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Schmid SM, Hoffman JM, Prescott J, Ernst H, Promislow DEL, Creevy KE. The companion dog as a model for inflammaging: a cross-sectional pilot study. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01217-w. [PMID: 38822125 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01217-w] [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: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammaging, the chronic, progressive proinflammatory state associated with aging, has been associated with multiple negative health outcomes in humans. The pathophysiology of inflammaging is complex; however, it is often characterized by high serum concentrations of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Few studies have evaluated the effects of age on inflammatory cytokines in companion dogs, and most of these studies included dogs of a single breed. In this cross-sectional study, we measured multiple circulating inflammatory markers and hematological parameters in banked serum samples from 47 healthy companion dogs of various breeds enrolled in the Dog Aging Project. Using univariate linear models, we investigated the association of each of these markers with age, sex, body weight, and body condition score (BCS), a measure of obesity in the dog. Serum IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α concentrations were all positively associated with age. Lymphocyte count was negatively associated with age. Platelet count had a negative association with body weight. IL-2, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, bilirubin, S100A12, and NMH concentrations were not associated with age, weight, BCS, or sex after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Our findings replicate previous findings in humans, including increases in IL-6 and TNF-α with age, giving more evidence to the strength of the companion dog as a model for human aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Schmid
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - Jessica M Hoffman
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Jena Prescott
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Holley Ernst
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Daniel E L Promislow
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kate E Creevy
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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2
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Simon KE, Russell K, Mondino A, Yang CC, Case BC, Anderson Z, Whitley C, Griffith E, Gruen ME, Olby NJ. A randomized, controlled clinical trial demonstrates improved owner-assessed cognitive function in senior dogs receiving a senolytic and NAD+ precursor combination. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12399. [PMID: 38811634 PMCID: PMC11137034 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63031-w] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in mobility and cognition are associated with cellular senescence and NAD + depletion in dogs and people. A combination of a novel NAD + precursor and senolytic, LY-D6/2, was examined in this randomized controlled trial. Seventy dogs with mild to moderate cognitive impairment were enrolled and allocated into placebo, low or full dose groups. Primary outcomes were change in cognitive impairment measured with the owner-reported Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating (CCDR) scale and change in activity measured with physical activity monitors. Fifty-nine dogs completed evaluations at the 3-month primary endpoint, and 51 reached the 6-month secondary endpoint. There was a significant difference in CCDR score across treatment groups from baseline to the primary endpoint (p = 0.02) with the largest decrease in the full dose group. No difference was detected between groups using in house cognitive testing. There were no significant differences between groups in changes in measured activity. The proportion of dogs that improved in frailty and owner-reported activity levels and happiness was higher in the full dose group than other groups, however this difference was not significant. Adverse events occurred equally across groups. All groups showed improvement in cognition, frailty, and activity suggesting placebo effect and benefits of trial participation. We conclude that LY-D6/2 improves owner-assessed cognitive function over a 3-month period and may have broader, but more subtle effects on frailty, activity and happiness as reported by owners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Simon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Katharine Russell
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Southeast Veterinary Neurology, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alejandra Mondino
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Chin-Chieh Yang
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Beth C Case
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Zachary Anderson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Christine Whitley
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Emily Griffith
- Department of Statistics, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Margaret E Gruen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Natasha J Olby
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
- Comparative Medicine Institute, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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3
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Smith JG, Krichbaum S, Montgomery L, Cox E, Katz JS. A preliminary analysis of the effect of individual differences on cognitive performance in young companion dogs. Anim Cogn 2024; 27:30. [PMID: 38557907 PMCID: PMC10984887 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-024-01868-4] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Many factors influence cognitive performance in dogs, including breed, temperament, rearing history, and training. Studies in working dog populations have demonstrated age-related improvements in cognitive task performance across the first years of development. However, the effect of certain factors, such as age, sex, and temperament, on cognitive performance in puppies has yet to be evaluated in a more diverse population of companion dogs. In this study, companion dogs under 12 months of age were tested once on two tasks purported to measure aspects of executive function: the delayed-search task (DST) and the detour reversal task (DRT). Owners also filled out the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) to evaluate how temperament influenced task performance. Contrary to prior research, performance did not improve with age on either task. However, the lack of age effects was likely the result of small sample sizes and individual differences across other factors influencing performance. Specifically, temperament differences as measured by the C-BARQ subscales for nonsocial fear and excitability predicted task performance on the DST, but the effect of temperament on task performance differed between males and females. Excitability also predicted performance on the DRT, but the effect depended on the age of the dog. In addition, no correlations were observed between task measures, indicating a lack of construct validity. Overall, these findings provide a preliminary analysis of factors that appear to influence cognitive task performance in young companion dogs and highlight suggestions for future research evaluating the impact of individual differences on cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan G Smith
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
- Canine Performance Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
- Auburn University, 104 Greene Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - Sarah Krichbaum
- Canine Performance Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Lane Montgomery
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Emma Cox
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Katz
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
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4
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Jiménez AG. A revisiting of "the hallmarks of aging" in domestic dogs: current status of the literature. GeroScience 2024; 46:241-255. [PMID: 37594598 PMCID: PMC10828135 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00911-5] [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: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A progressive decline in biological function and fitness is, generally, how aging is defined. However, in 2013, a description on the "hallmarks of aging" in mammals was published, and within it, it described biological processes that are known to alter the aging phenotype. These include genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication (inflammation), and changes within the microbiome. This mini-review provides a detailed account of the progress on each of these hallmarks of aging in the domestic dog within the last 5 years. Additionally, when there are gaps in the literature between other mammalian species and dogs, I highlight the aging biomarkers that may be missing for dogs as aging models. I also argue for the importance of dog aging studies to include several breeds of dogs at differing ages and for age corrections for breeds with differing mean lifespans throughout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gabriela Jiménez
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr, Hamilton, NY, 133546, USA.
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5
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Thomsen M, Künstner A, Wohlers I, Olbrich M, Lenfers T, Osumi T, Shimazaki Y, Nishifuji K, Ibrahim SM, Watson A, Busch H, Hirose M. A comprehensive analysis of gut and skin microbiota in canine atopic dermatitis in Shiba Inu dogs. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:232. [PMID: 37864204 PMCID: PMC10590023 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01671-2] [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: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Like its human counterpart, canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a chronic relapsing condition; thus, most cAD-affected dogs will require lifelong treatment to maintain an acceptable quality of life. A potential intervention is modulation of the composition of gut microbiota, and in fact, probiotic treatment has been proposed and tried in human atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Since dogs are currently receiving intensive medical care, this will be the same option for dogs, while evidence of gut dysbiosis in cAD is still missing, although skin microbial profiling in cAD has been conducted in several studies. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of both gut and skin microbiota in cAD in one specific cAD-predisposed breed, Shiba Inu. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of commonly used medical management on cAD (Janus kinase; JAK inhibitor, oclacitinib) on the gut and skin microbiota. Furthermore, we genotyped the Shiba Inu dogs according to the mitochondrial DNA haplogroup and assessed its association with the composition of the gut microbiota. RESULTS Staphylococcus was the most predominant bacterial genus observed in the skin; Escherichia/Shigella and Clostridium sensu stricto were highly abundant in the gut of cAD-affected dogs. In the gut microbiota, Fusobacteria and Megamonas were highly abundant in healthy dogs but significantly reduced in cAD-affected dogs. The abundance of these bacterial taxa was positively correlated with the effect of the treatment and state of the disease. Oclacitinib treatment on cAD-affected dogs shifted the composition of microbiota towards that in healthy dogs, and the latter brought it much closer to healthy microbiota, particularly in the gut. Additionally, even within the same dog breed, the mtDNA haplogroup varied, and there was an association between the mtDNA haplogroup and microbial composition in the gut and skin. CONCLUSIONS Dysbiosis of both the skin and the gut was observed in cAD in Shiba Inu dogs. Our findings provide a basis for the potential treatment of cAD by manipulating the gut microbiota as well as the skin microbiota. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirja Thomsen
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Axel Künstner
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Inken Wohlers
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Biomolecular Data Science in Pneumology, Research Center Borstel, Parkallee 1-40, 23845, Borstel, Germany
| | - Michael Olbrich
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Tim Lenfers
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Takafumi Osumi
- Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yotaro Shimazaki
- Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Koji Nishifuji
- Division of Animal Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Saleh M Ibrahim
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- College of Medical and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Adrian Watson
- Royal Canin SAS, 650 avenue de la Petite Camargue, 30470, Aimargues, France
| | - Hauke Busch
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Misa Hirose
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
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Morrill K, Chen F, Karlsson E. Comparative neurogenetics of dog behavior complements efforts towards human neuropsychiatric genetics. Hum Genet 2023; 142:1231-1246. [PMID: 37578529 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Domestic dogs display a wide array of heritable behaviors that have intermediate genetic complexity thanks to a long history of human-influenced selection. Comparative genetics in dogs could address the scarcity of non-human neurogenetic systems relevant to human neuropsychiatric disorders, which are characterized by mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms and involve vastly complex genetic and non-genetic risk factors. Our review describes the diverse behavioral "phenome" of domestic dogs, past and ongoing sources of behavioral selection, and the state of canine behavioral genetics. We highlight two naturally disordered behavioral domains that illustrate how dogs may prove useful as a comparative, forward neurogenetic system: canine age-related cognitive dysfunction, which can be examined more rapidly given the attenuated lifespan of dogs, and compulsive disorders, which may have genetic roots in purpose-bred behaviors. Growing community science initiatives aimed at the companion dog population will be well suited to investigating such complex behavioral phenotypes and offer a comparative resource that parallels human genomic initiatives in scale and dimensionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Morrill
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Frances Chen
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elinor Karlsson
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
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7
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Chen FL, Ullal TV, Graves JL, Ratcliff ER, Naka A, McKenzie B, Carttar TA, Super KM, Austriaco J, Weber SY, Vaughn J, LaCroix-Fralish ML. Evaluating instruments for assessing healthspan: a multi-center cross-sectional study on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and frailty in the companion dog. GeroScience 2023; 45:2089-2108. [PMID: 36781597 PMCID: PMC10651603 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00744-2] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing valid tools that assess key determinants of canine healthspan such as frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQL) is essential to characterizing and understanding aging in dogs. Additionally, because the companion dog is an excellent translational model for humans, such tools can be applied to evaluate gerotherapeutics and investigate mechanisms underlying longevity in both dogs and humans. In this multi-center, cross-sectional study, we investigated the use of a clinical questionnaire (Canine Frailty Index; CFI; Banzato et al., 2019) to assess frailty and an owner assessment tool (VetMetrica HRQL) to evaluate HRQL in 451 adult companion dogs. Results demonstrated validity of the tools by confirming expectations that frailty score increases and HRQL scores deteriorate with age. CFI scores were significantly higher (higher frailty) and HRQL scores significantly lower (worse HRQL) in old dogs (≥ 7 years of age) compared to young dogs (≥ 2 and < 6 years of age). Body size (small < 11.3 kg (25 lbs) or large > 22.7 kg (50 lbs)) was not associated with CFI or total HRQL score. However, older, larger dogs showed faster age-related decline in HRQL scores specific to owner-reported activity and comfort. Findings suggest that the clinician-assessed CFI and owner-reported VetMetrica HRQL are useful tools to evaluate two determinants of healthspan in dogs: the accumulation of frailty and the progressive decline in quality of life. Establishing tools that operationalize the assessment of canine healthspan is critical for the advancement of geroscience and the development of gerotherapeutics that benefit both human and veterinary medicine. Graphical summary of the design, results, and conclusions of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances L Chen
- Cellular Longevity Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Vertebrate Genomics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Tarini V Ullal
- Cellular Longevity Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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8
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de Sousa AA, Rigby Dames BA, Graff EC, Mohamedelhassan R, Vassilopoulos T, Charvet CJ. Going beyond established model systems of Alzheimer's disease: companion animals provide novel insights into the neurobiology of aging. Commun Biol 2023; 6:655. [PMID: 37344566 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05034-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by brain plaques, tangles, and cognitive impairment. AD is one of the most common age-related dementias in humans. Progress in characterizing AD and other age-related disorders is hindered by a perceived dearth of animal models that naturally reproduce diseases observed in humans. Mice and nonhuman primates are model systems used to understand human diseases. Still, these model systems lack many of the biological characteristics of Alzheimer-like diseases (e.g., plaques, tangles) as they grow older. In contrast, companion animal models (cats and dogs) age in ways that resemble humans. Both companion animal models and humans show evidence of brain atrophy, plaques, and tangles, as well as cognitive decline with age. We embrace a One Health perspective, which recognizes that the health of humans is connected to those of animals, and we illustrate how such a perspective can work synergistically to enhance human and animal health. A comparative biology perspective is ideally suited to integrate insights across veterinary and human medical disciplines and solve long-standing problems in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A de Sousa
- Centre for Health and Cognition, Bath Spa University, Bath, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Brier A Rigby Dames
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Department of Computer Science, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Emily C Graff
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Rania Mohamedelhassan
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Tatianna Vassilopoulos
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Christine J Charvet
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
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9
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Kim HS, Jang S, Kim J. Genome-Wide Integrative Transcriptional Profiling Identifies Age-Associated Signatures in Dogs. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1131. [PMID: 37372311 DOI: 10.3390/genes14061131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammals experience similar stages of embryonic development, birth, infancy, youth, adolescence, maturity, and senescence. While embryonic developmental processes have been extensively researched, many molecular mechanisms regulating the different life stages after birth, such as aging, remain unresolved. We investigated the conserved and global molecular transitions in transcriptional remodeling with age in dogs of 15 breeds, which revealed that genes underlying hormone level regulation and developmental programs were differentially regulated during aging. Subsequently, we show that the candidate genes associated with tumorigenesis also exhibit age-dependent DNA methylation patterns, which might have contributed to the tumor state through inhibiting the plasticity of cell differentiation processes during aging, and ultimately suggesting the molecular events that link the processes of aging and cancer. These results highlight that the rate of age-related transcriptional remodeling is influenced not only by the lifespan, but also by the timing of critical physiological milestones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Seung Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Jang
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaemin Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
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10
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McCoy BM, Brassington L, Jin K, Dolby GA, Shrager S, Collins D, Dunbar M, Ruple A, Snyder-Mackler N. Social determinants of health and disease in companion dogs: a cohort study from the Dog Aging Project. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:187-201. [PMID: 37388194 PMCID: PMC10306367 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to social environmental adversity is associated with health and survival across many social species, including humans. However, little is known about how these health and mortality effects vary across the lifespan and may be differentially impacted by various components of the environment. Here, we leveraged a relatively new and powerful model for human aging, the companion dog, to investigate which components of the social environment are associated with dog health and how these associations vary across the lifespan. We drew on comprehensive survey data collected on 21,410 dogs from the Dog Aging Project and identified five factors that together explained 33.7% of the variation in a dog's social environment. Factors capturing financial and household adversity were associated with poorer health and lower physical mobility in companion dogs, while factors that captured social support, such as living with other dogs, were associated with better health when controlling for dog age and weight. Notably, the effects of each environmental component were not equal: the effect of social support was 5× stronger than financial factors. The strength of these associations depended on the age of the dog, including a stronger relationship between the owner's age and the dog's health in younger as compared to older dogs. Taken together, these findings suggest the importance of income, stability and owner's age on owner-reported health outcomes in companion dogs and point to potential behavioral and/or environmental modifiers that can be used to promote healthy aging across species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kelly Jin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Greer A Dolby
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, ALUSA
| | - Sandi Shrager
- Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Devin Collins
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew Dunbar
- Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dog Aging Project Consortium
AkeyJoshua MLewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USABentonBrookeDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USABorensteinElhananDepartment of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelCastelhanoMarta GCornell Veterinary Biobank, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USAColemanAmanda EDepartment of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USACreevyKate EDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USACrowderKyleDepartment of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADunbarMatthew DCenter for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAFajtVirginia RDepartment of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAFitzpatrickAnnette LDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAJefferyUnityDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAJonlinErica CDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAKaeberleinMattDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAKarlssonElinor KBioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USAKerrKathleen FDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USALevineJonathan MDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAMaJingDivision of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USAMcClellandRobyn LDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAPromislowDaniel E LDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USARupleAudreyDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USASchwartzStephen MEpidemiology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USAShragerSandiCollaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USASnyder-MacklerNoahSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USATolbertKatherineDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAUrferSilvan RDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAWilfondBenjamin STreuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Audrey Ruple
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Corresponding author. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. E-mail:
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LaLonde-Paul D, Mouttham L, Promislow DEL, Castelhano MG. Banking on a new understanding: translational opportunities from veterinary biobanks. GeroScience 2023:10.1007/s11357-023-00763-z. [PMID: 36890420 PMCID: PMC10400517 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00763-z] [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: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Current advances in geroscience are due in part to the discovery of biomarkers with high predictive ability in short-lived laboratory animals such as flies and mice. These model species, however, do not always adequately reflect human physiology and disease, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and relevant model of human aging. Domestic dogs offer a solution to this obstacle, as they share many aspects not only of the physiological and pathological trajectories of their human counterpart, but also of their environment. Furthermore, they age at a considerably faster rate. Studying aging in the companion dog provides an opportunity to better understand the biological and environmental determinants of healthy lifespan in our pets, and to translate those findings to human aging. Biobanking, the systematic collection, processing, storage, and distribution of biological material and associated data has contributed to basic, clinical, and translational research by streamlining the management of high-quality biospecimens for biomarker discovery and validation. In this review, we discuss how veterinary biobanks can support research on aging, particularly when integrated into large-scale longitudinal studies. As an example of this concept, we introduce the Dog Aging Project Biobank.
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Affiliation(s)
- D LaLonde-Paul
- Cornell Veterinary Biobank, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - L Mouttham
- Cornell Veterinary Biobank, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - D E L Promislow
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M G Castelhano
- Cornell Veterinary Biobank, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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12
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Effects of proactive interference on olfactory memory in dogs. Learn Behav 2023; 51:108-119. [PMID: 36624335 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-022-00555-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Proactive interference (PI) occurs when memories of past events or stimuli intrude in the present moment, causing working memory (WM) errors. These errors are often measured through WM tests such as matching-to-sample (MTS). When the repetition of individual stimuli increases, there is a greater chance of these intrusions, and thus there can be a decrease in accuracy in such tasks. In two experiments, we explored the nature of PI on dog working memory. First, we manipulated the size of the set of odors (2, 6, trial-unique) used to construct each session to maximize (2-odor set) and minimize (trial-unique) within-session proactive interference during an olfactory MTS task. Matching-to-sample accuracy decreased with greater PI. Second, we adapted procedures originally designed for pigeons and rhesus macaques to determine the locus of PI in dogs. To test for proactive interference, probe trials were inserted into MTS sessions where sample odors from earlier trials reappeared as incorrect comparisons. Incorrect responses on these probe trials indicated proactive interference. These probe tests were conducted with a 0-s or 20-s retention interval in separate sessions. We found that dogs performed worse on the matching task when the source of interference (odor stimulus) was from the immediately preceding trial compared with when they were from trials further back in the session but only for the 0-s retention interval. These results are compared with previous work examining the effects of proactive interference on working memory in other species.
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A multi-omics longitudinal aging dataset in primary human fibroblasts with mitochondrial perturbations. Sci Data 2022; 9:751. [PMID: 36463290 PMCID: PMC9719499 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01852-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a process of progressive change. To develop biological models of aging, longitudinal datasets with high temporal resolution are needed. Here we report a multi-omics longitudinal dataset for cultured primary human fibroblasts measured across their replicative lifespans. Fibroblasts were sourced from both healthy donors (n = 6) and individuals with lifespan-shortening mitochondrial disease (n = 3). The dataset includes cytological, bioenergetic, DNA methylation, gene expression, secreted proteins, mitochondrial DNA copy number and mutations, cell-free DNA, telomere length, and whole-genome sequencing data. This dataset enables the bridging of mechanistic processes of aging as outlined by the "hallmarks of aging", with the descriptive characterization of aging such as epigenetic age clocks. Here we focus on bridging the gap for the hallmark mitochondrial metabolism. Our dataset includes measurement of healthy cells, and cells subjected to over a dozen experimental manipulations targeting oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos), glycolysis, and glucocorticoid signaling, among others. These experiments provide opportunities to test how cellular energetics affect the biology of cellular aging. All data are publicly available at our webtool: https://columbia-picard.shinyapps.io/shinyapp-Lifespan_Study/.
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14
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Dog models of human atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Mamm Genome 2022:10.1007/s00335-022-09965-w. [PMID: 36243810 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-022-09965-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Eighty-five percent of CVD-associated deaths are due to heart attacks and stroke. Atherosclerosis leads to heart attack and stroke through a slow progression of lesion formation and luminal narrowing of arteries. Dogs are similar to humans in terms of their cardiovascular physiology, size, and anatomy. Dog models have been developed to recapitulate the complex phenotype of human patients and understand the underlying mechanism of CVD. Different methods, including high-fat, high-cholesterol diet and genetic modification, have been used to generate dog models of human CVD. Remarkably, the location and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries and branches of the carotid arteries of dog models closely resemble those of human CVD patients. Overt clinical manifestations such as stroke caused by plaque rupture and thrombosis were observed in dog models. Thus, dog models can help define the pathophysiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis and develop potential strategy for preventing and treating CVD. In this review, we summarize the progress in generating and characterizing canine models to investigate CVD and discuss the advantages and limitations of canine CVD models.
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Mice in translational neuroscience: What R we doing? Prog Neurobiol 2022; 217:102330. [PMID: 35872220 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Animal models play a pivotal role in translational neuroscience but recurrent problems in data collection, analyses, and interpretation, lack of biomarkers, and a tendency to over-reliance on mice have marred neuroscience progress, leading to one of the highest attrition rates in drug translation. Global initiatives to improve reproducibility and model selection are being implemented. Notwithstanding, mice are still the preferred animal species to model human brain disorders even when the translation has been shown to be limited. Non-human primates are better positioned to provide relevant translational information because of their higher brain complexity and homology to humans. Among others, lack of resources and formal training, strict legislation, and ethical issues may impede broad access to large animals. We propose that instead of increasingly restrictive legislation, more resources for training, education, husbandry, and data sharing are urgently needed. The creation of multidisciplinary teams, in which veterinarians need to play a key role, would be critical to improve translational efficiency. Furthermore, it is not usually acknowledged by researchers and regulators the value of comparative studies in lower species, that are instrumental in toxicology, target identification, and mechanistic studies. Overall, we highlight here the need for a conceptual shift in neuroscience research and policies to reach the patients.
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McKenzie BA, Chen FL, Gruen ME, Olby NJ. Canine Geriatric Syndrome: A Framework for Advancing Research in Veterinary Geroscience. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:853743. [PMID: 35529834 PMCID: PMC9069128 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.853743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological aging is the single most important risk factor for disease, disability, and ultimately death in geriatric dogs. The effects of aging in companion dogs also impose significant financial and psychological burdens on their human caregivers. The underlying physiologic processes of canine aging may be occult, or early signs of aging may be ignored because of the misconception that biological aging is natural and therefore inevitable. The ability to detect, quantify, and mitigate the deleterious processes of canine aging would greatly enhance veterinary preventative medicine and animal welfare. In this paper we propose a new conceptual framework for aging in dogs, the Canine Geriatric Syndrome (CGS). CGS consists of the multiple, interrelated physical, functional, behavioral, and metabolic changes that characterize canine aging as well as the resulting clinical manifestations, including frailty, diminished quality of life, and age-associated disease. We also identify potential key components of a CGS assessment tool, a clinical instrument that would enable veterinarians to diagnose CGS and would facilitate the development and testing of interventions to prolong healthspan and lifespan in dogs by directly targeting the biological mechanisms of aging. There are many gaps in our knowledge of the mechanisms and phenotype of aging in dogs that must be bridged before a CGS assessment tool can be deployed. The conceptual framework of CGS should facilitate identifying these gaps and should stimulate research to better characterize the processes and effects of aging in dogs and to identify the most promising preventative strategies to target these.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frances L. Chen
- Cellular Longevity Inc., dba Loyal, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Margaret E. Gruen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Natasha J. Olby
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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