1
|
England-Mason G, Merrill SM, Liu J, Martin JW, MacDonald AM, Kinniburgh DW, Gladish N, MacIsaac JL, Giesbrecht GF, Letourneau N, Kobor MS, Dewey D. Sex-Specific Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Bisphenols and Phthalates and Infant Epigenetic Age Acceleration. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:31. [PMID: 39189257 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8030031] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We examined whether prenatal exposure to two classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) was associated with infant epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), a DNA methylation biomarker of aging. Participants included 224 maternal-infant pairs from a Canadian pregnancy cohort study. Two bisphenols and 12 phthalate metabolites were measured in maternal second trimester urines. Buccal epithelial cell cheek swabs were collected from 3 month old infants and DNA methylation was profiled using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. The Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic tool was used to estimate EAA. Sex-stratified robust regressions examined individual chemical associations with EAA, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) examined chemical mixture effects. Adjusted robust models showed that in female infants, prenatal exposure to total bisphenol A (BPA) was positively associated with EAA (B = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.21, 1.24), and multiple phthalate metabolites were inversely associated with EAA (Bs from -0.36 to -0.66, 95% CIs from -1.28 to -0.02). BKMR showed that prenatal BPA was the most important chemical in the mixture and was positively associated with EAA in both sexes. No overall chemical mixture effects or male-specific associations were noted. These findings indicate that prenatal EDC exposures are associated with sex-specific deviations in biological aging, which may have lasting implications for child health and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gillian England-Mason
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sarah M Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Jiaying Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 114 19 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amy M MacDonald
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Nicole Gladish
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
- Program in Child and Brain Development, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dye CK, Alschuler DM, Wu H, Duarte C, Monk C, Belsky DW, Lee S, O’Donnell K, Baccarelli AA, Scorza P. Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Biological Aging During Pregnancy and in Newborns. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2427063. [PMID: 39120899 PMCID: PMC11316241 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.27063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), potentially traumatic experiences occurring before the age of 18 years, are associated with epigenetic aging later in life and may be transmitted across generations. Objective To test evidence of the transmission of biological embedding of life experience across generations by analyzing maternal ACEs and epigenetic clocks measured in mothers during pregnancy and in their children at birth. Design, Setting, and Participants For this cross-sectional study, data from the Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomic Studies (ARIES) substudy of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were analyzed. The ALSPAC study recruited 14 541 women who gave birth in the Avon Health District in the UK between April 1, 1991, and December 31, 1992. The ARIES substudy comprised 1018 mother-offspring dyads based on the availability of DNA samples profiled in 2014. Epigenetic age was estimated using DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks (including Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE) in mothers during pregnancy and the Knight and Bohlin cord blood epigenetic clocks in newborns. Analyses were performed between October 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023. Exposures A composite measure of maternal ACEs was the primary exposure in both maternal and offspring models; as a secondary analysis, individual ACEs were measured separately. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to investigate depression during pregnancy as an exposure. Main Outcomes and Measures Changes in epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) were investigated as the primary outcome in maternal models during pregnancy. Changes in epigenetic gestational age acceleration (GAA) were the primary outcome in offspring analyses. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between maternal ACEs and both outcomes. Results This study included 883 mother-child dyads. The mean (SD) maternal age at delivery was 29.8 (4.3) years. Pregnant women with higher ACE scores exhibited higher GrimAge EAA (β, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.12 to 0.33] years; P < .001). Maternal ACEs were not associated with GAA in newborns using P < .05 as a cutoff to determine statistical significance. Depression was associated with higher GrimAge EAA (β, 0.06 [95% CI, 0.02 to 0.10] years; P = .01) in mothers during pregnancy, but not in newborns, and did not mediate the association between ACEs and EAA. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that maternal ACEs may be associated with epigenetic aging later in life, including during pregnancy, supporting a role for maternal ACEs in offspring development and health later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian K. Dye
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | | | - Haotian Wu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Cristiane Duarte
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Kieran O’Donnell
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Pamela Scorza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Daredia S, Bozack AK, Riddell CA, Gunier R, Harley KG, Bradman A, Eskenazi B, Holland N, Deardorff J, Cardenas A. Prenatal Maternal Occupation and Child Epigenetic Age Acceleration in an Agricultural Region: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2421824. [PMID: 39073821 PMCID: PMC11287394 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Research on fetal epigenetic programming suggests that the intrauterine environment can have long-term effects on offspring disease susceptibility. Objective To examine the association between prenatal maternal occupation and child epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) among a farmworker community. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study included participants in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas, a prospective, Latino, prebirth cohort. Pregnant women were recruited from October 1, 1999, to October 1, 2000, from 6 community clinics in California's Salinas Valley agricultural region. Participants were 18 years or older, English or Spanish speaking, Medicaid eligible, and at 20 weeks' gestation or earlier at enrollment. Mother-child pairs who had blood DNA methylation measured at the ages of 7, 9, and 14 years were included. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to November 2023. Exposures Prenatal maternal occupation was ascertained through study interviews conducted during prenatal visits and shortly after delivery. Main Outcomes and Measures Child EAA at 7, 9, and 14 years of age was estimated using DNA methylation-based epigenetic age biomarkers. Three EAA measures were calculated: the Horvath EAA, skin and blood EAA, and intrinsic EAA. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate longitudinal associations of prenatal maternal occupation and child EAA, adjusting for confounders and prenatal organophosphate pesticide exposure. Results Analyses included 290 mother-child pairs (mean [SD] maternal age at delivery, 26.5 [5.2] years; 152 [52.4%] female infants); 254 mothers (87.6%) were born in Mexico, 33 (11.4%) in the US, and 3 (1.0%) in other countries; and 179 families (61.7%) were below the federal poverty line during pregnancy. Mothers reported engaging in several types of work during pregnancy, including agricultural fieldwork (90 [31.0%]), other agricultural work (40 [13.8%]), nonagricultural work (53 [18.3%]), or no work (107 [36.9%]). Children whose mothers worked in agricultural fields during pregnancy had a mean of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.17-1.15) years of greater Horvath EAA, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.31-0.94) years of greater skin and blood EAA, and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.07-0.83) years of greater intrinsic EAA compared with children whose mothers did not work during pregnancy. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, prenatal maternal agricultural fieldwork was associated with accelerated childhood epigenetic aging independent of organophosphate pesticide exposure. Future research on which factors related to agricultural fieldwork accelerate aging in the next generation can inform targeted prevention programs and policies that protect children's health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saher Daredia
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Corinne A. Riddell
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Robert Gunier
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Kim G. Harley
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Asa Bradman
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Department of Public Health, University of California, Merced
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Nina Holland
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Deng WQ, Pigeyre M, Azab SM, Wilson SL, Campbell N, Cawte N, Morrison KM, Atkinson SA, Subbarao P, Turvey SE, Moraes TJ, Mandhane P, Azad MB, Simons E, Pare G, Anand SS. Consistent cord blood DNA methylation signatures of gestational age between South Asian and white European cohorts. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:74. [PMID: 38840168 PMCID: PMC11155053 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01684-0] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm) in cord blood, are an important biological marker of how external exposures during gestation can influence the in-utero environment and subsequent offspring development. Despite the recognized importance of DNAm during gestation, comparative studies to determine the consistency of these epigenetic signals across different ethnic groups are largely absent. To address this gap, we first performed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of gestational age (GA) using newborn cord blood DNAm comparatively in a white European (n = 342) and a South Asian (n = 490) birth cohort living in Canada. Then, we capitalized on established cord blood epigenetic GA clocks to examine the associations between maternal exposures, offspring characteristics and epigenetic GA, as well as GA acceleration, defined as the residual difference between epigenetic and chronological GA at birth. RESULTS Individual EWASs confirmed 1,211 and 1,543 differentially methylated CpGs previously reported to be associated with GA, in white European and South Asian cohorts, respectively, with a similar distribution of effects. We confirmed that Bohlin's cord blood GA clock was robustly correlated with GA in white Europeans (r = 0.71; p = 6.0 × 10-54) and South Asians (r = 0.66; p = 6.9 × 10-64). In both cohorts, Bohlin's clock was positively associated with newborn weight and length and negatively associated with parity, newborn female sex, and gestational diabetes. Exclusive to South Asians, the GA clock was positively associated with the newborn ponderal index, while pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain were strongly predictive of increased epigenetic GA in white Europeans. Important predictors of GA acceleration included gestational diabetes mellitus, newborn sex, and parity in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the consistent DNAm signatures of GA and the utility of Bohlin's GA clock across the two populations. Although the overall pattern of DNAm is similar, its connections with the mother's environment and the baby's anthropometrics can differ between the two groups. Further research is needed to understand these unique relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Q Deng
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| | - Marie Pigeyre
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada
- Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sandi M Azab
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Samantha L Wilson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Natalie Campbell
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Nathan Cawte
- Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | | | - Padmaja Subbarao
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Program in Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stuart E Turvey
- Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Theo J Moraes
- Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Program in Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Piush Mandhane
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Meghan B Azad
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Elinor Simons
- Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Guillaume Pare
- Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada
- Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Sonia S Anand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada.
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Qiao X, Straight B, Ngo D, Hilton CE, Owuor Olungah C, Naugle A, Lalancette C, Needham BL. Severe drought exposure in utero associates to children's epigenetic age acceleration in a global climate change hot spot. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4140. [PMID: 38755138 PMCID: PMC11099019 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48426-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study is to examine the association between in utero drought exposure and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in a global climate change hot spot. Calculations of EAA in adults using DNA methylation have been found to accurately predict chronic disease and longevity. However, fewer studies have examined EAA in children, and drought exposure in utero has not been investigated. Additionally, studies of EAA in low-income countries with diverse populations are rare. We assess EAA using epigenetic clocks and two DNAm-based pace-of-aging measurements from whole saliva samples in 104 drought-exposed children and 109 same-sex sibling controls in northern Kenya. We find a positive association between in utero drought exposure and EAA in two epigenetic clocks (Hannum's and GrimAge) and a negative association in the DNAm based telomere length (DNAmTL) clock. The combined impact of drought's multiple deleterious stressors may reduce overall life expectancy through accelerated epigenetic aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Qiao
- Department of Statistics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Bilinda Straight
- School of Environment, Geography, & Sustainability, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
| | - Duy Ngo
- Department of Statistics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Charles E Hilton
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Charles Owuor Olungah
- Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Amy Naugle
- Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | | | - Belinda L Needham
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cui F, Tang L, Li D, Ma Y, Wang J, Xie J, Su B, Tian Y, Zheng X. Early-life exposure to tobacco, genetic susceptibility, and accelerated biological aging in adulthood. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl3747. [PMID: 38701212 PMCID: PMC11068008 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl3747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Early-life tobacco exposure serves as a non-negligible risk factor for aging-related diseases. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we explored the associations of early-life tobacco exposure with accelerated biological aging and further assessed the joint effects of tobacco exposure and genetic susceptibility. Compared with those without in utero exposure, participants with in utero tobacco exposure had an increase in Klemera-Doubal biological age (KDM-BA) and PhenoAge acceleration of 0.26 and 0.49 years, respectively, but a decrease in telomere length of 5.34% among 276,259 participants. We also found significant dose-response associations between the age of smoking initiation and accelerated biological aging. Furthermore, the joint effects revealed that high-polygenic risk score participants with in utero exposure and smoking initiation in childhood had the highest accelerated biological aging. There were interactions between early-life tobacco exposure and age, sex, deprivation, and diet on KDM-BA and PhenoAge acceleration. These findings highlight the importance of reducing early-life tobacco exposure to improve healthy aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feipeng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China
| | - Linxi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China
| | - Dankang Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yudiyang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China
| | - Jianing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China
| | - Junqing Xie
- Center for Statistics in Medicine, NDORMS, University of Oxford, The Botnar Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Binbin Su
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, No. 31, Beijige-3, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Yaohua Tian
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, No. 31, Beijige-3, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fracella M, Mancino E, Nenna R, Virgillito C, Frasca F, D'Auria A, Sorrentino L, Petrarca L, La Regina D, Matera L, Di Mattia G, Caputo B, Antonelli G, Pierangeli A, Viscidi RP, Midulla F, Scagnolari C. Age-related transcript changes in type I interferon signaling in children and adolescents with long COVID. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2350682. [PMID: 38522030 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350682] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 typically causes mild symptoms in children, but evidence suggests that persistent immunopathological changes may lead to long COVID (LC). To explore the interplay between LC and innate immunity, we assessed the type I interferon (IFN-I) response in children and adolescents with LC symptoms (LC; n = 28). This was compared with age-matched SARS-CoV-2 recovered participants without LC symptoms (MC; n = 28) and healthy controls (HC; n = 18). We measured the mRNA expression of IFN-I (IFN-α/β/ε/ω), IFN-I receptor (IFNAR1/2), and ISGs (ISG15, ISG56, MxA, IFI27, BST2, LY6E, OAS1, OAS2, OAS3, and MDA5) in PBMCs collected 3-6 months after COVID-19. LC adolescents (12-17 years) had higher transcript levels of IFN-β, IFN-ε, and IFN-ω than HC, whereas LC children (6-11 years) had lower levels than HC. In adolescents, increased levels of IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-ω mRNAs were found in the LC group compared with MC, while lower levels were observed in LC children than MC. Adolescents with neurological symptoms had higher IFN-α/β mRNA levels than MC. LC and MC participants showed decreased expression of ISGs and IFNAR1, but increased expression of IFNAR2, than HC. Our results show age-related changes in the expression of transcripts involved in the IFN-I signaling pathway in children and adolescents with LC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Fracella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Mancino
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Nenna
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Virgillito
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Frasca
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra D'Auria
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sorrentino
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Petrarca
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico La Regina
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Matera
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Greta Di Mattia
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Beniamino Caputo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pierangeli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raphael P Viscidi
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Fabio Midulla
- Department of Pediatrics and Infantile Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Scagnolari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gao X, Wang Y, Song Z, Jiang M, Huang T, Baccarelli AA. Early-life risk factors, accelerated biological aging and the late-life risk of mortality and morbidity. QJM 2024; 117:257-268. [PMID: 37930885 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcad247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life exposure increases health risks throughout an individual's lifetime. Biological aging is influenced by early-life risks as a key process of disease development, but whether early-life risks could accelerate biological aging and elevate late-life mortality and morbidity risks remains unknown. Knowledge is also limited on the potential moderating role of healthy lifestyle. METHODS We investigate associations of three early-life risks around birth, breastfeeding, maternal smoking and birth weight, with biological aging of 202 580 UK Biobank participants (54.9 ± 8.1 years old). Biological aging was quantified as KDM-BA, PhenoAge and frailty. Moderate alcohol intake, no current smoking, healthy diet, BMI <30 kg/m2 and regular physical activity were considered as healthy lifestyles. Mortality and morbidity data were retrieved from health records. RESULTS Individual early-life risk factors were robustly associated with accelerated biological aging. A one-unit increase in the 'early-life risk score' integrating the three factors was associated with 0.060 (SE=0.0019) and 0.036-unit (SE = 0.0027) increase in z-scored KDM-BA acceleration and PhenoAge acceleration, respectively, and with 22.3% higher odds (95% CI: 1.185-1.262) of frailty. Increased chronological age and healthy lifestyles could mitigate the accelerations of KDM-BA and PhenoAge, respectively. Associations of early-life risk score with late-life mortality and morbidity were mediated by biological aging (proportions: 5.66-43.12%). KDM-BA and PhenoAge accelerations could significantly mediate the impact on most outcomes except anxiety, and frailty could not mediate the impact on T2D. CONCLUSION Biological aging could capture and mediate the late-life health risks stemming from the early-life risks, and could be potentially targeted for healthy longevity promotion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X Gao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Center for Healthy Aging, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Y Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Z Song
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - M Jiang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - T Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - A A Baccarelli
- Laboratory of Environmental Precision Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mulder RH, Neumann A, Felix JF, Suderman M, Cecil CAM. What makes clocks tick? Characterizing developmental dynamics of adult epigenetic clock sites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.12.584597. [PMID: 38559237 PMCID: PMC10979995 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.12.584597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) at specific sites can be used to calculate 'epigenetic clocks', which in adulthood are used as indicators of age(ing). However, little is known about how these clock sites 'behave' during development and what factors influence their variability in early life. This knowledge could be used to optimize healthy aging well before the onset of age-related conditions. Here, we leveraged results from two longitudinal population-based cohorts (N=5,019 samples from 2,348 individuals) to characterize trajectories of adult clock sites from birth to early adulthood. We find that clock sites (i) diverge widely in their developmental trajectories, often showing non-linear change over time; (ii) are substantially more likely than non-clock sites to vary between individuals already from birth, differences that are predictive of DNAm variation at later ages; and (iii) show enrichment for genetic and prenatal environmental exposures, supporting an early-origins perspective to epigenetic aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa H. Mulder
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry / Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Neumann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry / Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janine F. Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Charlotte A. M. Cecil
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry / Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang Z, Reynolds SR, Stolrow HG, Chen J, Christensen BC, Salas LA. Deciphering the role of immune cell composition in epigenetic age acceleration: Insights from cell-type deconvolution applied to human blood epigenetic clocks. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14071. [PMID: 38146185 PMCID: PMC10928575 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is a significant risk factor for various human disorders, and DNA methylation clocks have emerged as powerful tools for estimating biological age and predicting health-related outcomes. Methylation data from blood DNA has been a focus of more recently developed DNA methylation clocks. However, the impact of immune cell composition on epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) remains unclear as only some clocks incorporate partial cell type composition information when analyzing EAA. We investigated associations of 12 immune cell types measured by cell-type deconvolution with EAA predicted by six widely-used DNA methylation clocks in data from >10,000 blood samples. We observed significant associations of immune cell composition with EAA for all six clocks tested. Across the clocks, nine or more of the 12 cell types tested exhibited significant associations with EAA. Higher memory lymphocyte subtype proportions were associated with increased EAA, and naïve lymphocyte subtypes were associated with decreased EAA. To demonstrate the potential confounding of EAA by immune cell composition, we applied EAA in rheumatoid arthritis. Our research maps immune cell type contributions to EAA in human blood and offers opportunities to adjust for immune cell composition in EAA studies to a significantly more granular level. Understanding associations of EAA with immune profiles has implications for the interpretation of epigenetic age and its relevance in aging and disease research. Our detailed map of immune cell type contributions serves as a resource for studies utilizing epigenetic clocks across diverse research fields, including aging-related diseases, precision medicine, and therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- Department of EpidemiologyGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Dartmouth Cancer CenterDartmouth‐Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences ProgramGuarini School of Graduate and Advanced StudiesHanoverNew HampshireUSA
| | - Samuel R. Reynolds
- Department of EpidemiologyGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonNew HampshireUSA
| | - Hannah G. Stolrow
- Department of EpidemiologyGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Dartmouth Cancer CenterDartmouth‐Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanonNew HampshireUSA
| | - Ji‐Qing Chen
- Department of EpidemiologyGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology ProgramGuarini School of Graduate and Advanced StudiesHanoverNew HampshireUSA
| | - Brock C. Christensen
- Department of EpidemiologyGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Dartmouth Cancer CenterDartmouth‐Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences ProgramGuarini School of Graduate and Advanced StudiesHanoverNew HampshireUSA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology ProgramGuarini School of Graduate and Advanced StudiesHanoverNew HampshireUSA
| | - Lucas A. Salas
- Department of EpidemiologyGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Dartmouth Cancer CenterDartmouth‐Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanonNew HampshireUSA
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences ProgramGuarini School of Graduate and Advanced StudiesHanoverNew HampshireUSA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology ProgramGuarini School of Graduate and Advanced StudiesHanoverNew HampshireUSA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bozack AK, Rifas-Shiman SL, Baccarelli AA, Wright RO, Gold DR, Oken E, Hivert MF, Cardenas A. Associations of prenatal one-carbon metabolism nutrients and metals with epigenetic aging biomarkers at birth and in childhood in a US cohort. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3107-3136. [PMID: 38412256 PMCID: PMC10929819 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205602] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic gestational age acceleration (EGAA) at birth and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in childhood may be biomarkers of the intrauterine environment. We investigated the extent to which first-trimester folate, B12, 5 essential, and 7 non-essential metals in maternal circulation are associated with EGAA and EAA in early life. Bohlin EGAA and Horvath pan-tissue and skin and blood EAA were calculated using DNA methylation measured in cord blood (N=351) and mid-childhood blood (N=326; median age = 7.7 years) in the Project Viva pre-birth cohort. A one standard deviation increase in individual essential metals (copper, manganese, and zinc) was associated with 0.94-1.2 weeks lower Horvath EAA at birth, and patterns of exposures identified by exploratory factor analysis suggested that a common source of essential metals was associated with Horvath EAA. We also observed evidence nonlinear associations of zinc with Bohlin EGAA, magnesium and lead with Horvath EAA, and cesium with skin and blood EAA at birth. Overall, associations at birth did not persist in mid-childhood; however, arsenic was associated with greater EAA at birth and in childhood. Prenatal metals, including essential metals and arsenic, are associated with epigenetic aging in early life, which might be associated with future health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Laubach ZM, Bozack A, Aris IM, Slopen N, Tiemeier H, Hivert MF, Cardenas A, Perng W. Maternal prenatal social experiences and offspring epigenetic age acceleration from birth to mid-childhood. Ann Epidemiol 2024; 90:28-34. [PMID: 37839726 PMCID: PMC10842218 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.10.003] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Investigate associations of maternal social experiences with offspring epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) from birth through mid-childhood among 205 mother-offspring dyads of minoritized racial and ethnic groups. METHODS We used linear regression to examine associations of maternal experiences of racial bias or discrimination (0 = none, 1-2 = intermediate, or 3+ = high), social support (tertile 1 = low, 2 = intermediate, 3 = high), and socioeconomic status index (tertile 1 = low, 2 = intermediate, 3 = high) during the prenatal period with offspring EAA according to Horvath's Pan-Tissue, Horvath's Skin and Blood, and Intrinsic EAA clocks at birth, 3 years, and 7 years. RESULTS In comparison to children of women who did not experience any racial bias or discrimination, those whose mothers reported highest levels of racial bias or discrimination had lower Pan-Tissue clock EAA in early (-0.50 years; 90% CI: -0.91, -0.09) and mid-childhood (-0.75 years; -1.41, -0.08). We observed similar associations for the Skin and Blood clock and Intrinsic EAA. Maternal experiences of discrimination were not associated with Pan-Tissue EAA at birth. Neither maternal social support nor socioeconomic status predicted offspring EAA. CONCLUSIONS Children whose mothers experienced higher racial bias or discrimination exhibited slower EAA. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and establish associations of early-life EAA with long-term health outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M Laubach
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO), University of Colorado Boulder
| | - Anne Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Izzuddin M Aris
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse (CORAL), Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Natalie Slopen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse (CORAL), Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Wei Perng
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD Center), Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Viola TW, Danzer C, Mardini V, Szobot C, Chrusciel JH, Stertz L, Schmitz JM, Walss-Bass C, Fries GR, Grassi-Oliveira R. Prenatal cocaine exposure and its influence on pediatric epigenetic clocks and epigenetic scores in humans. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1946. [PMID: 38253635 PMCID: PMC10803757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52433-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The investigation of the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on offspring has been inconsistent, with few studies investigating biological outcomes in humans. We profiled genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) of umbilical cord blood (UCB) from newborns with (n = 35) and without (n = 47) PCE. We used DNAm data to (1) assess pediatric epigenetic clocks at birth and (2) to estimate epigenetic scores (ES) for lifetime disorders. We generated gestational epigenetic age estimates (DNAmGA) based on Knight and Bohlin epigenetic clocks. We also investigated the association between DNAmGA and UCB serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Considering the large-scale DNAm data availability and existing evidence regarding PCE as a risk for health problems later in life, we generated ES for tobacco smoking, psychosis, autism, diabetes, and obesity. A gene ontology (GO) analysis on the CpGs included in the ES with group differences was performed. PCE was associated with lower DNAmGA in newborns, and this effect remained significant when controlling for potential confounders, such as blood cell type composition predicted by DNAm and obstetric data. DNAmGA was negatively correlated with BDNF levels in the serum of UCB. Higher tobacco smoking, psychosis, and diabetes ES were found in the PCE group. The GO analysis revealed GABAergic synapses as a potential pathway altered by PCE. Our findings of decelerated DNAmGA and ES for adverse phenotypes associated with PCE, suggest that the effects of gestational cocaine exposure on the epigenetic landscape of human newborns are detectable at birth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Wendt Viola
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Christina Danzer
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, A701-129, 8200, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Victor Mardini
- Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Claudia Szobot
- Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - João Henrique Chrusciel
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Laura Stertz
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Translational Psychiatry Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA
| | - Joy M Schmitz
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Translational Psychiatry Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA
| | - Consuelo Walss-Bass
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Translational Psychiatry Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA
| | - Gabriel R Fries
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Translational Psychiatry Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, A701-129, 8200, Aarhus, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zeidan RS, McElroy T, Rathor L, Martenson MS, Lin Y, Mankowski RT. Sex differences in frailty among older adults. Exp Gerontol 2023; 184:112333. [PMID: 37993077 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
By definition, aging is a natural, gradual and continuous process. On the other hand, frailty reflects the increase in vulnerability to stressors and shortens the time without disease (health span) while longevity refers to the length of life (lifespan). The average life expectancy has significantly increased during the last few decades. A longer lifespan has been accompanied by an increase in frailty and decreased independence in older adults, with major differences existing between men and women. For example, women tend to live longer than men but also experience higher rates of frailty and disability. Sex differences prevent optimization of lifestyle interventions and therapies to effectively prevent frailty. Sex differences in frailty and aging are rooted in a complex interplay between uncontrollable (genetic, epigenetic, physiological), and controllable factors (psychosocial and lifestyle factors). Thus, understanding the underlying causes of sex differences in frailty and aging is essential for developing personalized interventions to promote healthy aging and improve quality of life in older men and women. In this review, we have discussed the key contributors and knowledge gaps related to sex differences in aging and frailty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rola S Zeidan
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Taylor McElroy
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Laxmi Rathor
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Matthew S Martenson
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Yi Lin
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Robert T Mankowski
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Katrinli S, Smith AK, Drury SS, Covault J, Ford JD, Singh V, Reese B, Johnson A, Scranton V, Fall P, Briggs-Gowan M, Grasso DJ. Cumulative stress, PTSD, and emotion dysregulation during pregnancy and epigenetic age acceleration in Hispanic mothers and their newborn infants. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2231722. [PMID: 37433036 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2231722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy can exacerbate or prompt the onset of stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is associated with heightened stress responsivity and emotional dysregulation, as well as increased risk of chronic disorders and mortality. Further, maternal PTSD is associated with gestational epigenetic age acceleration in newborns, implicating the prenatal period as a developmental time period for the transmission of effects across generations. Here, we evaluated the associations between PTSD symptoms, maternal epigenetic age acceleration, and infant gestational epigenetic age acceleration in 89 maternal-neonatal dyads. Trauma-related experiences and PTSD symptoms in mothers were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy. The MethylationEPIC array was used to generate DNA methylation data from maternal and neonatal saliva samples collected within 24 h of infant birth. Maternal epigenetic age acceleration was calculated using Horvath's multi-tissue clock, PhenoAge and GrimAge. Gestational epigenetic age was estimated using the Haftorn clock. Maternal cumulative past-year stress (GrimAge: p = 3.23e-04, PhenoAge: p = 9.92e-03), PTSD symptoms (GrimAge: p = 0.019), and difficulties in emotion regulation (GrimAge: p = 0.028) were associated with accelerated epigenetic age in mothers. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with lower gestational epigenetic age acceleration in neonates (p = 0.032). Overall, our results suggest that maternal cumulative past-year stress exposure and trauma-related symptoms may increase the risk for age-related problems in mothers and developmental problems in their newborns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyma Katrinli
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stacy S Drury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Julian D Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Vijender Singh
- Computational Biology Core, University of Connecticut, School of Medicine, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Bo Reese
- Center for Genome Innovation, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Amy Johnson
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Victoria Scranton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Pamela Fall
- Clinical Research Center Core Laboratory, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Margaret Briggs-Gowan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Damion J Grasso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gaylord A, Cohen A, Kupsco A. Biomarkers of aging through the life course: A Recent Literature Update. CURRENT OPINION IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 2:7-17. [PMID: 38130910 PMCID: PMC10732539 DOI: 10.1097/pxh.0000000000000018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of review The development of biomarkers of aging has greatly advanced epidemiological studies of aging processes. However, much debate remains on the timing of aging onset and the causal relevance of these biomarkers. In this review, we discuss the most recent biomarkers of aging that have been applied across the life course. Recent findings The most recently developed aging biomarkers that have been applied across the life course can be designated into three categories: epigenetic clocks, epigenetic markers of chronic inflammation, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. While these have been applied at different life stages, the development, validation, and application of these markers has been largely centered on populations of older adults. Few studies have examined trajectories of aging biomarkers across the life course. As the wealth of molecular and biochemical data increases, emerging biomarkers may be able to capture complex and system-specific aging processes. Recently developed biomarkers include novel epigenetic clocks; clocks based on ribosomal DNA, transcriptomic profiles, proteomics, metabolomics, and inflammatory markers; clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential gene mutations; and multi-omics approaches. Summary Attention should be placed on aging at early and middle life stages to better understand trajectories of aging biomarkers across the life course. Additionally, novel biomarkers will provide greater insight into aging processes. The specific mechanisms of aging reflected by these biomarkers should be considered when interpreting results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Gaylord
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alan Cohen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- PRIMUS Research Group, Department of Family Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Research Center on Aging and Research Center of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Allison Kupsco
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|