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Reich H, Savage-Dunn C. Signaling circuits and the apical extracellular matrix in aging: connections identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C1201-C1211. [PMID: 37721005 PMCID: PMC10861026 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00195.2023] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous conserved signaling pathways play critical roles in aging, including insulin/IGF-1, TGF-β, and Wnt pathways. Some of these pathways also play prominent roles in the formation and maintenance of the extracellular matrix. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been an enduringly productive system for the identification of conserved mechanisms of biological aging. Recent studies in C. elegans highlight the regulatory circuits between conserved signaling pathways and the extracellular matrix, revealing a bidirectional relationship between these factors and providing a platform to address how regulation of and by the extracellular matrix can impact lifespan and organismal health during aging. These discoveries provide new opportunities for clinical advances and novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Reich
- Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York, United States
| | - Cathy Savage-Dunn
- Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York, United States
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
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2
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Mohanty SK, Suchiang K. Baicalein mitigates oxidative stress and enhances lifespan through modulation of Wnt ligands and GATA factor: ELT-3 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Life Sci 2023; 329:121946. [PMID: 37463652 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121946] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Age predispose individual to major diseases, and the biological processes contributing to aging are currently under intense investigation. Hence, plant-based natural compounds could be a potential target to counteract aging and age-associated diseases. So, the present study aims to investigate the antiaging properties of a natural compound Baicalein (BAI) on C. elegans and to elucidate the pathways or signaling molecules involved. METHODS Herein, we investigated the inhibitory effects of BAI on different Wnt ligands of C. elegans and its underlying mechanisms. Moreover, we monitored BAI's antiaging effect on the worms' lifespan and its different aging parameters. We employed different mutant and transgenic C. elegans strains to identify the pathways and transcription factors involved. KEY FINDINGS We first showed that BAI could downregulate different Wnt ligands mRNA expressions in C. elegans, resulting in enhanced expression of GATA transcription factor ELT-3 and antiaging gene Klotho. On further evaluation, it was observed that BAI could enhance the worm's lifespan via ELT-3 and SKN-1 transcription factors, whereas, for the protection of worms against external oxidative stress, both ELT-3 and DAF-16 transcription factors were involved. Moreover, sensitive aging parameters of worms, including lipofuscin and ROS accumulation, and the declined physiological and mechanical functions observed in aged worms were ameliorated by BAI. SIGNIFICANCE This study highlighted BAI as a promising antiaging compound. This study also revealed the Wnt inhibitory potential of BAI with future implications for pharmacological target of age-associated diseases with aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saswat Kumar Mohanty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605 014, India
| | - Kitlangki Suchiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605 014, India.
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3
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Liu W, Zhu P, Li M, Li Z, Yu Y, Liu G, Du J, Wang X, Yang J, Tian R, Seim I, Kaya A, Li M, Li M, Gladyshev VN, Zhou X. Large-scale across species transcriptomic analysis identifies genetic selection signatures associated with longevity in mammals. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112740. [PMID: 37427458 PMCID: PMC10476176 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lifespan varies significantly among mammals, with more than 100-fold difference between the shortest and longest living species. This natural difference may uncover the evolutionary forces and molecular features that define longevity. To understand the relationship between gene expression variation and longevity, we conducted a comparative transcriptomics analysis of liver, kidney, and brain tissues of 103 mammalian species. We found that few genes exhibit common expression patterns with longevity in the three organs analyzed. However, pathways related to translation fidelity, such as nonsense-mediated decay and eukaryotic translation elongation, correlated with longevity across mammals. Analyses of selection pressure found that selection intensity related to the direction of longevity-correlated genes is inconsistent across organs. Furthermore, expression of methionine restriction-related genes correlated with longevity and was under strong selection in long-lived mammals, suggesting that a common strategy is utilized by natural selection and artificial intervention to control lifespan. Our results indicate that lifespan regulation via gene expression is driven through polygenic and indirect natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Pingfen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Meng Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zihao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yang Yu
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaAnhuiChina
| | - Gaoming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Juan Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ran Tian
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Inge Seim
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Alaattin Kaya
- Department of BiologyVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVAUSA
| | - Mingzhou Li
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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4
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Silva-García CG. Devo-Aging: Intersections Between Development and Aging. GeroScience 2023; 45:2145-2159. [PMID: 37160658 PMCID: PMC10651630 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00809-2] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
There are two fundamental questions in developmental biology. How does a single fertilized cell give rise to a whole body? and how does this body later produce progeny? Synchronization of these embryonic and postembryonic developments ensures continuity of life from one generation to the next. An enormous amount of work has been done to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind these processes, but more recently, modern developmental biology has been expanded to study development in wider contexts, including regeneration, environment, disease, and even aging. However, we have just started to understand how the mechanisms that govern development also regulate aging. This review discusses examples of signaling pathways involved in development to elucidate how their regulation influences healthspan and lifespan. Therefore, a better knowledge of developmental signaling pathways stresses the possibility of using them as innovative biomarkers and targets for aging and age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Giovanni Silva-García
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Center on the Biology of Aging, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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5
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Golubev DA, Zemskaya NV, Gorbunova AA, Kukuman DV, Moskalev A, Shaposhnikov MV. Studying the Geroprotective Properties of YAP/TAZ Signaling Inhibitors on Drosophila melanogaster Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24066006. [PMID: 36983079 PMCID: PMC10058302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24066006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional coactivators Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are the main downstream effectors of the evolutionarily conserved Hippo signaling pathway. YAP/TAZ are implicated in the transcriptional regulation of target genes that are involved in a wide range of key biological processes affecting tissue homeostasis and play dual roles in the aging process, depending on the cellular and tissue context. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether pharmacological inhibitors of Yap/Taz increase the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. Real-time qRT-PCR was performed to measure the changes in the expression of Yki (Yorkie, the Drosophila homolog of YAP/TAZ) target genes. We have revealed a lifespan-increasing effect of YAP/TAZ inhibitors that was mostly associated with decreased expression levels of the wg and E2f1 genes. However, further analysis is required to understand the link between the YAP/TAZ pathway and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis A Golubev
- Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Nadezhda V Zemskaya
- Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Anastasia A Gorbunova
- Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Daria V Kukuman
- Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Alexey Moskalev
- Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Shaposhnikov
- Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
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6
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Ji S, Xiong M, Chen H, Liu Y, Zhou L, Hong Y, Wang M, Wang C, Fu X, Sun X. Cellular rejuvenation: molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions for diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:116. [PMID: 36918530 PMCID: PMC10015098 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01343-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The ageing process is a systemic decline from cellular dysfunction to organ degeneration, with more predisposition to deteriorated disorders. Rejuvenation refers to giving aged cells or organisms more youthful characteristics through various techniques, such as cellular reprogramming and epigenetic regulation. The great leaps in cellular rejuvenation prove that ageing is not a one-way street, and many rejuvenative interventions have emerged to delay and even reverse the ageing process. Defining the mechanism by which roadblocks and signaling inputs influence complex ageing programs is essential for understanding and developing rejuvenative strategies. Here, we discuss the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that counteract cell rejuvenation, and the targeted cells and core mechanisms involved in this process. Then, we critically summarize the latest advances in state-of-art strategies of cellular rejuvenation. Various rejuvenation methods also provide insights for treating specific ageing-related diseases, including cellular reprogramming, the removal of senescence cells (SCs) and suppression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), metabolic manipulation, stem cells-associated therapy, dietary restriction, immune rejuvenation and heterochronic transplantation, etc. The potential applications of rejuvenation therapy also extend to cancer treatment. Finally, we analyze in detail the therapeutic opportunities and challenges of rejuvenation technology. Deciphering rejuvenation interventions will provide further insights into anti-ageing and ageing-related disease treatment in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaifei Ji
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Mingchen Xiong
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Huating Chen
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Yiqiong Liu
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Laixian Zhou
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Yiyue Hong
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Mengyang Wang
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China
| | - Chunming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, 999078, Macau SAR, China.
| | - Xiaobing Fu
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated to Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration; Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, P. R. China.
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7
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Guo X, Luo J, Qi J, Zhao X, An P, Luo Y, Wang G. The Role and Mechanism of Polysaccharides in Anti-Aging. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14245330. [PMID: 36558488 PMCID: PMC9785760 DOI: 10.3390/nu14245330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The elderly proportion of the population is gradually increasing, which poses a great burden to society, the economy, and the medical field. Aging is a physiological process involving multiple organs and numerous reactions, and therefore it is not easily explained or defined. At present, a growing number of studies are focused on the mechanisms of aging and potential strategies to delay aging. Some clinical drugs have been demonstrated to have anti-aging effects; however, many still have deficits with respect to safety and long-term use. Polysaccharides are natural and efficient biological macromolecules that act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and immune regulators. Not surprisingly, these molecules have recently gained attention for their potential use in anti-aging therapies. In fact, multiple polysaccharides have been found to have excellent anti-aging effects in different animal models including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and mice. The anti-aging qualities of polysaccharides have been linked to several mechanisms, such as improved antioxidant capacity, regulation of age-related gene expression, and improved immune function. Here, we summarize the current findings from research related to anti-aging polysaccharides based on various models, with a focus on the main anti-aging mechanisms of oxidative damage, age-related genes and pathways, immune modulation, and telomere attrition. This review aims to provide a reference for further research on anti-aging polysaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlu Guo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junjie Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingyi Qi
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiya Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Peng An
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yongting Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (G.W.)
| | - Guisheng Wang
- Department of Radiology, the Third Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (G.W.)
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8
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Camacho J, de Conti A, Pogribny IP, Sprando RL, Hunt PR. Assessment of the Effects of Organic vs. Inorganic Arsenic and Mercury in Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100071. [PMID: 35602005 PMCID: PMC9118485 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar developmental delays and oxidative stress with 20x DMA relative to NaAsO2. Dissimilar gene expression and locomotion with organic vs. inorganic mercury. Dissimilar unfolded protein responses for organic vs. inorganic arsenic and mercury. Across phyla, methylation has opposite effects on arsenic vs. mercury toxicity.
Exposures to mercury and arsenic are known to pose significant threats to human health. Effects specific to organic vs. inorganic forms of these toxic elements are less understood however, especially for organic dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which has recently been detected in pups of rodent dams orally exposed to inorganic sodium (meta)arsenite (NaAsO2). Caenorhabditis elegans is a small animal alternative toxicity model. To fill data gaps on the effects of DMA relative to NaAsO2, C. elegans were exposed to these two compounds alongside more thoroughly researched inorganic mercury chloride (HgCl2) and organic methylmercury chloride (meHgCl). For timing of developmental milestone acquisition in C. elegans, meHgCl was 2 to 4-fold more toxic than HgCl2, and NaAsO2 was 20-fold more toxic than DMA, ranking the four compounds meHgCl > HgCl2 > NaAsO2 ≫ DMA for developmental toxicity. Methylmercury induced significant decreases in population locomotor activity levels in developing C. elegans. DMA was also associated with developmental hypoactivity, but at >100-fold higher concentrations than meHgCl. Transcriptional alterations in native genes were observed in wild type C. elegans adults exposed to concentrations equitoxic for developmental delay in juveniles. Both forms of arsenic induced genes involved in immune defense and oxidative stress response, while the two mercury species induced proportionally more genes involved in transcriptional regulation. A transgenic bioreporter for activation of conserved proteosome specific unfolded protein response was strongly activated by NaAsO2, but not DMA at tested concentrations. HgCl2 and meHgCl had opposite effects on a bioreporter for unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum. Presented experiments indicating low toxicity for DMA in C. elegans are consistent with human epidemiologic data correlating higher arsenic methylation capacity with resistance to arsenic toxicity. This work contributes to the understanding of the accuracy and fit-for-use categories for C. elegans toxicity screening and its usefulness to prioritize compounds of concern for further testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Camacho
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, United States
| | - Aline de Conti
- Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, 3900 NCTR Rd, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States
| | - Igor P. Pogribny
- Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, 3900 NCTR Rd, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States
| | - Robert L. Sprando
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, United States
| | - Piper Reid Hunt
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, United States
- Corresponding author.
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9
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In Vivo Visualization and Quantification of Mitochondrial Morphology in C. elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34060057 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is a highly versatile model system, intensively used for functional, genetic, cytometric, and integrative studies. Due to its simplicity and large muscle cell number, C. elegans has frequently been used to study mitochondrial deficiencies caused by disease or drug toxicity. Here we describe a robust and efficient method to visualize and quantify mitochondrial morphology in vivo. This method has many practical and technical advantages above traditional (manual) methods and provides a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial morphology.
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10
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Astrocyte-derived Wnt growth factors are required for endothelial blood-brain barrier maintenance. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 199:101937. [PMID: 33383106 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance of the endothelial blood-brain-barrier (BBB) through Wnt/β-catenin signalling is essential for neuronal function. The cells however, providing Wnt growth factors at the adult neurovascular unit (NVU) are poorly explored. Here we show by conditionally knocking out the evenness interrupted (Evi) gene in astrocytes (EviΔAC) that astrocytic Wnt release is crucial for BBB and NVU integrity. EviΔAC mice developed brain oedema and increased vascular tracer leakage. While brain vascularization and endothelial junctions were not altered in 10 and 40 week-old mice, endothelial caveolin(Cav)-1-mediated vesicle formation was increased in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, astrocytic end-feet were swollen, and aquaporin-4 distribution was disturbed, coinciding with decreased astrocytic Wnt activity. Vascular permeability correlated with increased neuronal activation by c-fos staining, indicative of altered neuronal function. Astrocyte-derived Wnts thus serve to maintain Wnt/β-catenin activity in endothelia and in astrocytes, thereby controlling Cav-1 expression, vesicular abundance, and end-feet integrity at the NVU.
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11
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Ewe CK, Alok G, Rothman JH. Stressful development: integrating endoderm development, stress, and longevity. Dev Biol 2020; 471:34-48. [PMID: 33307045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In addition to performing digestion and nutrient absorption, the intestine serves as one of the first barriers to the external environment, crucial for protecting the host from environmental toxins, pathogenic invaders, and other stress inducers. The gene regulatory network (GRN) governing embryonic development of the endoderm and subsequent differentiation and maintenance of the intestine has been well-documented in C. elegans. A key regulatory input that initiates activation of the embryonic GRN for endoderm and mesoderm in this animal is the maternally provided SKN-1 transcription factor, an ortholog of the vertebrate Nrf1 and 2, which, like C. elegans SKN-1, perform conserved regulatory roles in mediating a variety of stress responses across metazoan phylogeny. Other key regulatory factors in early gut development also participate in stress response as well as in innate immunity and aging and longevity. In this review, we discuss the intersection between genetic nodes that mediate endoderm/intestine differentiation and regulation of stress and homeostasis. We also consider how direct signaling from the intestine to the germline, in some cases involving SKN-1, facilitates heritable epigenetic changes, allowing transmission of adaptive stress responses across multiple generations. These connections between regulation of endoderm/intestine development and stress response mechanisms suggest that varying selective pressure exerted on the stress response pathways may influence the architecture of the endoderm GRN, thereby leading to genetic and epigenetic variation in early embryonic GRN regulatory events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Kiang Ewe
- Department of MCD Biology and Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Geneva Alok
- Department of MCD Biology and Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Joel H Rothman
- Department of MCD Biology and Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
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12
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Mallick A, Ranawade A, van den Berg W, Gupta BP. Axin-Mediated Regulation of Lifespan and Muscle Health in C. elegans Requires AMPK-FOXO Signaling. iScience 2020; 23:101843. [PMID: 33319173 PMCID: PMC7724191 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a significant risk factor for several diseases. Studies have uncovered multiple signaling pathways that modulate aging, including insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling (IIS). In Caenorhabditis elegans, the key regulator of IIS is DAF-16/FOXO. One of the kinases that affects DAF-16 function is the AMPK catalytic subunit homolog AAK-2. In this study, we report that PRY-1/Axin plays an essential role in AAK-2 and DAF-16-mediated regulation of life span. The pry-1 mutant transcriptome contains many genes associated with aging and muscle function. Consistent with this, pry-1 is strongly expressed in muscles, and muscle-specific overexpression of pry-1 extends life span, delays muscle aging, and improves mitochondrial morphology in AAK-2-DAF-16-dependent manner. Furthermore, PRY-1 is necessary for AAK-2 phosphorylation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that PRY-1 functions in muscles to promote the life span of animals. This study establishes Axin as a major regulator of muscle health and aging. pry-1 transcriptome contains genes linked to aging and muscle function pry-1 functions in muscles to maintain life span and mitochondrial network Muscle-specific overexpression of pry-1 extends life span and promotes muscle health PRY-1-mediated life span extension depends on AAK-2-DAF-16 signaling
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijit Mallick
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S-4K1, Canada
| | - Ayush Ranawade
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S-4K1, Canada
| | | | - Bhagwati P Gupta
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S-4K1, Canada
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Rozanov L, Ravichandran M, Grigolon G, Zanellati MC, Mansfeld J, Zarse K, Barzilai N, Atzmon G, Fischer F, Ristow M. Redox-mediated regulation of aging and healthspan by an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor HLH-2/Tcf3/E2A. Redox Biol 2020; 32:101448. [PMID: 32203922 PMCID: PMC7096751 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiological aging is a complex process, influenced by a plethora of genetic and environmental factors. While being far from fully understood, a number of common aging hallmarks have been elucidated in recent years. Among these, transcriptomic alterations are hypothesized to represent a crucial early manifestation of aging. Accordingly, several transcription factors (TFs) have previously been identified as important modulators of lifespan in evolutionarily distant model organisms. Based on a set of TFs conserved between nematodes, zebrafish, mice, and humans, we here perform a RNA interference (RNAi) screen in C. elegans to discover evolutionarily conserved TFs impacting aging. We identify a basic helix-loop-helix TF, named HLH-2 in nematodes (Tcf3/E2A in mammals), to exert a pronounced lifespan-extending effect in C. elegans upon impairment. We further show that its impairment impacts cellular energy metabolism, increases parameters of healthy aging, and extends nematodal lifespan in a ROS-dependent manner. We then identify arginine kinases, orthologues of mammalian creatine kinases, as a target of HLH-2 transcriptional regulation, serving to mediate the healthspan-promoting effects observed upon impairment of hlh-2 expression. Consistently, HLH-2 is shown to epistatically interact with core components of known lifespan-regulating pathways, i.e. AAK-2/AMPK and LET-363/mTOR, as well as the aging-related TFs SKN-1/Nrf2 and HSF-1. Lastly, single-nucelotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Tcf3/E2A are associated with exceptional longevity in humans. Together, these findings demonstrate that HLH-2 regulates energy metabolism via arginine kinases and thereby affects the aging phenotype dependent on ROS-signaling and established canonical effectors. A C. elegans RNAi screen identifies conserved aging-related transcription factors. Impairment of transcription factor hlh-2 has the most pronounced effect on lifespan. C. elegans HLH-2 affects cellular energy homeostasis and redox signaling. HLH-2 modulates arginine kinase to interact with downstream longevity pathways. Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the hlh-2 orthologue Tcf3/E2A are linked to human longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Rozanov
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Meenakshi Ravichandran
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Grigolon
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Maria Clara Zanellati
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Mansfeld
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Kim Zarse
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Nir Barzilai
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Departments of Genetics and of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Gil Atzmon
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Departments of Genetics and of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; University of Haifa, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Fabian Fischer
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Ristow
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, CH-8603, Switzerland.
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14
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Page MM, Schuster EF, Mudaliar M, Herzyk P, Withers DJ, Selman C. Common and unique transcriptional responses to dietary restriction and loss of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) in mice. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:1027-1052. [PMID: 29779018 PMCID: PMC5990393 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR) is the most widely studied non-genetic intervention capable of extending lifespan across multiple taxa. Modulation of genes, primarily within the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling (IIS) and the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathways also act to extend lifespan in model organisms. For example, mice lacking insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) are long-lived and protected against several age-associated pathologies. However, it remains unclear how these particular interventions act mechanistically to produce their beneficial effects. Here, we investigated transcriptional responses in wild-type and IRS1 null mice fed an ad libitum diet (WTAL and KOAL) or fed a 30% DR diet (WTDR or KODR). Using an RNAseq approach we noted a high correlation coefficient of differentially expressed genes existed within the same tissue across WTDR and KOAL mice and many metabolic features were shared between these mice. Overall, we report that significant overlap exists in the tissue-specific transcriptional response between long-lived DR mice and IRS1 null mice. However, there was evidence of disconnect between transcriptional signatures and certain phenotypic measures between KOAL and KODR, in that additive effects on body mass were observed but at the transcriptional level DR induced a unique set of genes in these already long-lived mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Page
- Institute des Sciences de la Vie, Faculty of Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Eugene F Schuster
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Manikhandan Mudaliar
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Glasgow Molecular Pathology Node, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Present address: Cerevance, Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pawel Herzyk
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Bearsden, UK.,Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Dominic J Withers
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Colin Selman
- Glasgow Ageing Research Network (GARNER), Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Zhang Y, Jeffrey J, Dong F, Zhang J, Kao WWY, Liu CY, Yuan Y. Repressed Wnt Signaling Accelerates the Aging Process in Mouse Eyes. J Ophthalmol 2019; 2019:7604396. [PMID: 31318361 PMCID: PMC6604355 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7604396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ocular aging is a natural process of functional decline in vision. When the process reaches a point that compromised vision affects normal daily activity, it manifests as age-related ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and pseudoexfoliation syndrome. We previously reported that repressed Wnt signaling accelerated the maturation of corneal epithelium during tissue development. Here, we explore the hypothesis that repressed Wnt signaling is associated with accelerated aging in mouse eyes. METHODS Wnt ligand antagonist secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP1) was expressed in the corneal stroma by a tissue-specific, inducible, bitransgenic system. Tissue structure was analyzed for signs of aging. Signal transduction analysis was performed to determine the cellular response to sFRP1. RESULTS Mouse eyes with sFRP1 expression showed signs of accelerated aging, resembling those found in pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome, a known age-related disease. Specific findings include granular deposition on the surface of the anterior lens capsule, pigment loss from the anterior surface of the iris, the presence of fibrillary material in the anterior chamber, and changes in cell size (polymegethism) and shape (pleomorphism) of the corneal endothelial cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that sFRP1 did not inhibit Wnt5a function and that cells responded to sFRP1 and Wnt5a in a very similar manner. CONCLUSION The expression of sFRP1 accelerates the aging process in mouse eyes and future studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Zhang
- School of Optometry, Indiana University, 800 East Atwater Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Joseph Jeffrey
- Crawley Vision Research Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Fei Dong
- Crawley Vision Research Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Crawley Vision Research Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Winston W.-Y. Kao
- Crawley Vision Research Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Chia-Yang Liu
- School of Optometry, Indiana University, 800 East Atwater Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Yong Yuan
- Crawley Vision Research Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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HSB-1 Inhibition and HSF-1 Overexpression Trigger Overlapping Transcriptional Changes To Promote Longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2019; 9:1679-1692. [PMID: 30894454 PMCID: PMC6505166 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1) is a component of the heat shock response pathway that is induced by cytoplasmic proteotoxic stress. In addition to its role in stress response, HSF-1 also acts as a key regulator of the rate of organismal aging. Overexpression of HSF-1 promotes longevity in C. elegans via mechanisms that remain less understood. Moreover, genetic ablation of a negative regulator of HSF-1, termed as heat shock factor binding protein 1 (HSB-1), results in hsf-1-dependent life span extension in animals. Here we show that in the absence of HSB-1, HSF-1 acquires increased DNA binding activity to its genomic target sequence. Using RNA-Seq to compare the gene expression profiles of the hsb-1 mutant and hsf-1 overexpression strains, we found that while more than 1,500 transcripts show ≥1.5-fold upregulation due to HSF-1 overexpression, HSB-1 inhibition alters the expression of less than 500 genes in C. elegans. Roughly half of the differentially regulated transcripts in the hsb-1 mutant have altered expression also in hsf-1 overexpressing animals, with a strongly correlated fold-expression pattern between the two strains. In addition, genes that are upregulated via both HSB-1 inhibition and HSF-1 overexpression include numerous DAF-16 targets that have known functions in longevity regulation. This study identifies how HSB-1 acts as a specific regulator of the transactivation potential of HSF-1 in non-stressed conditions, thus providing a detailed understanding of the role of HSB-1/HSF-1 signaling pathway in transcriptional regulation and longevity in C. elegans.
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Xu Y, He Z, Song M, Zhou Y, Shen Y. A microRNA switch controls dietary restriction-induced longevity through Wnt signaling. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:embr.201846888. [PMID: 30872315 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201846888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR) is known to have a potent and conserved longevity effect, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. DR modulates signaling pathways in response to nutrient status, a process that also regulates animal development. Here, we show that the suppression of Wnt signaling, a key pathway controlling development, is required for DR-induced longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans We find that DR induces the expression of mir-235, which inhibits cwn-1/WNT4 expression by binding to the 3'-UTR The "switch-on" of mir-235 by DR occurs at the onset of adulthood, thereby minimizing potential disruptions in development. Our results therefore implicate that DR controls the adult lifespan by using a temporal microRNA switch to modulate Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhidong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengjiao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yidong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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18
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Kim Y, Park Y, Hwang J, Kwack K. Comparative genomic analysis of the human and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans uncovers potential reproductive genes and disease associations in humans. Physiol Genomics 2018; 50:1002-1014. [DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00063.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is an important biological process. However, studies of human reproduction at the molecular level are limited due to the difficulty of performing in vivo studies. Hence, a mechanistic understanding of human reproduction remains still poor. Thus, it is important to use an alternative model organism for mechanistic studies of human reproduction. In this study, we used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for studying human reproduction and identified 61 human and 535 worm reproductive genes through a combination of comparative genomic and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. Interestingly, in terms of sex specificity, the number of male-specific genes was greater than the number of female-specific genes. Gene enrichment analysis identified biologically significant processes such as protein localization to cajal bodies/telomeres/nuclear bodies/chromosomes, helicase activity, pyrimidine biosynthesis, and determination of adult lifespan. Regarding the analysis of human reproductive diseases among the identified genes, 10 and 12 genes were identified in the human- and C. elegans-based analyses, respectively. In addition, RNA interference knockdown of a newly identified F52H2.6/DHCR24 gene increased brood size and ovulation/egg-laying rate in C. elegans. Therefore, gene identification, disease associations, and a proof-of-concept experiment using C. elegans will not only provide insights into mechanistic study of human reproduction, but also demonstrate the utility in studying human reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongsoon Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - YoungJoon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - JoonYeon Hwang
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - KyuBum Kwack
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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Zhang Q, Marioni RE, Robinson MR, Higham J, Sproul D, Wray NR, Deary IJ, McRae AF, Visscher PM. Genotype effects contribute to variation in longitudinal methylome patterns in older people. Genome Med 2018; 10:75. [PMID: 30348214 PMCID: PMC6198530 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-018-0585-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation levels change along with age, but few studies have examined the variation in the rate of such changes between individuals. METHODS We performed a longitudinal analysis to quantify the variation in the rate of change of DNA methylation between individuals using whole blood DNA methylation array profiles collected at 2-4 time points (N = 2894) in 954 individuals (67-90 years). RESULTS After stringent quality control, we identified 1507 DNA methylation CpG sites (rsCpGs) with statistically significant variation in the rate of change (random slope) of DNA methylation among individuals in a mixed linear model analysis. Genes in the vicinity of these rsCpGs were found to be enriched in Homeobox transcription factors and the Wnt signalling pathway, both of which are related to ageing processes. Furthermore, we investigated the SNP effect on the random slope. We found that 4 out of 1507 rsCpGs had one significant (P < 5 × 10-8/1507) SNP effect and 343 rsCpGs had at least one SNP effect (436 SNP-probe pairs) reaching genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8). Ninety-five percent of the significant (P < 5 × 10-8) SNPs are on different chromosomes from their corresponding probes. CONCLUSIONS We identified CpG sites that have variability in the rate of change of DNA methylation between individuals, and our results suggest a genetic basis of this variation. Genes around these CpG sites have been reported to be involved in the ageing process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Medical Genetics Section, Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Matthew R Robinson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jon Higham
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Duncan Sproul
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Naomi R Wray
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ian J Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Allan F McRae
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Peter M Visscher
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Abstract
Chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), represent a significant and increasing health burden. Current therapies are largely symptomatic, and novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Aging has emerged as a contributing factor for the development of both IPF and COPD because their prevalence increases with age, and several pathological features of these diseases resemble classical hallmarks of aging. Aging is thought to be driven in part by aberrant activity of developmental signaling pathways that thus might drive pathological changes, a process termed antagonistic pleiotropy or developmental drift. The developmental WNT pathway is fundamental for lung development, and altered WNT activity has been reported to contribute to the pathogenesis of CLD, in particular to COPD and IPF. Although to date only limited data on WNT signaling during lung aging exist, WNT signal regulation during aging and its effects on age-related pathologies in other organs have recently been investigated. In this review, we discuss evidence of dysregulated WNT signaling in CLD in the context of WNT signal alteration in organ aging and its potential impact on age-related cellular mechanisms, such as senescence or stem cell exhaustion.
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García-Velázquez L, Arias C. The emerging role of Wnt signaling dysregulation in the understanding and modification of age-associated diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2017. [PMID: 28624530 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a highly conserved pathway that participates in multiple aspects of cellular function during development and in adults. In particular, this pathway has been implicated in cell fate determination, proliferation and cell polarity establishment. In the brain, it contributes to synapse formation, axonal remodeling, dendrite outgrowth, synaptic activity, neurogenesis and behavioral plasticity. The expression and distribution of Wnt components in different organs vary with age, which may have important implications for preserving tissue homeostasis. The dysregulation of Wnt signaling has been implicated in age-associated diseases, such as cancer and some neurodegenerative conditions. This is a relevant research topic, as an important research avenue for therapeutic targeting of the Wnt pathway in regenerative medicine has recently been opened. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on the regulation of Wnt components during aging, particularly in brain functioning, and the implications of Wnt signaling in age-related diseases.
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22
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Chatterjee N, Kim Y, Yang J, Roca CP, Joo SW, Choi J. A systems toxicology approach reveals the Wnt-MAPK crosstalk pathway mediated reproductive failure in Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to graphene oxide (GO) but not to reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Nanotoxicology 2016; 11:76-86. [DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2016.1267273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Youngho Kim
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jisu Yang
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea
| | - Carlos P. Roca
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Sang-Woo Joo
- Department of Information Communication, Materials, and Chemistry Convergence Technology, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jinhee Choi
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea
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23
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Wnt Ligands Differentially Regulate Toxicity and Translocation of Graphene Oxide through Different Mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39261. [PMID: 27958363 PMCID: PMC5153639 DOI: 10.1038/srep39261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of Wnt signals in the control of graphene oxide (GO) toxicity using the in vivo assay system of Caenorhabditis elegans. In nematodes, the Wnt ligands, CWN-1, CWN-2, and LIN-44, were found to be involved in the control of GO toxicity. Mutation of cwn-1 or lin-44 gene induced a resistant property to GO toxicity and resulted in the decreased accumulation of GO in the body of nematodes, whereas mutation of cwn-2 gene induces a susceptible property to GO toxicity and an enhanced accumulation of GO in the body of nematodes. Genetic interaction assays demonstrated that mutation of cwn-1 or lin-44 was able to suppress the susceptibility to GO toxicity shown in the cwn-2 mutants. Loss-of-function mutations in all three of these Wnt ligand genes resulted in the resistance of nematodes to GO toxicity. Moreover, the Wnt ligands might differentially regulate the toxicity and translocation of GO through different mechanisms. These findings could be important in understanding the function of Wnt signals in the regulation of toxicity from environmental nanomaterials.
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Orellana AMM, Vasconcelos AR, Leite JA, de Sá Lima L, Andreotti DZ, Munhoz CD, Kawamoto EM, Scavone C. Age-related neuroinflammation and changes in AKT-GSK-3β and WNT/ β-CATENIN signaling in rat hippocampus. Aging (Albany NY) 2016; 7:1094-111. [PMID: 26647069 PMCID: PMC4712335 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a multifactorial process associated with an increased susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders which can be related to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation, however, can be characterized by the persistent elevated glucocorticoid (GCs) levels, activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-кB, as well as an increase in cytokines. Interestingly, both NF-кB and cytokines can be even modulated by Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) activity, which is a key protein that can intermediate inflammation and metabolism, once it has a critical role in AKT signaling pathway, and can also intermediate WNT/β-CATENIN signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to verify age-related changes in inflammatory status, as well as in the AKT and WNT signaling pathways. Results showed an age-related increase in neuroinflammation as indicated by NF-кB activation, TNF-α and GCs increased levels, a decrease in AKT activation and an increase in GSK-3β activity in both 12- and 24- month old animals. Aging also seems to induce a progressive decrease in canonical WNT/β-CATENIN signaling pathway once there is a decrease in DVL-2 levels and in the transcription of Axin2 gene. Little is known about the DVL-2 regulation as well as its roles in WNT signaling pathway, but for the first time it was suggested that DVL-2 expression can be changed along aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Marques Orellana
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrea Rodrigues Vasconcelos
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Alves Leite
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Larissa de Sá Lima
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diana Zukas Andreotti
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Demarchi Munhoz
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristoforo Scavone
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Gruber J, Yee Z, Tolwinski NS. Developmental Drift and the Role of Wnt Signaling in Aging. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8080073. [PMID: 27490570 PMCID: PMC4999782 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8080073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Population aging is a public health problem affecting the majority of the developed world. As populations age, the incidence of degenerative diseases increases exponentially, leading to large increases in public spending on healthcare. Here we summarize recent findings on the developmental drift theory of aging, and the links that have been established between aging and the Wnt signaling pathways. We focus on insights derived from model organisms connecting the evolutionary basis of aging and the link to developmental programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gruber
- Yale-NUS College, Singapore 138527, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
| | - Zhuangli Yee
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
| | - Nicholas S Tolwinski
- Yale-NUS College, Singapore 138527, Singapore.
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138615, Singapore.
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26
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Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is a highly malleable model system, intensively used for functional, genetic, cytometric, and integrative studies. Due to its simplicity and large muscle cell number, C. elegans has frequently been used to study mitochondrial deficiencies caused by disease or drug toxicity. Here, we describe a robust and efficient method to visualize and quantify mitochondrial morphology in vivo. This method has many practical and technical advantages above traditional (manual) methods and provides a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial morphology.
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Nie X, Liang L, Xi H, Jiang S, Jiang J, Tang C, Liu X, Liu S, Wan C, Zhao J, Yang J. 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induces premature senescence of astrocytes via WNT/β-catenin signaling and ROS production. J Appl Toxicol 2014; 35:851-60. [PMID: 25382668 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that could exert significant neurotoxicity in the human nervous system. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism underlying TCDD-mediated neurotoxicity has not been clarified clearly. Herein, we investigated the potential role of TCDD in facilitating premature senescence in astrocytes and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Using the senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) assay, we demonstrated that TCDD exposure triggered significant premature senescence of astrocyte cells, which was accompanied by a marked activation of the Wingless and int (WNT)/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, TCDD altered the expression of senescence marker proteins, such as p16, p21 and GFAP, which together have been reported to be upregulated in aging astrocytes, in both dose- and time-dependent manners. Further, TCDD led to cell-cycle arrest, F-actin reorganization and the accumulation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) markedly attenuated TCDD-induced ROS production, cellular oxidative damage and astrocyte senescence. Notably, the application of XAV939, an inhibitor of WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, ameliorated the effect of TCDD on cellular β-catenin level, ROS production, cellular oxidative damage and premature senescence in astrocytes. In summary, our findings indicated that TCDD might induce astrocyte senescence via WNT/β-catenin and ROS-dependent mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoke Nie
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Lingwei Liang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Hanqing Xi
- Department of Disease Prevention, Second People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Shengyang Jiang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Junkang Jiang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Cuiying Tang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Xipeng Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Suyi Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Chunhua Wan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Jianya Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Jianbin Yang
- Department of Disease Prevention, Second People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
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28
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Aitlhadj L, Stürzenbaum SR. Caenorhabditis elegans in regenerative medicine: a simple model for a complex discipline. Drug Discov Today 2014; 19:730-4. [PMID: 24513577 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2014.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell research is a major focus of regenerative medicine, which amalgamates diverse disciplines ranging from developmental cell biology to chemical and genetic therapy. Although embryonic stem cells have provided the foundation of stem cell therapy, they offer an in vitro study system that might not provide the best insight into mechanisms and behaviour of cells within living organisms. Caenorhabditis elegans is a well defined model organism with highly conserved cell development and signalling processes that specify cell fate. Its genetic amenability coupled with its chemical screening applicability make the nematode well suited as an in vivo system in which regenerative therapy and stem cell processes can be explored. Here, we describe some of the major advances in stem cell research from the worm's perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Aitlhadj
- King's College London, School of Biomedical Sciences, Analytical and Environmental Sciences Division, London SE1 9NH, UK; Kinǵs College London, School of Biomedical Sciences, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Stephen R Stürzenbaum
- King's College London, School of Biomedical Sciences, Analytical and Environmental Sciences Division, London SE1 9NH, UK; Kinǵs College London, School of Biomedical Sciences, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
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