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Wang Y, Kuca K, You L, Nepovimova E, Heger Z, Valko M, Adam V, Wu Q, Jomova K. The role of cellular senescence in neurodegenerative diseases. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:2393-2408. [PMID: 38744709 PMCID: PMC11272704 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03768-5] [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: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has revealed that cellular senescence drives NDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease. Different senescent cell populations secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP), including matrix metalloproteinase-3, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, and IL-8, which can harm adjacent microglia. Moreover, these cells possess high expression levels of senescence hallmarks (p16 and p21) and elevated senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in in vitro and in vivo ND models. These senescence phenotypes contribute to the deposition of β-amyloid and tau-protein tangles. Selective clearance of senescent cells and SASP regulation by inhibiting p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B signaling attenuate β-amyloid load and prevent tau-protein tangle deposition, thereby improving cognitive performance in AD mouse models. In addition, telomere shortening, a cellular senescence biomarker, is associated with increased ND risks. Telomere dysfunction causes cellular senescence, stimulating IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-1β secretions. The forced expression of telomerase activators prevents cellular senescence, yielding considerable neuroprotective effects. This review elucidates the mechanism of cellular senescence in ND pathogenesis, suggesting strategies to eliminate or restore senescent cells to a normal phenotype for treating such diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Wang
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Andalusian Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Li You
- College of Physical Education and Health, Chongqing College of International Business and Economics, Chongqing, 401520, China
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Heger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Valko
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Qinghua Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Klaudia Jomova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74, Nitra, Slovakia.
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Pangrácová M, Křivánek J, Vrchotová M, Sehadová H, Hadravová R, Hanus R, Lukšan O. Extended longevity of termite kings and queens is accompanied by extranuclear localization of telomerase in somatic organs and caste-specific expression of its isoforms. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 39034424 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Kings and queens of termites are endowed with an extraordinary longevity coupled with lifelong fecundity. We recently reported that termite kings and queens display a dramatically increased enzymatic activity and abundance of telomerase in their somatic organs when compared to short-lived workers and soldiers. We hypothesized that this telomerase activation may represent a noncanonical pro-longevity function, independent of its canonical role in telomere maintenance. Here, we explore this avenue and investigate whether the presumed noncanonical role of telomerase may be due to alternative splicing of the catalytic telomerase subunit TERT and whether the subcellular localization of TERT isoforms differs among organs and castes in the termite Prorhinotermes simplex. We empirically confirm the expression of four in silico predicted splice variants (psTERT1-A, psTERT1-B, psTERT2-A, psTERT2-B), defined by N-terminal splicing implicating differential localizations, and C-terminal splicing giving rise to full-length and truncated isoforms. We show that the transcript proportions of the psTERT are caste- and tissue-specific and that the extranuclear full-length isoform TERT1-A is relatively enriched in the soma of neotenic kings and queens compared to their gonads and to the soma of workers. We also show that extranuclear TERT protein quantities are significantly higher in the soma of kings and queens compared to workers, namely due to the cytosolic TERT. Independently, we confirm by microscopy the extranuclear TERT localization in somatic organs. We conclude that the presumed pleiotropic action of telomerase combining the canonical nuclear role in telomere maintenance with extranuclear functions is driven by complex TERT splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pangrácová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Křivánek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Vrchotová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Sehadová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Hadravová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Hanus
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Lukšan
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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3
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Ortega A, Chernicki B, Ou G, Parmar MS. From Lab Bench to Hope: Emerging Gene Therapies in Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04285-3. [PMID: 38958888 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04285-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory and cognitive abilities, affecting millions of people around the world. Current treatments focus on the management of symptoms, as no effective therapy has been approved to modify the underlying disease process. Gene therapy is a promising approach that can offer disease-modifying treatment for AD, targeting various aspects of the pathophysiology of the disease. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of gene therapy research for AD, with a specific focus on clinical trials and preclinical studies that have used nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), apolipoprotein E2 (APOE2), and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as therapeutic gene therapy approaches. These gene targets have shown potential to alleviate the neuropathology of AD in animal studies and have demonstrated feasibility and safety in non-human primates. Despite the failure of the NGF gene therapy approach in clinical trials, we have reviewed and highlighted the reported findings and evaluations from the trials. Furthermore, the review included the conclusions of postmortem brain tissue analysis of AD patients who received NGF gene therapy. The goal is to learn from the failed trials and improve the approach in the future. Although gene therapy shows promise, it faces several challenges and limitations, including optimizing gene delivery methods, enhancing safety and efficacy profiles, and determining long-term results. This review contributes to the growing body of literature on innovative treatments for AD and highlights the need for more research and development to advance gene therapy as a viable treatment option for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Ortega
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA
| | - Brendan Chernicki
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA
| | - Grace Ou
- College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mayur S Parmar
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA.
- Department of Foundational Sciences, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA.
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4
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Alotaibi S, Papas E, Mobeen R, Ozkan J, Misra SL, Markoulli M. Tear film hTERT and corneal nerve characteristics in dry eye disease. Clin Exp Optom 2024:1-6. [PMID: 38755754 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2024.2354775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
CLINICAL RELEVANCE The behaviour of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in tears reflects its role in maintaining the ocular surface homoeostasis, as it is increased after the initial fitting of contact lenses and post-overnight lid closure. BACKGROUND hTERT has been shown to respond to cellular stress in neurodegenerative diseases and to enhance axonal regeneration after peripheral axotomy in an animal model. This work investigated whether the behaviour of hTERT in the tear film reflects ocular surface inflammation and neuronal changes in the presence of dry eye disease. METHODS Flush tears were collected from 18 participants with dry eye disease (14 females, 4 males, mean age 34.7 ± 5.2 years) and from 18 healthy participants without dry eye disease (8 females, 10 males, mean age 31.9 ± 5.8 years). Dry eye disease status was defined using the TFOS DEWS II diagnostic criteria. hTERT levels in tears were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Confocal images were taken at the level of the subbasal nerve plexus at the central cornea and at the inferior whorl, and the densities of corneal immune cells were evaluated as well as corneal nerve morphology metrics using a fully automated technique (University of Manchester, United Kingdom). RESULTS In participants with dry eye disease, hTERT levels were significantly higher compared to controls (median [interquartile range]: 434 [320-600] ng/ml, and 184 [42-390] ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.01). Increased nerve fibre width at the inferior whorl, was seen in those with dry eyes (0.0219 [0.0214-0.0236] mm/mm compared to controls 0.0217 [0.0207 0.0222] p < 0.001), but no significant differences were found in the density of corneal immune cells. CONCLUSIONS hTERT levels were elevated in participants with dry eye disease, and this was accompanied by increased nerve thickness in the inferior cornea. The hTERT response may reflect the stress induced to the ocular surface and corneal nerves due to having dry eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sultan Alotaibi
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eric Papas
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rabia Mobeen
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jerome Ozkan
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stuti L Misra
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maria Markoulli
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Harley J, Santosa MM, Ng CY, Grinchuk OV, Hor JH, Liang Y, Lim VJ, Tee WW, Ong DST, Ng SY. Telomere shortening induces aging-associated phenotypes in hiPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes. Biogerontology 2024; 25:341-360. [PMID: 37987889 PMCID: PMC10998800 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10076-5] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a well-established hallmark of cellular aging. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) plays a crucial role in maintaining the length of telomeres, which are specialised protective caps at the end of chromosomes. The lack of in vitro aging models, particularly for the central nervous system (CNS), has impeded progress in understanding aging and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore the possibility of inducing aging-associated features in cell types of the CNS using hiPSC (human induced pluripotent stem cell) technology. To achieve this, we utilised CRISPR/Cas9 to generate hiPSCs with a loss of telomerase function and shortened telomeres. Through directed differentiation, we generated motor neurons and astrocytes to investigate whether telomere shortening could lead to age-associated phenotypes. Our findings revealed that shortened telomeres induced age-associated characteristics in both motor neurons and astrocytes including increased cellular senescence, heightened inflammation, and elevated DNA damage. We also observed cell-type specific age-related morphology changes. Additionally, our study highlighted the fundamental role of TERT and telomere shortening in neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation and neuronal differentiation. This study serves as a proof of concept that telomere shortening can effectively induce aging-associated phenotypes, thereby providing a valuable tool to investigate age-related decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Harley
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Munirah Mohamad Santosa
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Chong Yi Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Oleg V Grinchuk
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Jin-Hui Hor
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Yajing Liang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Valerie Jingwen Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Wee Wei Tee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Derrick Sek Tong Ong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Shi-Yan Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore.
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Al-Khateeb ZF, Boumenar H, Adebimpe J, Shekerzade S, Henson SM, Tremoleda JL, Michael-Titus AT. The cellular senescence response and neuroinflammation in juvenile mice following controlled cortical impact and repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2024; 374:114714. [PMID: 38325653 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and increases the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms linking TBI to neurodegeneration remain to be defined. It has been proposed that the induction of cellular senescence after injury could amplify neuroinflammation and induce long-term tissue changes. The induction of a senescence response post-injury in the immature brain has yet to be characterised. We carried out two types of brain injury in juvenile CD1 mice: invasive TBI using controlled cortical impact (CCI) and repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI) using weight drop injury. The analysis of senescence-related signals showed an increase in γH2AX-53BP1 nuclear foci, p53, p19ARF, and p16INK4a expression in the CCI group, 5 days post-injury (dpi). At 35 days, the difference was no longer statistically significant. Gene expression showed the activation of different senescence pathways in the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres in the injured mice. CCI-injured mice showed a neuroinflammatory early phase after injury (increased Iba1 and GFAP expression), which persisted for GFAP. After CCI, there was an increase at 5 days in p16INK4, whereas in rmTBI, a significant increase was seen at 35 dpi. Both injuries caused a decrease in p21 at 35 dpi. In rmTBI, other markers showed no significant change. The PCR array data predicted the activation of pathways connected to senescence after rmTBI. These results indicate the induction of a complex cellular senescence and glial reaction in the immature mouse brain, with clear differences between an invasive brain injury and a repetitive mild injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra F Al-Khateeb
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Hasna Boumenar
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joycee Adebimpe
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shenel Shekerzade
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siân M Henson
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jordi L Tremoleda
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adina T Michael-Titus
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Liu M, Fan Y, Ni N, Yu T, Mao Z, Huang H, Zhang J, Tang Y, He H, Meng F, You Y, Zhou Q. TERT mediates the U-shape of glucocorticoids effects in modulation of hippocampal neural stem cells and associated brain function. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14577. [PMID: 38421107 PMCID: PMC10850922 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14577] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroidal hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. A physiological-level GCs have a crucial function in maintaining many cognitive processes, like cognition, memory, and mood, however, both insufficient and excessive GCs impair these functions. Although this phenomenon could be explained by the U-shape of GC effects, the underlying mechanisms are still not clear. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of GCs may provide insight into the treatments for cognitive and mood-related disorders. METHODS Consecutive administration of corticosterone (CORT, 10 mg/kg, i.g.) proceeded for 28 days to mimic excessive GCs condition. Adrenalectomy (ADX) surgery was performed to ablate endogenous GCs in mice. Microinjection of 1 μL of Ad-mTERT-GFP virus into mouse hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG) and behavioral alterations in mice were observed 4 weeks later. RESULTS Different concentrations of GCs were shown to affect the cell growth and development of neural stem cells (NSCs) in a U-shaped manner. The physiological level of GCs (0.01 μM) promoted NSC proliferation in vitro, while the stress level of GCs (10 μM) inhibited it. The glucocorticoid synthesis blocker metyrapone (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and ADX surgery both decreased the quantity and morphological development of doublecortin (DCX)-positive immature cells in the DG. The physiological level of GCs activated mineralocorticoid receptor and then promoted the production of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT); in contrast, the stress level of GCs activated glucocorticoid receptor and then reduced the expression of TERT. Overexpression of TERT by AD-mTERT-GFP reversed both chronic stresses- and ADX-induced deficiency of TERT and the proliferation and development of NSCs, chronic stresses-associated depressive symptoms, and ADX-associated learning and memory impairment. CONCLUSION The bidirectional regulation of TERT by different GCs concentrations is a key mechanism mediating the U-shape of GC effects in modulation of hippocampal NSCs and associated brain function. Replenishment of TERT could be a common treatment strategy for GC dysfunction-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng‐Ying Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing UniversityNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yixin Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Ningjie Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Tao Yu
- School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhiyuan Mao
- Key Laboratory for Aging & Disease, The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Human Anatomy, Research Centre for Bone and Stem CellsNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hanyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yulin Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hongliang He
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Fan Meng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yongping You
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qi‐Gang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
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8
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Vellingiri B, Balasubramani K, Iyer M, Raj N, Elangovan A, Song K, Yeo HC, Jayakumar N, Kinoshita M, Thangarasu R, Narayanasamy A, Dayem AA, Prajapati VK, Gopalakrishnan AV, Cho SG. Role of Telomeres and Telomerase in Parkinson's Disease-A New Theranostics? Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300097. [PMID: 37590305 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex condition that is significantly influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation. It is also suggested that telomere shortening (TS) is regulated by oxidative stress which leads to various diseases including age-related neurodegenerative diseases like PD. Thus, it is anticipated that PD would result in TS of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Telomeres protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes preserving them against fusion and destruction. The TS is a normal process because DNA polymerase is unable to replicate the linear ends of the DNA due to end replication complications and telomerase activity in various cell types counteracts this process. PD is usually observed in the aged population and progresses over time therefore, disparities among telomere length in PBMCs of PD patients are recorded and it is still a question whether it has any useful role. Here, the likelihood of telomere attrition in PD and its implications concerning microglia activation, ageing, oxidative stress, and the significance of telomerase activators are addressed. Also, the possibility of telomeres and telomerase as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in PD is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balachandar Vellingiri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Kiruthika Balasubramani
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641021, India
| | - Neethu Raj
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Ajay Elangovan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Kwonwoo Song
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Cheol Yeo
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Namitha Jayakumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641006, India
| | - Masako Kinoshita
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Utano National Hospital, Ondoyama-Cho, Narutaki, Ukyo-Ku, Kyoto, 616-8255, Japan
| | - Ravimanickam Thangarasu
- Department of Zoology, School of Science, Tamil Nadu Open University, Saidapet, Chennai, 600015, India
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Ahmed Abdal Dayem
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
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9
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Medoro A, Saso L, Scapagnini G, Davinelli S. NRF2 signaling pathway and telomere length in aging and age-related diseases. Mol Cell Biochem 2023:10.1007/s11010-023-04878-x. [PMID: 37917279 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04878-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is well recognized as a critical regulator of redox, metabolic, and protein homeostasis, as well as the regulation of inflammation. An age-associated decline in NRF2 activity may allow oxidative stress to remain unmitigated and affect key features associated with the aging phenotype, including telomere shortening. Telomeres, the protective caps of eukaryotic chromosomes, are highly susceptible to oxidative DNA damage, which can accelerate telomere shortening and, consequently, lead to premature senescence and genomic instability. In this review, we explore how the dysregulation of NRF2, coupled with an increase in oxidative stress, might be a major determinant of telomere shortening and age-related diseases. We discuss the relevance of the connection between NRF2 deficiency in aging and telomere attrition, emphasizing the importance of studying this functional link to enhance our understanding of aging pathologies. Finally, we present a number of compounds that possess the ability to restore NRF2 function, maintain a proper redox balance, and preserve telomere length during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Medoro
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "V. Tiberio", University of Molise, Via F. De Sanctis, s.n.c., 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scapagnini
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "V. Tiberio", University of Molise, Via F. De Sanctis, s.n.c., 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Sergio Davinelli
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "V. Tiberio", University of Molise, Via F. De Sanctis, s.n.c., 86100, Campobasso, Italy.
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10
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Wang X, Deng H, Lin J, Zhang K, Ni J, Li L, Fan G. Distinct roles of telomerase activity in age-related chronic diseases: An update literature review. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115553. [PMID: 37738798 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Although telomerase has low activity in somatic quiescent cells, it plays an significant roles in regenerative cells such as endothelial cells, hepatocytes, epithelial cells, and hemocytes. Telomerase activity and telomere length are critical factors in age-related chronic diseases as they are closely related to cell senescence. However, whether telomerase activity plays a key role in disease progression or whether the role of telomerase is unified among different diseases are unresolved. Considering that aging is the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, this article will analyze the evidence, mechanism, and therapeutic potential of telomerase activity in several chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, heart failure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, in order to provide clues for the use of telomerase activity to target the treatment of age-related chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Wang
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyi Lin
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyu Ni
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Lan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae for the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Guanwei Fan
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China.
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11
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Crocco P, De Rango F, Dato S, La Grotta R, Maletta R, Bruni AC, Passarino G, Rose G. The Shortening of Leukocyte Telomere Length Contributes to Alzheimer's Disease: Further Evidence from Late-Onset Familial and Sporadic Cases. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1286. [PMID: 37886996 PMCID: PMC10604697 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that help maintain genomic stability. During aging, telomere length gradually shortens, producing short telomeres, which are markers of premature cellular senescence. This may contribute to age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and based on this, several studies have hypothesized that telomere shortening may characterize AD. Current research, however, has been inconclusive regarding the direction of the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and disease risk. We assessed the association between LTL and AD in a retrospective case-control study of a sample of 255 unrelated patients with late-onset AD (LOAD), including 120 sporadic cases and 135 with positive family history for LOAD, and a group of 279 cognitively healthy unrelated controls, who were all from Calabria, a southern Italian region. Following regression analysis, telomeres were found significantly shorter in LOAD cases than in controls (48% and 41% decrease for sporadic and familial cases, respectively; p < 0.001 for both). Interestingly, LTL was associated with disease risk independently of the presence of conventional risk factors (e.g., age, sex, MMSE scores, and the presence of the APOE-ε4 allele). Altogether, our findings lend support to the notion that LTL shortening may be an indicator of the pathogenesis of LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.C.); (F.D.R.); (S.D.); (R.L.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Francesco De Rango
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.C.); (F.D.R.); (S.D.); (R.L.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Serena Dato
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.C.); (F.D.R.); (S.D.); (R.L.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Rossella La Grotta
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.C.); (F.D.R.); (S.D.); (R.L.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Raffaele Maletta
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (R.M.); (A.C.B.)
| | - Amalia Cecilia Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (R.M.); (A.C.B.)
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.C.); (F.D.R.); (S.D.); (R.L.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.C.); (F.D.R.); (S.D.); (R.L.G.); (G.P.)
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12
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Kuan XY, Fauzi NSA, Ng KY, Bakhtiar A. Exploring the Causal Relationship Between Telomere Biology and Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:4169-4183. [PMID: 37046137 PMCID: PMC10293431 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03337-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres, also known as the "protective caps" of our chromosomes, shorten with each cell cycle due to the end replication problem. This process, termed telomere attrition, is associated with many age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the numerous studies conducted in this field, the role of telomere attrition in the onset of the disease remains unclear. To investigate the causal relationship between short telomeres and AD, this review aims to highlight the primary factors that regulate telomere length and maintain its integrity, with an additional outlook on the role of oxidative stress, which is commonly associated with aging and molecular damage. Although some findings thus far might be contradictory, telomere attrition likely plays a crucial role in the progression of AD due to its close association with oxidative stress. The currently available treatments for AD are only symptomatic without affecting the progression of the disease. The components of telomere biology discussed in this paper have previously been studied as an alternative treatment option for several diseases and have exhibited promising in vitro and in vivo results. Hence, this should provide a basis for future research to develop a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. (Created with BioRender.com).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Yuen Kuan
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Syahira Ahmad Fauzi
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khuen Yen Ng
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Athirah Bakhtiar
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Chang DG, Kim JW, Kim HJ, Kim YH, Kim SI, Ha KY. The neuro-protective role of telomerase via TERT/TERF-2 in the acute phase of spinal cord injury. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EUROPEAN SPINE SOCIETY, THE EUROPEAN SPINAL DEFORMITY SOCIETY, AND THE EUROPEAN SECTION OF THE CERVICAL SPINE RESEARCH SOCIETY 2023; 32:2431-2440. [PMID: 37165116 DOI: 10.1007/s00586-023-07561-3] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the interaction of telomerase activity and telomere length on neuro-protection or neuro-degeneration effects after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS A contusive SCI model was developed using 56 Sprague-Dawley rats. Seven rats were allocated into acute injury phase groups (1, 3, 8, 24, and 48 h), and sub-acute and chronic injury phase groups (1, 2, and 4 weeks). Telomerase activity was assessed by telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomeric repeat binding factor-2 (TERF-2). Differentiation of activated neural stem cells was investigated by co-expression of neuronal/glial cell markers. Apoptosis expression was also investigated by caspase-3, 8, and 9 using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling staining. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were performed for quantitative analyses. RESULTS Expression of TERT increased gradually until 24 h post-injury, and was decreased following SCI (P < 0.05). TERF-2 also was increased following SCI until 24 h post-injury and then decreased with time (P < 0.05). Co-localization of TERT and TERF-2 was higher at 24 h post-injury. High expression of TERT was seen in neurons (Neu N Ab), however, expression of TERT was relatively lower in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Apoptosis analysis showed persistent high expression of caspases-3, -9, and -8 during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS Increased TERT and TERF-2 activity were noted 24 h post-injury in the acute phase of SCI with TERF-2 maintaining telomeric-repeat length. Our results suggest that increased activity of telomere maintenance may be related to neuro-protective mechanisms against subsequent apoptosis resulting from DNA damage after acute SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Gune Chang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jang-Woon Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hong Jin Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang-Il Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kee-Yong Ha
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University at Gangdong, Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, 892, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Gaspar-Silva F, Trigo D, Magalhaes J. Ageing in the brain: mechanisms and rejuvenating strategies. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:190. [PMID: 37354261 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04832-6] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Ageing is characterized by the progressive loss of cellular homeostasis, leading to an overall decline of the organism's fitness. In the brain, ageing is highly associated with cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. With the rise in life expectancy, characterizing the brain ageing process becomes fundamental for developing therapeutic interventions against the increased incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases and to aim for an increase in human life span and, more importantly, health span. In this review, we start by introducing the molecular/cellular hallmarks associated with brain ageing and their impact on brain cell populations. Subsequently, we assess emerging evidence on how systemic ageing translates into brain ageing. Finally, we revisit the mainstream and the novel rejuvenating strategies, discussing the most successful ones in delaying brain ageing and related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Gaspar-Silva
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Diogo Trigo
- Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Magalhaes
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Vijay Kumar MJ, Morales R, Tsvetkov AS. G-quadruplexes and associated proteins in aging and Alzheimer's disease. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1164057. [PMID: 37323535 PMCID: PMC10267416 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1164057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a prominent risk factor for many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, and neuropsychiatric and behavioral symptoms, accounting for most of the reported dementia cases. This disease is now becoming a major challenge and burden on modern society, especially with the aging population. Over the last few decades, a significant understanding of the pathophysiology of AD has been gained by studying amyloid deposition, hyperphosphorylated tau, synaptic dysfunction, oxidative stress, calcium dysregulation, and neuroinflammation. This review focuses on the role of non-canonical secondary structures of DNA/RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s, G4-DNA, and G4-RNA), G4-binding proteins (G4BPs), and helicases, and their roles in aging and AD. Being critically important for cellular function, G4s are involved in the regulation of DNA and RNA processes, such as replication, transcription, translation, RNA localization, and degradation. Recent studies have also highlighted G4-DNA's roles in inducing DNA double-strand breaks that cause genomic instability and G4-RNA's participation in regulating stress granule formation. This review emphasizes the significance of G4s in aging processes and how their homeostatic imbalance may contribute to the pathophysiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. J. Vijay Kumar
- The Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rodrigo Morales
- The Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Centro Integrativo de Biologia y Quimica Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrey S. Tsvetkov
- The Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- UTHealth Consortium on Aging, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
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16
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Diukov Y, Bachinskaya N, Dzobak A, Kholin V, Kyriachenko Y, Barsukov O, Zabuha O, Krasnienkov D. Association of Telomere Length with Cognitive Impairment. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:448-455. [PMID: 37278929 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02130-1] [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: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Telomere attrition is attributed to Alzheimer's disease (AD), major depressive disorder, stress levels, physical inactivity, short sleep duration, and reduced educational abilities. In this article, we tried to assess the association between the telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes and level of cognitive impairment and its dependence on age and sex. Healthy subjects and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and different AD stages were recruited in the study. All patients were assessed by the same standard diagnostic procedure, including neurological examination-Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Blood samples from 66 subjects (18 men and 48 women, mean age 71.2 ± 0.56 years) were collected for DNA extraction from peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC). Relative telomere length (RTL) was measured by monochrome multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The data obtained in the study indicate that RTL in PBMCs has a statistically significant association with MMSE score (p < 0.02). Moreover, the sex-specific difference was observed for the association between telomere length and various parameters of MMSE. Also, it has been found that a decrease in RTL by one unit is associated with an increase in the odds to get AD at a ratio of 2.54 (95% CI, 1.25 to 5.17). The results obtained in this research are in coherence with other studies that telomere length may be a valuable biomarker of cognitive decline. However, the potential need for longitudinal studies of telomere length, in order to estimate the influence of hereditary and environmental factors, remains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevhenii Diukov
- State Institution "D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Natalia Bachinskaya
- State Institution "D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Andrii Dzobak
- Educational and Scientific Institute of High Technologies, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Victor Kholin
- State Institution "D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Yevheniia Kyriachenko
- Educational and Scientific Center "Institute of Biology and Medicine, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Oleksii Barsukov
- State Institution "D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Oksana Zabuha
- State Institution "D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine.
| | - Dmytro Krasnienkov
- State Institution "D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
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17
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Yu X, Liu MM, Zheng CY, Liu YT, Wang Z, Wang ZY. Telomerase reverse transcriptase and neurodegenerative diseases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1165632. [PMID: 37063844 PMCID: PMC10091515 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are chronic conditions that result in progressive damage to the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Age is a major risk factor for NDs. Telomere shortening is a biological marker of cellular aging, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been shown to slow down this process by maintaining telomere length. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the brain a unique immune organ, and while the number of T cells present in the central nervous system is limited, they play an important role in NDs. Research suggests that NDs can be influenced by modulating peripheral T cell immune responses, and that TERT may play a significant role in T cell senescence and NDs. This review focuses on the current state of research on TERT in NDs and explores the potential connections between TERT, T cells, and NDs. Further studies on aging and telomeres may provide valuable insights for developing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
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18
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Identification of a Novel Wnt Antagonist Based Therapeutic and Diagnostic Target for Alzheimer's Disease Using a Stem Cell-Derived Model. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10020192. [PMID: 36829686 PMCID: PMC9952699 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, all the existing treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) fail to stall progression due to longer duration of time between onset of the symptoms and diagnosis of the disease, raising the necessity of effective diagnostics and novel treatment. Specific molecular regulation of the onset and progression of disease is not yet elucidated. This warranted investigation of the role of Wnt signaling regulators which are thought to be involved in neurogenesis. The AD model was established using amyloid beta (Aβ) in human mesenchymal stem cells derived from amniotic membranes which were differentiated into neuronal cell types. In vivo studies were carried out with Aβ or a Wnt antagonist, AD201, belonging to the sFRP family. We further created an AD201-knockdown in vitro model to determine the role of Wnt antagonism. BACE1 upregulation, ChAT and α7nAChR downregulation with synapse and functionality loss with increases in ROS confirmed the neurodegeneration. Reduced β-catenin and increased AD201 expression indicated Wnt/canonical pathway inhibition. Similar results were exhibited in the in vivo study along with AD-associated behavioural and molecular changes. AD201-knockdown rescued neurons from Aβ-induced toxicity. We demonstrated for the first time a role of AD201 in Alzheimer's disease manifestation, which indicates a promising disease target and biomarker.
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Shaito A, Al-Mansoob M, Ahmad SM, Haider MZ, Eid AH, Posadino AM, Pintus G, Giordo R. Resveratrol-Mediated Regulation of Mitochondria Biogenesis-associated Pathways in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Molecular Insights and Potential Therapeutic Applications. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1184-1201. [PMID: 36237161 PMCID: PMC10286596 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666221012122855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders include different neurological conditions that affect nerve cells, causing the progressive loss of their functions and ultimately leading to loss of mobility, coordination, and mental functioning. The molecular mechanisms underpinning neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis are still unclear. Nonetheless, there is experimental evidence to demonstrate that the perturbation of mitochondrial function and dynamics play an essential role. In this context, mitochondrial biogenesis, the growth, and division of preexisting mitochondria, by controlling mitochondria number, plays a vital role in maintaining proper mitochondrial mass and function, thus ensuring efficient synaptic activity and brain function. Mitochondrial biogenesis is tightly associated with the control of cell division and variations in energy demand in response to extracellular stimuli; therefore, it may represent a promising therapeutic target for developing new curative approaches to prevent or counteract neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, several inducers of mitochondrial biogenesis have been proposed as pharmacological targets for treating diverse central nervous system conditions. The naturally occurring polyphenol resveratrol has been shown to promote mitochondrial biogenesis in various tissues, including the nervous tissue, and an ever-growing number of studies highlight its neurotherapeutic potential. Besides preventing cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, resveratrol has been shown to be able to enhance mitochondria biogenesis by acting on its main effectors, including PGC-1α, SIRT1, AMPK, ERRs, TERT, TFAM, NRF-1 and NRF-2. This review aims to present and discuss the current findings concerning the impact of resveratrol on the machinery and main effectors modulating mitochondrial biogenesis in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Shaito
- Biomedical Research Center, College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Maryam Al-Mansoob
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Salma M.S. Ahmad
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | | | - Ali H. Eid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Anna Maria Posadino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Pintus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, University City Rd, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roberta Giordo
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, 505055, United Arab Emirates
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20
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Beadell AV, Zhang Z, Capuano AW, Bennett DA, He C, Zhang W, Arvanitakis Z. Genome-Wide Mapping Implicates 5-Hydroxymethylcytosines in Diabetes Mellitus and Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 93:1135-1151. [PMID: 37182870 PMCID: PMC10490934 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221113] [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] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a recognized risk factor for dementia. Because DM is a potentially modifiable condition, greater understanding of the mechanisms linking DM to the clinical expression of Alzheimer's disease dementia may provide insights into much needed dementia therapeutics. OBJECTIVE In this feasibility study, we investigated DM as a dementia risk factor by examining genome-wide distributions of the epigenetic DNA modification 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). METHODS We obtained biologic samples from the Rush Memory and Aging Project and used the highly sensitive 5hmC-Seal technique to perform genome-wide profiling of 5hmC in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from antemortem serum samples and in genomic DNA from postmortem prefrontal cortex brain tissue from 80 individuals across four groups: Alzheimer's disease neuropathologically defined (AD), DM clinically defined, AD with DM, and individuals with neither disease (controls). RESULTS Distinct 5hmC signatures and biological pathways were enriched in persons with both AD and DM versus AD alone, DM alone, or controls, including genes inhibited by EGFR signaling in oligodendroglia and those activated by constitutive RHOA. We also demonstrate the potential diagnostic value of 5hmC profiling in circulating cfDNA. Specifically, an 11-gene weighted model distinguished AD from non-AD/non-DM controls (AUC = 91.8%; 95% CI, 82.9-100.0%), while a 4-gene model distinguished DM-associated AD from AD alone (AUC = 87.9%; 95% CI, 77.5-98.3%). CONCLUSION We demonstrate in this small sample, the feasibility of detecting and characterizing 5hmC in DM-associated AD and of using 5hmC information contained in circulating cfDNA to detect AD in high-risk individuals, such as those with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana V Beadell
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ana W Capuano
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Zoe Arvanitakis
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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21
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Zhao J, Huai J. Role of primary aging hallmarks in Alzheimer´s disease. Theranostics 2023; 13:197-230. [PMID: 36593969 PMCID: PMC9800733 DOI: 10.7150/thno.79535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which severely threatens the health of the elderly and causes significant economic and social burdens. The causes of AD are complex and include heritable but mostly aging-related factors. The primary aging hallmarks include genomic instability, telomere wear, epigenetic changes, and loss of protein stability, which play a dominant role in the aging process. Although AD is closely associated with the aging process, the underlying mechanisms involved in AD pathogenesis have not been well characterized. This review summarizes the available literature about primary aging hallmarks and their roles in AD pathogenesis. By analyzing published literature, we attempted to uncover the possible mechanisms of aberrant epigenetic markers with related enzymes, transcription factors, and loss of proteostasis in AD. In particular, the importance of oxidative stress-induced DNA methylation and DNA methylation-directed histone modifications and proteostasis are highlighted. A molecular network of gene regulatory elements that undergoes a dynamic change with age may underlie age-dependent AD pathogenesis, and can be used as a new drug target to treat AD.
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22
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Lithium Prevents Telomere Shortening in Cortical Neurons in Amyloid-Beta Induced Toxicity. NEUROSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/neurosci4010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is consistent evidence of the potential benefits of lithium attenuating mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including those related to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and facilitating neurotrophic and protective responses, including maintenance of telomere length. The aim was to investigate the protective effect of the pre-treatment with lithium on amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced toxicity and telomere length in neurons. Methods: Cortical neurons were treated with lithium chloride at therapeutic and subtherapeutic concentrations (2 mM, 0.2 mM and 0.02 mM) for seven days. Amyloid toxicity was induced 24 h before the end of lithium treatment. Results: Lithium resulted in 120% (2 mM), 180% (0.2 mM) and 140% (0.02 mM) increments in telomere length as compared to untreated controls. Incubation with Aβ1-42 was associated with significant reductions in MTT uptake (33%) and telomere length (83%) as compared to controls. Conclusions: Lithium prevented loss of culture viability and telomere shortening in neuronal cultures challenged with Aβ fibrils.
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González-Giraldo Y, Fonseca ÁYG, Aristizabal-Pachon A. TERT silencing alters the expression of ARG1, GLUL, VIM, NES genes and hsa-miR-29b-3p in the T98G cell line. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 42:464-477. [PMID: 36533634 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2022.2155301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The central function of telomerase is maintaining the telomere length. However, several extra-telomeric roles have been identified for this protein complex. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the silencing of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (TERT) on the expression of candidate microRNAs, cell activation markers and glial-related genes in a glioblastoma cell line (T98G). The silencing was performed by a siRNA and the qPCR method was used to analyze the expression of TERT and downstream genes. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the TERT protein, and bioinformatics analysis was carried out to analyze the functions of microRNA target genes. Here, it was observed that after a 50% reduction of the TERT gene, the expression of ARG1 (Arginase 1) was upregulated, whereas NES (Nestin), GLUL (Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase), VIM (Vimentin) and the hsa-miR-29b-3p microRNA were downregulated (P-value <0.05). A bioinformatic analysis showed that target genes of hsa-miR-29b are associated with focal adhesion, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, among others. These results are important because they contribute to the knowledge of extratelomeric functions by providing relevant evidence about novel genes modulated by TERT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeimy González-Giraldo
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ángela Y. García Fonseca
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrés Aristizabal-Pachon
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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24
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Lupatov AY, Yarygin KN. Telomeres and Telomerase in the Control of Stem Cells. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102335. [PMID: 36289597 PMCID: PMC9598777 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells serve as a source of cellular material in embryogenesis and postnatal growth and regeneration. This requires significant proliferative potential ensured by sufficient telomere length. Telomere attrition in the stem cells and their niche cells can result in the exhaustion of the regenerative potential of high-turnover organs, causing or contributing to the onset of age-related diseases. In this review, stem cells are examined in the context of the current telomere-centric theory of cell aging, which assumes that telomere shortening depends not just on the number of cell doublings (mitotic clock) but also on the influence of various internal and external factors. The influence of the telomerase and telomere length on the functional activity of different stem cell types, as well as on their aging and prospects of use in cell therapy applications, is discussed.
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25
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Yilmaz S, Bedir E, Ballar Kirmizibayrak P. The role of cycloastragenol at the intersection of NRF2/ARE, telomerase, and proteasome activity. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 188:105-116. [PMID: 35718303 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.06.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Aging is well-characterized by the gradual decline of cellular functionality. As redox balance, proteostasis, and telomerase systems have been found to be associated with aging and age-related diseases, targeting these systems with small compounds has been considered a promising therapeutic approach. Cycloastragenol (CA), a small molecule telomerase activator obtained from Astragalus species, has been reported to positively affect several age-related pathophysiologies, but the mechanisms underlying CA activity have yet to be reported. Here, we presented that CA increased NRF2 nuclear localization and activity leading to upregulation of cytoprotective enzymes and attenuation of oxidative stress-induced ROS levels. Furthermore, CA-mediated induction of telomerase activity was found to be regulated by NRF2. CA not only increased the expression of hTERT but also its nuclear localization via upregulating the Hsp90-chaperon complex. In addition to modulating nuclear hTERT levels at unstressed conditions, CA alleviated oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial hTERT levels while increasing nuclear hTERT levels. Concomitantly, H2O2-induced mitochondrial ROS level was found to be significantly decreased by CA administration. Our data also revealed that CA strongly enhanced proteasome activity and assembly. More importantly, the proteasome activator effect of CA is dependent on the induction of telomerase activity, which is mediated by NRF2 system. In conclusion, our results not only revealed the cross-talk among NRF2, telomerase, and proteasome systems but also that CA functions at the intersection of these three major aging-related cellular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinem Yilmaz
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alanya Aladdin Keykubat, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Erdal Bedir
- Department of Bioengineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, 35430, Urla, Izmir, Turkey.
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26
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Gao X, Yu X, Zhang C, Wang Y, Sun Y, Sun H, Zhang H, Shi Y, He X. Telomeres and Mitochondrial Metabolism: Implications for Cellular Senescence and Age-related Diseases. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2315-2327. [PMID: 35460064 PMCID: PMC9033418 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10370-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is an irreversible cell arrest process, which is determined by a variety of complicated mechanisms, including telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disorders, loss of protein homeostasis, epigenetic changes, etc. Cellular senescence is causally related to the occurrence and development of age-related disease. The elderly is liable to suffer from disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Therefore, it is increasingly imperative to explore specific countermeasures for the treatment of age-related diseases. Numerous studies on humans and mice emphasize the significance of metabolic imbalance caused by short telomeres and mitochondrial damages in the onset of age-related diseases. Although the experimental data are relatively independent, more and more evidences have shown that there is mutual crosstalk between telomeres and mitochondrial metabolism in the process of cellular senescence. This review systematically discusses the relationship between telomere length, mitochondrial metabolic disorder, as well as their underlying mechanisms for cellular senescence and age-related diseases. Future studies on telomere and mitochondrial metabolism may shed light on potential therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases. Graphical Abstract The characteristics of cellular senescence mainly include mitochondrial dysfunction and telomere attrition. Mitochondrial dysfunction will cause mitochondrial metabolic disorders, including decreased ATP production, increased ROS production, as well as enhanced cellular apoptosis. While oxidative stress reaction to produce ROS, leads to DNA damage, and eventually influences telomere length. Under the stimulation of oxidative stress, telomerase catalytic subunit TERT mainly plays an inhibitory role on oxidative stress, reduces the production of ROS and protects telomere function. Concurrently, mitochondrial dysfunction and telomere attrition eventually induce a range of age-related diseases, such as T2DM, osteoporosis, AD, etc. :increase; :reduce;⟝:inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yanan Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Hui Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Haiying Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yingai Shi
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xu He
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Rossiello F, Jurk D, Passos JF, d'Adda di Fagagna F. Telomere dysfunction in ageing and age-related diseases. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:135-147. [PMID: 35165420 PMCID: PMC8985209 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00842-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 108.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ageing organisms accumulate senescent cells that are thought to contribute to body dysfunction. Telomere shortening and damage are recognized causes of cellular senescence and ageing. Several human conditions associated with normal ageing are precipitated by accelerated telomere dysfunction. Here, we systematize a large body of evidence and propose a coherent perspective to recognize the broad contribution of telomeric dysfunction to human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Rossiello
- IFOM Foundation-FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Diana Jurk
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - João F Passos
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna
- IFOM Foundation-FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation, Milan, Italy.
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IGM-CNR), Pavia, Italy.
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28
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Macek P, Wieckiewicz M, Poreba R, Gac P, Bogunia-Kubik K, Dratwa M, Wojakowska A, Mazur G, Martynowicz H. Assessment of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Sleep Bruxism. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030525. [PMID: 35159976 PMCID: PMC8836512 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Sleep bruxism (SB) is a widespread masticatory muscle activity during sleep and affects approximately 13.2% of the general population. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) plays a role in preventing the shortening of the telomere. This prospective, observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of TERT and the severity of SB and to identify the independent risk factors for SB. Methods: A total of 112 patients were diagnosed by performing one-night polysomnography based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. TERT SNP was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: Statistical analysis showed the lack of relationship between the rs2853669 polymorphism of TERT and severity of SB (p > 0.05). However, the study showed that patients with allele T in the 2736100 polymorphism of TERT had a lower score on the phasic bruxism episode index (BEI). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the value of phasic BEI was 0.8 for the differential prediction for the presence of allele T in the locus. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.328 and 0.893, respectively. The regression analysis showed that lack of TERT rs2736100 T allele, male gender, and arterial hypertension are the risk factors for the higher value of phasic BEI. Conclusion: The SNP of the TERT gene affects phasic SB intensity. The absence of TERT rs2736100 T allele, male sex, and arterial hypertension are independent risk factors for phasic SB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Macek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Mieszko Wieckiewicz
- Department of Experimental Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-425 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Rafal Poreba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Pawel Gac
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.B.-K.); (M.D.)
| | - Marta Dratwa
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.B.-K.); (M.D.)
| | - Anna Wojakowska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Grzegorz Mazur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Helena Martynowicz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.M.); (R.P.); (A.W.); (G.M.); (H.M.)
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29
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Zhou Q, Lin L, Li H, Wang H, Jiang S, Huang P, Lin Q, Chen X, Deng Y. Melatonin Reduces Neuroinflammation and Improves Axonal Hypomyelination by Modulating M1/M2 Microglia Polarization via JAK2-STAT3-Telomerase Pathway in Postnatal Rats Exposed to Lipopolysaccharide. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:6552-6576. [PMID: 34585328 PMCID: PMC8639545 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02568-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Microglia activation and associated inflammation are implicated in the periventricular white matter damage (PWMD) in septic postnatal rats. This study investigated whether melatonin would mitigate inflammation and alleviate the axonal hypomyelination in the corpus callosum in septic postnatal rats. We further explored if this might be related to the modulation of microglial polarization from M1 phenotype to M2 through the JAK2/STAT3/telomerase pathway. We reported here that indeed melatonin not only can it reduce the neurobehavioral disturbances in LPS-injected rats, but it can also dampen microglia-mediated inflammation. Thus, in LPS + melatonin group, the expression of proinflammatory mediators in M1 phenotype microglia was downregulated. As opposed to this, M2 microglia were increased which was accompanied by upregulated expression of anti-inflammatory mediators along with telomerase reverse transcriptase or melatonin receptor 1(MT1). In parallel to this was decreased NG2 expression but increased expression of myelin and neurofilament proteins. Melatonin can improve hypomyelination which was confirmed by electron microscopy. In vitro in primary microglia stimulated by LPS, melatonin decreased the expression of proinflammatory mediators significantly; but it increased the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators. Additionally, the expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were significantly elevated in microglia after melatonin treatment. Remarkably, the effect of melatonin on LPS-treated microglia was blocked by melatonin receptor, JAK2, STAT3 and telomerase reverse transcriptase inhibitors, respectively. Taken together, it is concluded that melatonin can attenuate PWMD through shifting M1 microglia towards M2 via MT1/JAK2/STAT3/telomerase pathway. The results suggest a new therapeutic strategy whereby melatonin may be adopted to convert microglial polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype that would ultimately contribute to the attenuation of PWMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuping Zhou
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lanfen Lin
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, 510317, Guangdong, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Huifang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shuqi Jiang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Peixian Huang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qiongyu Lin
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jieyang People's Hospital, Jieyang, 522000, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Shantou University Medical College (FCS), Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Yiyu Deng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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30
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Fu Y, Bu G, Kanekiyo T, Zhao J. Counteracting Alzheimer's disease via somatic TERT activation. NATURE AGING 2021; 1:1081-1082. [PMID: 37117526 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00145-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fu
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Guojun Bu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Takahisa Kanekiyo
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
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31
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Shim HS, Horner JW, Wu CJ, Li J, Lan ZD, Jiang S, Xu X, Hsu WH, Zal T, Flores II, Deng P, Lin YT, Tsai LH, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Preserves Neuron Survival and Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease Models. NATURE AGING 2021; 1:1162-1174. [PMID: 35036927 PMCID: PMC8759755 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00146-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-induced neurodegeneration plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Here, we show that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) haploinsufficiency decreases BDNF and increases amyloid-β (Aβ) precursor in murine brain. Moreover, prior to disease onset, the TERT locus sustains accumulation of repressive epigenetic marks in murine and human AD neurons, implicating TERT repression in amyloid-induced neurodegeneration. To test the impact of sustained TERT expression on AD pathobiology, AD mouse models were engineered to maintain physiological levels of TERT in adult neurons, resulting in reduced Aβ accumulation, improved spine morphology, and preserved cognitive function. Mechanistically, integrated profiling revealed that TERT interacts with β-catenin and RNA polymerase II at gene promoters and upregulates gene networks governing synaptic signaling and learning processes. These TERT-directed transcriptional activities do not require its catalytic activity nor telomerase RNA. These findings provide genetic proof-of-concept for somatic TERT gene activation therapy in attenuating AD progression including cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Seok Shim
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - James W. Horner
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Chang-Jiun Wu
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jiexi Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Zheng D. Lan
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xueping Xu
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Wen-Hao Hsu
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Tomasz Zal
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ivonne I. Flores
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Pingna Deng
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yuan-Ta Lin
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Y. Alan Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ronald A. DePinho
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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32
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Gruber HJ, Semeraro MD, Renner W, Herrmann M. Telomeres and Age-Related Diseases. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1335. [PMID: 34680452 PMCID: PMC8533433 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are at the non-coding ends of linear chromosomes. Through a complex 3-dimensional structure, they protect the coding DNA and ensure appropriate separation of chromosomes. Aging is characterized by a progressive shortening of telomeres, which compromises their structure and function. Because of their protective function for genomic DNA, telomeres appear to play an important role in the development and progression of many age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), malignancies, dementia, and osteoporosis. Despite substantial evidence that links telomere length with these conditions, the nature of these observations remains insufficiently understood. Therefore, future studies should address the question of causality. Furthermore, analytical methods should be further improved with the aim to provide informative and comparable results. This review summarize the actual knowledge of telomere biology and the possible implications of telomere dysfunction for the development and progression of age-related diseases. Furthermore, we provide an overview of analytical techniques for the measurement of telomere length and telomerase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wilfried Renner
- Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (H.-J.G.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.)
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33
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Xie X, Li M, Zhou M, Chow SF, Tsang CK. Pharmacological preconditioning by TERT inhibitor BIBR1532 confers neuronal ischemic tolerance through TERT-mediated transcriptional reprogramming. J Neurochem 2021; 159:690-709. [PMID: 34532857 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
After a sublethal ischemic preconditioning (IPC) stimulus, the brain has a remarkable capability of acquiring tolerance to subsequent ischemic insult by establishing precautionary self-protective mechanism. Understanding this endogenous mechanism would reveal novel and effective neuroprotective targets for ischemic brain injury. Our previous study has implied that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is associated with IPC-induced tolerance. Here, we investigated the mechanism of TERT-mediated ischemic tolerance. Preconditioning was modeled by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and by TERT inhibitor BIBR1532 in primary neurons. We found that ischemic tolerance was conferred by BIBR1532 preconditioning. We used the Cleavage-Under-Targets-And-Tagmentation approach, a recently developed method with superior signal-to-noise ratio, to comprehensively map the genomic binding sites of TERT in primary neurons, and showed that more than 50% of TERT-binding sites were located at the promoter regions. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that under normal conditions TERT physically bound to many previously unknown genomic loci in neurons, whereas BIBR1532 preconditioning significantly altered TERT-chromatin-binding profile. Intriguingly, we found that BIBR1532-preconditioned neurons showed significant up-regulation of promoter binding of TERT to the mitochondrial anti-oxidant genes, which were correlated with their elevated expression. Functional analysis further indicated that BIBR1532-preconditioning significantly reduced ROS levels and enhanced tolerance to severe ischemia-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in neurons in a TERT-dependent manner. Together, these results demonstrate that BIBR1532 confers neuronal ischemic tolerance through TERT-mediated transcriptional reprogramming for up-regulation of mitochondrial anti-oxidation gene expression, suggesting the translational potential of BIBR1532 as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cerebral ischemic injury and oxidative stress-induced neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemin Xie
- Clinical Neuroscience Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, The First Clinical Medical School of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingxi Li
- Clinical Neuroscience Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, The First Clinical Medical School of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengyao Zhou
- Clinical Neuroscience Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Core Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shing Fung Chow
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Kwan Tsang
- Clinical Neuroscience Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Zhu L, Liu Z, Ren Y, Wu X, Liu Y, Wang T, Li Y, Cong Y, Guo Y. Neuroprotective effects of salidroside on ageing hippocampal neurons and naturally ageing mice via the PI3K/Akt/TERT pathway. Phytother Res 2021; 35:5767-5780. [PMID: 34374127 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Studies have found that salidroside, isolated from Rhodiola rosea L, has various pharmacological activities, but there have been no studies on the effects of salidroside on brain hippocampal senescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanistic role of salidroside in hippocampal neuron senescence and injury. In this study, long-term cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons and naturally aged C57 mice were treated with salidroside. The results showed that salidroside increased the viability and MAP2 expression, reduced β-galactosidase (β-gal) levels of rat primary hippocampal neurons. Salidroside also improved cognition dysfunction in ageing mice and alleviated neuronal degeneration in the ageing mice CA1 region. Moreover, salidroside decreased the levels of oxidative stress and p21, p16 protein expressions of hippocampal neurons and ageing mice. Salidroside promoted telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein expression via the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. In conclusion, our findings suggest that salidroside has the potential to be used as a therapeutic strategy for anti-ageing and ageing-related disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhenchao Liu
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuqian Ren
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaolin Wu
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingjuan Liu
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Yizhao Li
- Department of Neurology, Jinan Fanggan Rehabilitation Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Yusheng Cong
- Institute of Aging Research, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunliang Guo
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Taishan Scholars Construction Project Excellent Innovative Team of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
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35
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Jacczak B, Rubiś B, Totoń E. Potential of Naturally Derived Compounds in Telomerase and Telomere Modulation in Skin Senescence and Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6381. [PMID: 34203694 PMCID: PMC8232155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper functioning of cells-their ability to divide, differentiate, and regenerate-is dictated by genomic stability. The main factors contributing to this stability are the telomeric ends that cap chromosomes. Telomere biology and telomerase activity have been of interest to scientists in various medical science fields for years, including the study of both cancer and of senescence and aging. All these processes are accompanied by telomere-length modulation. Maintaining the key levels of telomerase component (hTERT) expression and telomerase activity that provide optimal telomere length as well as some nontelomeric functions represents a promising step in advanced anti-aging strategies, especially in dermocosmetics. Some known naturally derived compounds contribute significantly to telomere and telomerase metabolism. However, before they can be safely used, it is necessary to assess their mechanisms of action and potential side effects. This paper focuses on the metabolic potential of natural compounds to modulate telomerase and telomere biology and thus prevent senescence and skin aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ewa Totoń
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355 Poznań, Poland; (B.J.); (B.R.)
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36
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The Power of Stress: The Telo-Hormesis Hypothesis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051156. [PMID: 34064566 PMCID: PMC8151059 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptative response to stress is a strategy conserved across evolution to promote survival. In this context, the groundbreaking findings of Miroslav Radman on the adaptative value of changing mutation rates opened new avenues in our understanding of stress response. Inspired by this work, we explore here the putative beneficial effects of changing the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, the telomeres, in response to stress. We first summarize basic principles in telomere biology and then describe how various types of stress can alter telomere structure and functions. Finally, we discuss the hypothesis of stress-induced telomere signaling with hormetic effects.
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Cuttler K, Bignoux MJ, Otgaar TC, Chigumba S, Ferreira E, Weiss SFT. LRP::FLAG Reduces Phosphorylated Tau Levels in Alzheimer's Disease Cell Culture Models. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 76:753-768. [PMID: 32568204 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque and neurofibrillary tangle formation, respectively. Neurofibrillary tangles form as a result of the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. Telomerase activity and levels of the human reverse transcriptase (hTERT) subunit of telomerase are significantly decreased in AD. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) interacts with telomerase and is implicated in Aβ pathology. Since both LRP/LR and telomerase are known to play a role in the Aβ facet of AD, we hypothesized that they might also play a role in tauopathy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine if LRP/LR has a relationship with tau and whether overexpression of LRP::FLAG has an effect on tauopathy-related proteins. METHODS We employed confocal microscopy and FRET to determine whether LRP/LR and tau co-localize and interact. LRP::FLAG overexpression in HEK-293 and SH-SY5Y cells as well as analysis of tauopathy-related proteins was assessed by western blotting. RESULTS We demonstrate that LRP/LR co-localizes with tau in the perinuclear cell compartment and confirmed a direct interaction between LRP/LR and tau in HEK-293 cells. Overexpression of LRP::FLAG in HEK-293 and SH-SY5Y cells decreased total and phosphorylated tau levels with a concomitant decrease in PrPc levels, a tauopathy-related protein. LRP::FLAG overexpression also resulted in increased hTERT levels. CONCLUSION This data suggest that LRP/LR extends its role in AD through a direct interaction with tau, and recommend LRP::FLAG as a possible alternative AD therapeutic via decreasing phosphorylated tau levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Cuttler
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.,Present Address: Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
| | - Monique J Bignoux
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Tyrone C Otgaar
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Stephanie Chigumba
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Eloise Ferreira
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Stefan F T Weiss
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
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Telomerase in Brain: The New Kid on the Block and Its Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9050490. [PMID: 33946850 PMCID: PMC8145691 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is an enzyme that in its canonical function extends and maintains telomeres, the ends of chromosomes. This reverse transcriptase function is mainly important for dividing cells that shorten their telomeres continuously. However, there are a number of telomere-independent functions known for the telomerase protein TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase). This includes the shuttling of the TERT protein from the nucleus to mitochondria where it decreases oxidative stress, apoptosis sensitivity and DNA damage. Recently, evidence has accumulated on a protective role of TERT in brain and postmitotic neurons. This function might be able to ameliorate the effects of toxic proteins such as amyloid-β, pathological tau and α-synuclein involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the protective mechanisms of TERT are not clear yet. Recently, an activation of autophagy as an important protein degradation process for toxic neuronal proteins by TERT has been described. This review summarises the current knowledge about the non-canonical role of the telomerase protein TERT in brain and shows its potential benefit for the amelioration of brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD. This might form the basis for the development of novel strategies and therapies against those diseases.
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Sah E, Krishnamurthy S, Ahmidouch MY, Gillispie GJ, Milligan C, Orr ME. The Cellular Senescence Stress Response in Post-Mitotic Brain Cells: Cell Survival at the Expense of Tissue Degeneration. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:229. [PMID: 33799628 PMCID: PMC7998276 DOI: 10.3390/life11030229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1960, Rita Levi-Montalcini and Barbara Booker made an observation that transformed neuroscience: as neurons mature, they become apoptosis resistant. The following year Leonard Hayflick and Paul Moorhead described a stable replicative arrest of cells in vitro, termed "senescence". For nearly 60 years, the cell biology fields of neuroscience and senescence ran in parallel, each separately defining phenotypes and uncovering molecular mediators to explain the 1960s observations of their founding mothers and fathers, respectively. During this time neuroscientists have consistently observed the remarkable ability of neurons to survive. Despite residing in environments of chronic inflammation and degeneration, as occurs in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, often times the neurons with highest levels of pathology resist death. Similarly, cellular senescence (hereon referred to simply as "senescence") now is recognized as a complex stress response that culminates with a change in cell fate. Instead of reacting to cellular/DNA damage by proliferation or apoptosis, senescent cells survive in a stable cell cycle arrest. Senescent cells simultaneously contribute to chronic tissue degeneration by secreting deleterious molecules that negatively impact surrounding cells. These fields have finally collided. Neuroscientists have begun applying concepts of senescence to the brain, including post-mitotic cells. This initially presented conceptual challenges to senescence cell biologists. Nonetheless, efforts to understand senescence in the context of brain aging and neurodegenerative disease and injury emerged and are advancing the field. The present review uses pre-defined criteria to evaluate evidence for post-mitotic brain cell senescence. A closer interaction between neuro and senescent cell biologists has potential to advance both disciplines and explain fundamental questions that have plagued their fields for decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Sah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (E.S.); (S.K.); (M.Y.A.); (G.J.G.)
| | - Sudarshan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (E.S.); (S.K.); (M.Y.A.); (G.J.G.)
- Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Mohamed Y. Ahmidouch
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (E.S.); (S.K.); (M.Y.A.); (G.J.G.)
- Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Gregory J. Gillispie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (E.S.); (S.K.); (M.Y.A.); (G.J.G.)
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Carol Milligan
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Miranda E. Orr
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (E.S.); (S.K.); (M.Y.A.); (G.J.G.)
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Salisbury VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC 28144, USA
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The Regulation of ROS- and BECN1-Mediated Autophagy by Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase in Glioblastoma. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:6636510. [PMID: 33763172 PMCID: PMC7963889 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6636510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of human telomerase, is overexpressed in most cancers including GBM. It is well known that hTERT can compensate telomere shortening to immortalize cells. However, in addition to the canonical function, hTERT has the roles beyond canonical telomere maintenance. To further understand the effects of hTERT on glioblastoma progression, we investigated the role of hTERT in regulating autophagy-a conserved pathway, by which cells deliver cellular organic material and impaired organelles to the lysosomes for degradation and recycle these cargos to produce energy under a stressful condition. Our results showed that downregulation of hTERT impaired autophagy levels by suppressing BECN1/beclin-1 and induced an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which resulted in cell death ultimately. On the contrary, overexpression of BECN1 or treating cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could restore the survival of hTERT knockdown cells. Our study will provide an additional basis of telomerase-targeting therapy for future clinical anticancer treatment.
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Liu N, Xu J, Liu H, Zhang S, Li M, Zhou Y, Qin W, Li MJ, Yu C. Hippocampal transcriptome-wide association study and neurobiological pathway analysis for Alzheimer's disease. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009363. [PMID: 33630843 PMCID: PMC7906391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple susceptibility loci for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by early and progressive damage to the hippocampus. However, the association of hippocampal gene expression with AD and the underlying neurobiological pathways remain largely unknown. Based on the genomic and transcriptomic data of 111 hippocampal samples and the summary data of two large-scale meta-analyses of GWASs, a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was performed to identify genes with significant associations between hippocampal expression and AD. We identified 54 significantly associated genes using an AD-GWAS meta-analysis of 455,258 individuals; 36 of the genes were confirmed in another AD-GWAS meta-analysis of 63,926 individuals. Fine-mapping models further prioritized 24 AD-related genes whose effects on AD were mediated by hippocampal expression, including APOE and two novel genes (PTPN9 and PCDHA4). These genes are functionally related to amyloid-beta formation, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, neuronal apoptosis, neurogenesis and telomerase-related processes. By integrating the predicted hippocampal expression and neuroimaging data, we found that the hippocampal expression of QPCTL and ERCC2 showed significant difference between AD patients and cognitively normal elderly individuals as well as correlated with hippocampal volume. Mediation analysis further demonstrated that hippocampal volume mediated the effect of hippocampal gene expression (QPCTL and ERCC2) on AD. This study identifies two novel genes associated with AD by integrating hippocampal gene expression and genome-wide association data and reveals candidate hippocampus-mediated neurobiological pathways from gene expression to AD. The hippocampus is a potential neuroimaging endophenotype for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study identifies genes whose expression in hippocampal tissue is associated with AD and establishes the pathways from hippocampal gene expression to hippocampal volume to AD. We demonstrate that 24 genes are associated with AD in hippocampal tissue, and these genes are enriched for AD-related biological processes of amyloid-beta formation, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, neuronal apoptosis, neurogenesis and telomerase-related processes. We further show that hippocampal volume mediates the effects of the hippocampal gene expression of QPCTL and ERCC2 on AD. These findings improve our understanding of the genetic and neural mechanisms of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiayuan Xu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Huaigui Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Shijie Zhang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Miaoxin Li
- Department of Medical Genetics, Center for Genome Research, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Centre for Genomic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Mulin Jun Li
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- * E-mail: (MJL); (CY)
| | - Chunshui Yu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (MJL); (CY)
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Yu G, Lu L, Ma Z, Wu S. Genetically Predicted Telomere Length and Its Relationship With Alzheimer's Disease. Front Genet 2021; 12:595864. [PMID: 33679878 PMCID: PMC7934420 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.595864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Are shorter telomeres causal risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? This study aimed to examine if shorter telomeres were causally associated with a higher risk of AD using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Two-sample MR methods were applied to the summary effect sizes and standard errors from a genome-wide association study for AD. Twenty single nucleotide polymorphisms of genome-wide significance were selected as instrumental variables for leukocyte telomere length. The main analyses were performed primarily using the random-effects inverse-variance weighted method and complemented with the other three methods: weighted median approaches, MR-Egger regression, and weighted mode approach. The intercept of MR-Egger regression was used to assess horizontal pleiotropy. We found that longer telomeres were associated with lower risks of AD (odds ratio = 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.67, 0.93, P = 0.004). Comparable results were obtained using weighted median approaches, MR-Egger regression, and weighted mode approaches. The intercept of the MR-Egger regression was close to zero. This may show that there was not suggestive of horizontal pleiotropy. Our findings provided additional evidence regarding the putative causal association between shorter telomere length and the higher risk of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangping Yu
- Wuqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Zaihong Ma
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shouhai Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Unsicker C, Cristian FB, von Hahn M, Eckstein V, Rappold GA, Berkel S. SHANK2 mutations impair apoptosis, proliferation and neurite outgrowth during early neuronal differentiation in SH-SY5Y cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2128. [PMID: 33483523 PMCID: PMC7822837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81241-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
SHANK2 mutations have been identified in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we obtained SH-SY5Y cell lines with frameshift mutations on one or both SHANK2 alleles. We investigated the effects of the different SHANK2 mutations on cell morphology, cell proliferation and differentiation potential during early neuronal differentiation. All mutant cell lines showed impaired neuronal differentiation marker expression. Cells with bi-allelic SHANK2 mutations revealed diminished apoptosis and increased proliferation, as well as decreased neurite outgrowth during early neuronal differentiation. Bi-allelic SHANK2 mutations resulted in an increase in p-AKT levels, suggesting that SHANK2 mutations impair downstream signaling of tyrosine kinase receptors. Additionally, cells with bi-allelic SHANK2 mutations had lower amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression compared to controls, suggesting a molecular link between SHANK2 and APP. Together, we can show that frameshift mutations on one or both SHANK2 alleles lead to an alteration of neuronal differentiation in SH-SY5Y cells, characterized by changes in cell growth and pre- and postsynaptic protein expression. We also provide first evidence that downstream signaling of tyrosine kinase receptors and amyloid precursor protein expression are affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Unsicker
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Flavia-Bianca Cristian
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manja von Hahn
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Eckstein
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gudrun A Rappold
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Berkel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Mahady LJ, He B, Malek-Ahmadi M, Mufson EJ. Telomeric alterations in the default mode network during the progression of Alzheimer's disease: Selective vulnerability of the precuneus. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 47:428-440. [PMID: 33107640 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Although telomere length (TL) and telomere maintenance proteins (shelterins) are markers of cellular senescence and peripheral blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), little information is available on telomeric alterations during the prodromal stage (MCI) of AD. We investigated TL in the default mode network (DMN), which underlies episodic memory deficits in AD, as well as shelterin protein and mRNA levels in the precuneus (PreC). METHODS Telomere length was evaluated in DMN hubs and visual cortex using quantitative PCR (qPCR). In the PreC, western blotting and NanoString nCounter expression analyses evaluated shelterin protein and mRNA levels, respectively, in cases with an antemortem clinical diagnosis of no cognitive impairment (NCI), MCI and AD. RESULTS TL was significantly reduced in the PreC in MCI and AD compared to NCI, but stable in frontal, inferior temporal, posterior cingulate and visual cortex. PreC TL correlated significantly with performance on cognitive tests. NCI cases with high vs low Braak scores displayed significantly shorter TL in posterior cingulate and frontal cortex, which correlated significantly with neuritic and diffuse amyloid-β plaque counts. Shelterin protein levels (TIN2, TRF1, TRF2 and POT1) declined in MCI and AD compared to NCI. The PreC displayed stable expression of shelterins TERF1, TERF2, POT1, RAP1 and TPP1, while TINF2 mRNA significantly increased in AD compared to NCI. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate a selective vulnerability to telomere attrition within different nodes of the DMN in prodromal AD and in aged NCI individuals with high Braak scores highlighting a putative role in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Mahady
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Bin He
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Elliott J Mufson
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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45
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Fani L, Hilal S, Sedaghat S, Broer L, Licher S, Arp PP, van Meurs JBJ, Ikram MK, Ikram MA. Telomere Length and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: The Rotterdam Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 73:707-714. [PMID: 31839608 PMCID: PMC7029372 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There is a wide interest in biomarkers that capture the burden of detrimental factors as these accumulate with the passage of time, i.e., increasing age. Telomere length has received considerable attention as such a marker, because it is easily quantified and it may aid in disentangling the etiology of dementia or serve as predictive marker. We determined the association of telomere length with risk of Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause dementia in a population-based setting. Within the Rotterdam Study, we performed quantitative PCR to measure mean leukocyte telomere length in blood. We determined the association of telomere length with risk of Alzheimer’s disease until 2016, using Cox regression models. Of 1,961 participants (mean age 71.4±9.3 years, 57.1% women) with a median follow-up of 8.3 years, 237 individuals were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. We found a U-shaped association between telomere length and risk of Alzheimer’s disease: compared to the middle tertile the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.59 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–2.23) for the lowest tertile and 1.47 (1.03–2.10) for the highest tertile. Results were similarly U-shaped but slightly attenuated for all-cause dementia. In conclusion, shorter and longer telomere length are both associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Fani
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Saima Hilal
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanaz Sedaghat
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Linda Broer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Silvan Licher
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal P Arp
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - M Kamran Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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46
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Increased telomerase improves motor function and alpha-synuclein pathology in a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease associated with enhanced autophagy. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 199:101953. [PMID: 33188884 PMCID: PMC7938226 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase activators (TA) increase Tert expression in brains of a PD mouse model. Activator treatment improves PD motor symptoms: gait and balance. Activators reduce different forms of alpha-synuclein in brains of transgenic mice. Decreased autophagy markers LC3 and p62 suggest a better protein degradation. Our preclinical data suggest a use of TA to ameliorate PD-like symptoms.
Protective effects of the telomerase protein TERT have been shown in neurons and brain. We previously demonstrated that TERT protein can accumulate in mitochondria of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains and protect from pathological tau in primary mouse neurons. This prompted us to employ telomerase activators in order to boost telomerase expression in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) overexpressing human wild type α-synuclein. Our aim was to test whether increased Tert expression levels were able to ameliorate PD symptoms and to activate protein degradation. We found increased Tert expression in brain for both activators which correlated with a substantial improvement of motor functions such as gait and motor coordination while telomere length in the analysed region was not changed. Interestingly, only one activator (TA-65) resulted in a decrease of reactive oxygen species from brain mitochondria. Importantly, we demonstrate that total, phosphorylated and aggregated α-synuclein were significantly decreased in the hippocampus and neocortex of activator-treated mice corresponding to enhanced markers of autophagy suggesting an improved degradation of toxic alpha-synuclein. We conclude that increased Tert expression caused by telomerase activators is associated with decreased α-synuclein protein levels either by activating autophagy or by preventing or delaying impairment of degradation mechanisms during disease progression. This encouraging preclinical data could be translated into novel therapeutic options for neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.
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47
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Guo Y, Yu H. Leukocyte Telomere Length Shortening and Alzheimer's Disease Etiology. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 69:881-885. [PMID: 31156167 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several observational studies have found leukocyte telomere length (TL) to be associated with Alzheimer's diseases (AD) or dementia. However, these findings were based on small sample sizes and cannot clarify whether this relationship was causal. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants associated with TL, providing a valuable resource for examining the causal effect of TL on AD using Mendelian Randomization (MR) methods. OBJECTIVE To examine if TL was causally associated with AD using GWAS summary statistics. METHODS Using a genetic risk score comprised of seven variants associated with leukocyte TL as an instrumental variable, we tested whether shorter TL was associated with a higher risk of AD by applying an MR approach to the summarized genome-wide association study data. RESULTS The genetic risk score for TL was associated with higher risk of AD [log-odds ratio (OR) = 0.003 for per TL-decreasing allele; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001, 0.005, p = 0.005]. Moreover, the MR analysis provided support for shorter TL to be causally associated with a higher risk of AD (log-OR = 0.04 per SD-decrease of TL; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.08, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION We suggest that TL has a causal effect on the risk of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Guo
- Bao'An Hospital for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Haining Yu
- Department of Research, Shandong Cancer Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
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48
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Pańczyszyn A, Boniewska-Bernacka E, Goc A. The role of telomeres and telomerase in the senescence of postmitotic cells. DNA Repair (Amst) 2020; 95:102956. [PMID: 32937289 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2020.102956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Senescence is a process related to the stopping of divisions and changes leading the cell to the SASP phenotype. Permanent senescence of many SASP cells contributes to faster aging of the body and development of age-related diseases due to the release of pro-inflammatory factors. Both mitotically active and non-dividing cells can undergo senescence as a result of activation of different molecular pathways. Telomeres, referred to as the molecular clock, direct the dividing cell into the aging pathway when reaching a critical length. In turn, the senescence of postmitotic cells depends not on the length of telomeres, but their functionality. Dysfunctional telomeres are responsible for triggering the signaling of DNA damage response (DDR). Telomerase subunits in post-mitotic cells translocate between the nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria, participating in the regulation of their activity. Among other things, they contribute to the reduction of reactive oxygen species generation, which leads to telomere dysfunction and, consequently, senescence. Some proteins of the shelterin complex also play a protective role by inhibiting senescence-initiating kinases and limiting ROS production by mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pańczyszyn
- University of Opole, Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Biology and Genetics, Opole 45-040, Pl.Kopernika 11a, Poland.
| | - Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka
- University of Opole, Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Biology and Genetics, Opole 45-040, Pl.Kopernika 11a, Poland.
| | - Anna Goc
- University of Opole, Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Biology and Genetics, Opole 45-040, Pl.Kopernika 11a, Poland.
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Hsieh AY, Kimmel E, Pick N, Sauvé L, Brophy J, Kakkar F, Bitnun A, Murray MC, Côté HC. Inverse relationship between leukocyte telomere length attrition and blood mitochondrial DNA content loss over time. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:15196-15221. [PMID: 32703912 PMCID: PMC7467389 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and whole blood mitochondrial DNA (WB mtDNA) content are aging markers impacted by chronic diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We characterized the relationship between these two markers in 312 women ≥12 years of age living with HIV and 300 HIV-negative controls. We found no relationship between the two markers cross-sectionally. In multivariable models, age, ethnicity, HIV, and tobacco smoking were independently associated with shorter LTL, and the former three with lower WB mtDNA. Longitudinally, among a subgroup of 228 HIV participants and 68 HIV-negative controls with ≥2 biospecimens ≥1 year apart, an inverted pattern was observed between the rates of change in LTL and WB mtDNA content per year, whereby faster decline of one was associated with the preservation of the other. Furthermore, if HIV viral control was not maintained between visits, increased rates of both LTL attrition and WB mtDNA loss were observed. We describe a novel relationship between two established aging markers, whereby rates of change in LTL and WB mtDNA are inversely related. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining HIV viral control, the complementary longitudinal relationship between the two markers, and the need to consider both in aging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Y.Y. Hsieh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2B5, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elana Kimmel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2B5, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Neora Pick
- Oak Tree Clinic, BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver V6H 3N1, British Columbia, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver V6H 2N9, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V5Z 1M9, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Laura Sauvé
- Oak Tree Clinic, BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver V6H 3N1, British Columbia, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver V6H 2N9, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6H 0B3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Brophy
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa K1H 8L1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fatima Kakkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universtaire Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal H3T 1C5, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ari Bitnun
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie C.M. Murray
- Oak Tree Clinic, BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver V6H 3N1, British Columbia, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver V6H 2N9, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V5Z 1M9, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hélène C.F. Côté
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2B5, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver V6H 2N9, British Columbia, Canada
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50
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Levstek T, Kozjek E, Dolžan V, Trebušak Podkrajšek K. Telomere Attrition in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:219. [PMID: 32760251 PMCID: PMC7373805 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere attrition is increased in various disorders and is therefore a potential biomarker for diagnosis and/or prognosis of these disorders. The contribution of telomere attrition in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders is yet to be fully elucidated. We are reviewing the current knowledge regarding the telomere biology in two common neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Furthermore, we are discussing future prospective of telomere research in these disorders. The majority of studies reported consistent evidence of the accelerated telomere attrition in AD patients, possibly in association with elevated oxidative stress levels. On the other hand in PD, various studies reported contradictory evidence regarding telomere attrition. Consequently, due to the low specificity and sensitivity, the clinical benefit of telomere length as a biomarker of neurodegenerative disease development and progression is not yet recognized. Nevertheless, longitudinal studies in large carefully selected cohorts might provide further elucidation of the complex involvement of the telomeres in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Telomere length maintenance is a complex process characterized by environmental, genetic, and epigenetic determinants. Thus, in addition to the selection of the study cohort, also the selection of analytical methods and types of biological samples for evaluation of the telomere attrition is of utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Levstek
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Kozjek
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vita Dolžan
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katarina Trebušak Podkrajšek
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Clinical Institute for Special Laboratory Diagnostics, University Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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