizing this to the total amount of genomic DNA. This normalization requires the development of genomic reference primers suitable for qPCR, which remains challenging in nonmodel organism with genomes that have not been sequenced. Here we report reference primers that can be used in qPCR to measure telomere lengths in any vertebrate species. We designed primer pairs to amplify genetic elements that are highly conserved between evolutionarily distant taxa and tested them in species that span the vertebrate tree of life. We report five primer pairs that meet the specificity and reproducibility standards of qPCR. In addition, we demonstrate an approach to choose the best primers for a given species by testing the primers on multiple individuals within a species and then applying an established computational tool. These reference primers can facilitate qPCR-based telomere length measurements in any vertebrate species of ecological or economic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James D Beck
- Computational Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Steven J Burden
- Biomolecular Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | | | - Kathleen R Callery
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | | | - Lisette P Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Ólafur K Nielsen
- Department of Ecology, Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Garðabaer, Iceland
| | - Julie A Heath
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Eric J Hayden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
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Ineson KM, O’Shea TJ, Kilpatrick CW, Parise KL, Foster JT. Ambiguities in using telomere length for age determination in two North American bat species. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe age of an animal, determined by time (chronological age) as well as genetic and environmental factors (biological age), influences the likelihood of mortality and reproduction and thus the animal’s contribution to population growth. For many long-lived species, such as bats, a lack of external and morphological indicators has made determining age a challenge, leading researchers to examine genetic markers of age for application to demographic studies. One widely studied biomarker of age is telomere length, which has been related both to chronological and biological age across taxa, but only recently has begun to be studied in bats. We assessed telomere length from the DNA of known-age and minimum known-age individuals of two bat species using a quantitative PCR assay. We determined that telomere length was quadratically related to chronological age in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), although it had little predictive power for accurate age determination of unknown-age individuals. The relationship was different in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), where telomere length instead was correlated with biological age, apparently due to infection and wing damage associated with white-nose syndrome. Furthermore, we showed that wing biopsies currently are a better tissue source for studying telomere length in bats than guano and buccal swabs; the results from the latter group were more variable and potentially influenced by storage time. Refinement of collection and assessment methods for different non-lethally collected tissues will be important for longitudinal sampling to better understand telomere dynamics in these long-lived species. Although further work is needed to develop a biomarker capable of determining chronological age in bats, our results suggest that biological age, as reflected in telomere length, may be influenced by extrinsic stressors such as disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Ineson
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Thomas J O’Shea
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Katy L Parise
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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Ropio J, Chebly A, Ferrer J, Prochazkova‐Carlotti M, Idrissi Y, Azzi‐Martin L, Cappellen D, Pham‐Ledard A, Soares P, Merlio J, Chevret E. Reliable blood cancer cells' telomere length evaluation by qPCR. Cancer Med 2020; 9:3153-3162. [PMID: 32142223 PMCID: PMC7196062 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.2816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere shortening is linked to a range of different human diseases, hence reliable measurement methods are needed to uncover such associations. Among the plethora of telomere length measurement methods, qPCR is reported as easy to conduct and a cost-effective approach to study samples with low DNA amounts. METHODS Cancer cells' telomere length was evaluated by relative and absolute qPCR methods. RESULTS Robust and reproducible telomere length measurements were optimized taking into account a careful reference gene selection and by knowing the cancer cells ploidy. qPCR data were compared to "gold standard" measurement from terminal restriction fragment (TRF). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides guidance and recommendations for accurate telomere length measurement by qPCR in cancer cells, taking advantage of our expertise in telomere homeostasis investigation in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Furthermore, our data emphasize the requirement of samples with both, high DNA quality and high tumor cells representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ropio
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
- Porto UniversityInstitute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel SalazarPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdePortoPortugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and ImmunologyUniversity of Porto (Ipatimup)Cancer Biology groupPortoPortugal
| | - Alain Chebly
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
- Faculty of MedicineMedical Genetics UnitSaint Joseph UniversityBeirutLebanon
| | - Jacky Ferrer
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
| | - Martina Prochazkova‐Carlotti
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
| | - Yamina Idrissi
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
| | - Lamia Azzi‐Martin
- Bordeaux UniversityUFR des Sciences MédicalesINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)BordeauxFrance
| | - David Cappellen
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
- Bordeaux University Hospital CenterTumor Bank and Tumor Biology LaboratoryPessacFrance
| | - Anne Pham‐Ledard
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
- Bordeaux University Hospital CenterDermatology DepartmentBordeauxFrance
| | - Paula Soares
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdePortoPortugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and ImmunologyUniversity of Porto (Ipatimup)Cancer Biology groupPortoPortugal
- Department of PathologyFaculty of MedicineUniversity of PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Jean‐Philippe Merlio
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
- Bordeaux University Hospital CenterTumor Bank and Tumor Biology LaboratoryPessacFrance
| | - Edith Chevret
- Bordeaux UniversityINSERM U1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn)Cutaneous Lymphoma Oncogenesis TeamBordeauxFrance
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Sánchez-Virosta P, Espín S, Ruiz S, Panda B, Ilmonen P, Schultz SL, Karouna-Renier N, García-Fernández AJ, Eeva T. Arsenic-related oxidative stress in experimentally-dosed wild great tit nestlings. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113813. [PMID: 31896481 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is broadly distributed due to natural and anthropogenic sources, and it may cause adverse effects in birds. However, research on other elements (Pb, Hg and Cd) has been prioritized, resulting in scarce data on As exposure and related effects in wild birds. One of the mechanisms responsible for As toxicity is oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if environmentally relevant As levels affected oxidative stress biomarkers in great tits (Parus major). This is the first field experiment studying the effects of As on oxidative stress in wild passerines. Wild great tit nestlings were orally dosed with sodium arsenite (Control: water, Low dose: 0.2 μg g-1 d-1 and High dose: 1 μg g-1 d-1; from day 3 to day 13 post-hatching). We intended to reach As concentrations similar to those at which passerines are exposed to at actual polluted areas. We compared the responses to the experimental manipulations (High, Low and Control groups) with those in an As/metal-exposed population breeding close to a Cu-Ni smelter in Finland (Smelter group). A set of antioxidants (tGSH, GSH:GSSG ratio, CAT, SOD, GST and GPx), and oxidative damage biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation in DNA, and telomere length) were explored in blood. Arsenic administration had no significant effect on most of the biomarkers measured: only the CAT activity was lower in the High As group and the GPx activity was enhanced in the Smelter group compared to the Control. Our results suggest that the dose and duration of the As exposure was not enough to induce oxidative damage in red cells of great tit nestlings. In spite of this, nestlings dosed with 1 μg g-1 d-1 of sodium arsenite showed non-significantly higher oxidative stress biomarkers than controls, suggesting that we were close to an effect level for the redox-defense system. Oxidative effects at equivalent As levels combined with other stressors cannot be dismissed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Sánchez-Virosta
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Department of Health Sciences, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Silvia Espín
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Department of Health Sciences, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Sandra Ruiz
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Bineet Panda
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Petteri Ilmonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Sandra L Schultz
- U. S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | | | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Department of Health Sciences, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Tapio Eeva
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
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Morinha F, Magalhães P, Blanco G. Standard guidelines for the publication of telomere qPCR results in evolutionary ecology. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20. [PMID: 32133733 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length has been used as a proxy of fitness, aging and lifespan in vertebrates. In the last decade, dozens of articles reporting on telomere dynamics in the fields of ecology and evolution have been published for a wide range of taxa. With this growing interest, it is necessary to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of telomere length measurement techniques. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is routinely applied to measure relative telomere length. However, this technique is highly sensitive to several methodological variables and the optimization of qPCR telomere assays remains highly variable between studies. Therefore, standardized guidelines are required to enable the optimization of robust protocols, and to help in judging the validity of the presented results. This review provides an overview of preanalytical and analytical factors that can lead to qPCR inconsistencies and biases, including: (a) sample type, collection and storage; (b) DNA extraction, storage and quality; (c) qPCR primers, laboratory reagents, and assay conditions; and (d) data analysis. We propose a minimum level of information for publication of qPCR telomere assays in evolutionary ecology considering the methodological pitfalls and sources of error. This review highlights the complexity of the optimization and validation of qPCR for telomere measurement per se, demonstrating the importance of transparency and clarity of reporting methodological details required for reliable, reproducible and comparable qPCR telomere assays. We encourage efforts to implement standardized protocols that ensure the rigour and quality of telomere dynamics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Morinha
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Magalhães
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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50
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Foley NM, Petit EJ, Brazier T, Finarelli JA, Hughes GM, Touzalin F, Puechmaille SJ, Teeling EC. Drivers of longitudinal telomere dynamics in a long‐lived bat species,
Myotis myotis. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2963-2977. [PMID: 32105386 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Foley
- School of Biology and Environmental Science Science Centre West University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin Ireland
| | - Eric J. Petit
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health Agrocampus Ouest INRAE Rennes France
| | - Thomas Brazier
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health Agrocampus Ouest INRAE Rennes France
| | - John A. Finarelli
- School of Biology and Environmental Science Science Centre West University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin Ireland
| | - Graham M. Hughes
- School of Biology and Environmental Science Science Centre West University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin Ireland
| | - Frédéric Touzalin
- School of Biology and Environmental Science Science Centre West University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin Ireland
| | - Sébastien J. Puechmaille
- School of Biology and Environmental Science Science Centre West University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin Ireland
- Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany
- ISEM Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Emma C. Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science Science Centre West University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin Ireland
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