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Procopio N, Bonicelli A. From flesh to bones: Multi-omics approaches in forensic science. Proteomics 2024; 24:e2200335. [PMID: 38683823 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202200335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Recent advancements in omics techniques have revolutionised the study of biological systems, enabling the generation of high-throughput biomolecular data. These innovations have found diverse applications, ranging from personalised medicine to forensic sciences. While the investigation of multiple aspects of cells, tissues or entire organisms through the integration of various omics approaches (such as genomics, epigenomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) has already been established in fields like biomedicine and cancer biology, its full potential in forensic sciences remains only partially explored. In this review, we have presented a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art analytical platforms employed in omics research, with specific emphasis on their application in the forensic field for the identification of the cadaver and the cause of death. Moreover, we have conducted a critical analysis of the computational integration of omics approaches, and highlighted the latest advancements in employing multi-omics techniques for forensic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Procopio
- Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Experimental Taphonomy, School of Law and Policing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Andrea Bonicelli
- Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Experimental Taphonomy, School of Law and Policing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
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2
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Villa C, Combi R. Epigenetics in Alzheimer's Disease: A Critical Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5970. [PMID: 38892155 PMCID: PMC11173284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications have been implicated in a number of complex diseases as well as being a hallmark of organismal aging. Several reports have indicated an involvement of these changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk and progression, most likely contributing to the dysregulation of AD-related gene expression measured by DNA methylation studies. Given that DNA methylation is tissue-specific and that AD is a brain disorder, the limitation of these studies is the ability to identify clinically useful biomarkers in a proxy tissue, reflective of the tissue of interest, that would be less invasive, more cost-effective, and easily obtainable. The age-related DNA methylation changes have also been used to develop different generations of epigenetic clocks devoted to measuring the aging in different tissues that sometimes suggests an age acceleration in AD patients. This review critically discusses epigenetic changes and aging measures as potential biomarkers for AD detection, prognosis, and progression. Given that epigenetic alterations are chemically reversible, treatments aiming at reversing these modifications will be also discussed as promising therapeutic strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Romina Combi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
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3
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Arleo A, Bareš M, Bernard JA, Bogoian HR, Bruchhage MMK, Bryant P, Carlson ES, Chan CCH, Chen LK, Chung CP, Dotson VM, Filip P, Guell X, Habas C, Jacobs HIL, Kakei S, Lee TMC, Leggio M, Misiura M, Mitoma H, Olivito G, Ramanoël S, Rezaee Z, Samstag CL, Schmahmann JD, Sekiyama K, Wong CHY, Yamashita M, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Cerebellum and Ageing. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:802-832. [PMID: 37428408 PMCID: PMC10776824 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Given the key roles of the cerebellum in motor, cognitive, and affective operations and given the decline of brain functions with aging, cerebellar circuitry is attracting the attention of the scientific community. The cerebellum plays a key role in timing aspects of both motor and cognitive operations, including for complex tasks such as spatial navigation. Anatomically, the cerebellum is connected with the basal ganglia via disynaptic loops, and it receives inputs from nearly every region in the cerebral cortex. The current leading hypothesis is that the cerebellum builds internal models and facilitates automatic behaviors through multiple interactions with the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and spinal cord. The cerebellum undergoes structural and functional changes with aging, being involved in mobility frailty and related cognitive impairment as observed in the physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS) affecting older, functionally-preserved adults who show slowness and/or weakness. Reductions in cerebellar volume accompany aging and are at least correlated with cognitive decline. There is a strongly negative correlation between cerebellar volume and age in cross-sectional studies, often mirrored by a reduced performance in motor tasks. Still, predictive motor timing scores remain stable over various age groups despite marked cerebellar atrophy. The cerebello-frontal network could play a significant role in processing speed and impaired cerebellar function due to aging might be compensated by increasing frontal activity to optimize processing speed in the elderly. For cognitive operations, decreased functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) is correlated with lower performances. Neuroimaging studies highlight that the cerebellum might be involved in the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), independently of contributions of the cerebral cortex. Grey matter volume loss in AD is distinct from that seen in normal aging, occurring initially in cerebellar posterior lobe regions, and is associated with neuronal, synaptic and beta-amyloid neuropathology. Regarding depression, structural imaging studies have identified a relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebellar gray matter volume. In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and higher depressive symptom burden are associated with smaller gray matter volumes in the total cerebellum as well as the posterior cerebellum, vermis, and posterior Crus I. From the genetic/epigenetic standpoint, prominent DNA methylation changes in the cerebellum with aging are both in the form of hypo- and hyper-methylation, and the presumably increased/decreased expression of certain genes might impact on motor coordination. Training influences motor skills and lifelong practice might contribute to structural maintenance of the cerebellum in old age, reducing loss of grey matter volume and therefore contributing to the maintenance of cerebellar reserve. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques are increasingly being applied to enhance cerebellar functions related to motor, cognitive, and affective operations. They might enhance cerebellar reserve in the elderly. In conclusion, macroscopic and microscopic changes occur in the cerebellum during the lifespan, with changes in structural and functional connectivity with both the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. With the aging of the population and the impact of aging on quality of life, the panel of experts considers that there is a huge need to clarify how the effects of aging on the cerebellar circuitry modify specific motor, cognitive, and affective operations both in normal subjects and in brain disorders such as AD or MDD, with the goal of preventing symptoms or improving the motor, cognitive, and affective symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Arleo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Martin Bareš
- First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and St. Anne's Teaching Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hannah R Bogoian
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Muriel M K Bruchhage
- Department of Psychology, Stavanger University, Institute of Social Sciences, Kjell Arholms Gate 41, 4021, Stavanger, Norway
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Box 89, De Crespigny Park, London, PO, SE5 8AF, UK
- Rhode Island Hospital, Department for Diagnostic Imaging, 1 Hoppin St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Patrick Bryant
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik, Arnimallee 12, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erik S Carlson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chetwyn C H Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liang-Kung Chen
- Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ping Chung
- Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vonetta M Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pavel Filip
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christophe Habas
- CHNO Des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France
- Université Versailles St Quentin en Yvelines, Paris, France
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Misiura
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Stephen Ramanoël
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France
| | - Zeynab Rezaee
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Colby L Samstag
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ataxia Center, Cognitive Behavioural neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaoru Sekiyama
- Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Clive H Y Wong
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Masatoshi Yamashita
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium.
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4
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Lossi L, Castagna C, Merighi A. An Overview of the Epigenetic Modifications in the Brain under Normal and Pathological Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3881. [PMID: 38612690 PMCID: PMC11011998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073881] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic changes are changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence. These changes lead to establishing a so-called epigenetic code that dictates which and when genes are activated, thus orchestrating gene regulation and playing a central role in development, health, and disease. The brain, being mostly formed by cells that do not undergo a renewal process throughout life, is highly prone to the risk of alterations leading to neuronal death and neurodegenerative disorders, mainly at a late age. Here, we review the main epigenetic modifications that have been described in the brain, with particular attention on those related to the onset of developmental anomalies or neurodegenerative conditions and/or occurring in old age. DNA methylation and several types of histone modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, lactylation, and crotonylation) are major players in these processes. They are directly or indirectly involved in the onset of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Therefore, this review briefly describes the roles of these epigenetic changes in the mechanisms of brain development, maturation, and aging and some of the most important factors dynamically regulating or contributing to these changes, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adalberto Merighi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (L.L.); (C.C.)
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5
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Horvath S, Singh K, Raj K, Khairnar SI, Sanghavi A, Shrivastava A, Zoller JA, Li CZ, Herenu CB, Canatelli-Mallat M, Lehmann M, Habazin S, Novokmet M, Vučković F, Solberg Woods LC, Martinez AG, Wang T, Chiavellini P, Levine AJ, Chen H, Brooke RT, Gordevicius J, Lauc G, Goya RG, Katcher HL. Reversal of biological age in multiple rat organs by young porcine plasma fraction. GeroScience 2024; 46:367-394. [PMID: 37875652 PMCID: PMC10828479 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00980-6] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Young blood plasma is known to confer beneficial effects on various organs in mice and rats. However, it was not known whether plasma from young adult pigs rejuvenates old rat tissues at the epigenetic level; whether it alters the epigenetic clock, which is a highly accurate molecular biomarker of aging. To address this question, we developed and validated six different epigenetic clocks for rat tissues that are based on DNA methylation values derived from n = 613 tissue samples. As indicated by their respective names, the rat pan-tissue clock can be applied to DNA methylation profiles from all rat tissues, while the rat brain, liver, and blood clocks apply to the corresponding tissue types. We also developed two epigenetic clocks that apply to both human and rat tissues by adding n = 1366 human tissue samples to the training data. We employed these six rat clocks to investigate the rejuvenation effects of a porcine plasma fraction treatment in different rat tissues. The treatment more than halved the epigenetic ages of blood, heart, and liver tissue. A less pronounced, but statistically significant, rejuvenation effect could be observed in the hypothalamus. The treatment was accompanied by progressive improvement in the function of these organs as ascertained through numerous biochemical/physiological biomarkers, behavioral responses encompassing cognitive functions. An immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation pattern shift from pro- to anti-inflammatory also indicated reversal of glycan aging. Overall, this study demonstrates that a young porcine plasma-derived treatment markedly reverses aging in rats according to epigenetic clocks, IgG glycans, and other biomarkers of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Altos Labs, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Kavita Singh
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mumbai, India
| | | | - Shraddha I Khairnar
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mumbai, India
| | | | | | - Joseph A Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Caesar Z Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Claudia B Herenu
- Institute for Experimental Pharmacology of Cordoba (IFEC), School of Chemical Sciences, National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
| | - Martina Canatelli-Mallat
- Biochemistry Research Institute of La Plata-Histology B, Pathology B, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Marianne Lehmann
- Biochemistry Research Institute of La Plata-Histology B, Pathology B, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Leah C Solberg Woods
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Drive, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Angel Garcia Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tengfei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Priscila Chiavellini
- Biochemistry Research Institute of La Plata-Histology B, Pathology B, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Andrew J Levine
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Gordan Lauc
- Genos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Zagreb, Croatia
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- Biochemistry Research Institute of La Plata-Histology B, Pathology B, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
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6
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Wang Y, Grant OA, Zhai X, Mcdonald-Maier KD, Schalkwyk LC. Insights into ageing rates comparison across tissues from recalibrating cerebellum DNA methylation clock. GeroScience 2024; 46:39-56. [PMID: 37597113 PMCID: PMC10828477 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00871-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm)-based age clocks have been studied extensively as a biomarker of human ageing and a risk factor for age-related diseases. Despite different tissues having vastly different rates of proliferation, it is still largely unknown whether they age at different rates. It was previously reported that the cerebellum ages slowly; however, this claim was drawn from a single clock using a relatively small sample size and so warrants further investigation. We collected the largest cerebellum DNAm dataset (N = 752) to date. We found the respective epigenetic ages are all severely underestimated by six representative DNAm age clocks, with the underestimation effects more pronounced in the four clocks whose training datasets do not include brain-related tissues. We identified 613 age-associated CpGs in the cerebellum, which accounts for only 14.5% of the number found in the middle temporal gyrus from the same population (N = 404). From the 613 cerebellum age-associated CpGs, we built a highly accurate age prediction model for the cerebellum named CerebellumClockspecific (Pearson correlation=0.941, MAD=3.18 years). Ageing rate comparisons based on the two tissue-specific clocks constructed on the 201 overlapping age-associated CpGs support the cerebellum has younger DNAm age. Nevertheless, we built BrainCortexClock to prove a single DNAm clock is able to unbiasedly estimate DNAm ages of both cerebellum and cerebral cortex, when they are adequately and equally represented in the training dataset. Comparing ageing rates across tissues using DNA methylation multi-tissue clocks is flawed. The large underestimation of age prediction for cerebellums by previous clocks mainly reflects the improper usage of these age clocks. There exist strong and consistent ageing effects on the cerebellar methylome, and we suggest the smaller number of age-associated CpG sites in cerebellum is largely attributed to its extremely low average cell replication rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Wang
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Olivia A Grant
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
- Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Xiaojun Zhai
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
| | - Klaus D Mcdonald-Maier
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
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7
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Mitteldorf J. Biological Clocks: Why We Need Them, Why We Cannot Trust Them, How They Might Be Improved. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:356-366. [PMID: 38622101 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924020135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Late in life, the body is at war with itself. There is a program of self-destruction (phenoptosis) implemented via epigenetic and other changes. I refer to these as type (1) epigenetic changes. But the body retains a deep instinct for survival, and other epigenetic changes unfold in response to a perception of accumulated damage (type (2)). In the past decade, epigenetic clocks have promised to accelerate the search for anti-aging interventions by permitting prompt, reliable, and convenient measurement of their effects on lifespan without having to wait for trial results on mortality and morbidity. However, extant clocks do not distinguish between type (1) and type (2). Reversing type (1) changes extends lifespan, but reversing type (2) shortens lifespan. This is why all extant epigenetic clocks may be misleading. Separation of type (1) and type (2) epigenetic changes will lead to more reliable clock algorithms, but this cannot be done with statistics alone. New experiments are proposed. Epigenetic changes are the means by which the body implements phenoptosis, but they do not embody a clock mechanism, so they cannot be the body's primary timekeeper. The timekeeping mechanism is not yet understood, though there are hints that it may be (partially) located in the hypothalamus. For the future, we expect that the most fundamental measurement of biological age will observe this clock directly, and the most profound anti-aging interventions will manipulate it.
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8
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Dutta S, Goodrich JM, Dolinoy DC, Ruden DM. Biological Aging Acceleration Due to Environmental Exposures: An Exciting New Direction in Toxicogenomics Research. Genes (Basel) 2023; 15:16. [PMID: 38275598 PMCID: PMC10815440 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010016] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological clock technologies are designed to assess the acceleration of biological age (B-age) in diverse cell types, offering a distinctive opportunity in toxicogenomic research to explore the impact of environmental stressors, social challenges, and unhealthy lifestyles on health impairment. These clocks also play a role in identifying factors that can hinder aging and promote a healthy lifestyle. Over the past decade, researchers in epigenetics have developed testing methods that predict the chronological and biological age of organisms. These methods rely on assessing DNA methylation (DNAm) levels at specific CpG sites, RNA levels, and various biomolecules across multiple cell types, tissues, and entire organisms. Commonly known as 'biological clocks' (B-clocks), these estimators hold promise for gaining deeper insights into the pathways contributing to the development of age-related disorders. They also provide a foundation for devising biomedical or social interventions to prevent, reverse, or mitigate these disorders. This review article provides a concise overview of various epigenetic clocks and explores their susceptibility to environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Dutta
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.M.G.); (D.C.D.)
| | - Dana C. Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.M.G.); (D.C.D.)
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Douglas M. Ruden
- C. S. Mott Center for Human Health and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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9
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Arai K, Qi H, Inoue-Murayama M. Age estimation of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) based on DNA methylation: An exploratory analysis using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294994. [PMID: 38079426 PMCID: PMC10712859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Age is an important parameter for bettering the understanding of biodemographic trends-development, survival, reproduction and environmental effects-critical for conservation. However, current age estimation methods are challenging to apply to many species, and no standardised technique has been adopted yet. This study examined the potential use of methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM), a labour-, time-, and cost-effective method to estimate chronological age from DNA methylation in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The objective of this study was to investigate the accuracy and validation of MS-HRM use for age determination in long-lived species, such as Asian elephants. The average lifespan of Asian elephants is between 50-70 years but some have been known to survive for more than 80 years. DNA was extracted from 53 blood samples of captive Asian elephants across 11 zoos in Japan, with known ages ranging from a few months to 65 years. Methylation rates of two candidate age-related epigenetic genes, RALYL and TET2, were significantly correlated with chronological age. Finally, we established a linear, unisex age estimation model with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.36 years. This exploratory study suggests an avenue to further explore MS-HRM as an alternative method to estimate the chronological age of Asian elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kana Arai
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Huiyuan Qi
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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10
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Mir FA, Amanullah A, Jain BP, Hyderi Z, Gautam A. Neuroepigenetics of ageing and neurodegeneration-associated dementia: An updated review. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102067. [PMID: 37689143 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression is tremendously altered in the brain during memory acquisition, recall, and forgetfulness. However, non-genetic factors, including environmental elements, epigenetic changes, and lifestyle, have grabbed significant attention in recent years regarding the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) and age-associated dementia. Epigenetic modifications are essential in regulating gene expression in all living organisms in a DNA sequence-independent manner. The genes implicated in ageing and NDD-related memory disorders are epigenetically regulated by processes such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation as well as messenger RNA editing machinery. The physiological and optimal state of the epigenome, especially within the CNS of humans, plays an intricate role in helping us adjust to the changing environment, and alterations in it cause many brain disorders, but the mechanisms behind it still need to be well understood. When fully understood, these epigenetic landscapes could act as vital targets for pharmacogenetic rescue strategies for treating several diseases, including neurodegeneration- and age-induced dementia. Keeping this objective in mind, this updated review summarises the epigenetic changes associated with age and neurodegeneration-associated dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fayaz Ahmad Mir
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Zeeshan Hyderi
- Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Akash Gautam
- Centre for Neural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India.
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11
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Liu L, Qi X, Cheng S, Meng P, Yang X, Pan C, Zhang N, Chen Y, Li C, Zhang H, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Cheng B, Wen Y, Jia Y, Liu H, Zhang F. Epigenetic analysis suggests aberrant cerebellum brain aging in old-aged adults with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4867-4876. [PMID: 37612365 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The aberrant aging hypothesis of schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been proposed, and the DNA methylation (DNAm) clock, which is a cumulative evaluation of DNAm levels at age-related CpGs, could serve as a biological aging indicator. This study evaluated epigenetic brain aging of ASD and SCZ using Horvath's epigenetic clock, based on two public genome-wide DNA methylation datasets of post-mortem brain samples (NASD = 222; NSCZ = 142). Total subjects were further divided into subgroups by gender and age. The epigenetic age acceleration (AgeAccel) for each sample was calculated as the residual value resulting from the regression model and compared between groups. Results showed DNAm age has a strong correlation with chronological age in both datasets across multiple brain regions (P < 0.05). When divided into equally sized age groups, the AgeAccel of the cerebellum (CB) region from people over 45 years of age was greater compared to the control sample (AgeAccel of ASD vs control: 5.069 vs -6.249; P < 0.001). And a decelerated epigenetic aging process was observed in the CB region of individuals with SCZ aged 50-70 years (AgeAccel of SCZ vs control: -3.171 vs 2.418; P < 0.05). However, our results showed no significant difference in AgeAccel between ASD and control groups, and between SCZ and control groups in the total and gender-specific groups (P > 0.05). This study's results revealed some evidence for aberrant epigenetic CB brain aging in old-aged patients with ASD and SCZ, indicating a different pattern of CB aging in older adults with these two diseases. However, further studies of larger ASD and SCZ cohorts are necessary to make definitive conclusions on this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Xin Qi
- Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Shiqiang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Peilin Meng
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Xuena Yang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Chuyu Pan
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Na Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Yujing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Chune Li
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Huijie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Jingxi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Bolun Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wen
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Yumeng Jia
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Huan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China.
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P. R. China.
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Solovieva OA, Gruden MA, Kudrin VS, Mikhailova NP, Narkevich VB, Sherstnev VV, Storozheva ZI. Motor and Cognitive Functions in Aging C57BL/6 Mice: Association with Activity of the Monoaminergic Systems in the Cerebellum and Frontal Cortex. Bull Exp Biol Med 2023; 175:739-743. [PMID: 37978148 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-023-05936-6] [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: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The activity in the open field, short- and long-term memory in the novel object recognition test, and gait features were evaluated in 6- and 12-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. The levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites were determined in the cerebellum and frontal cortex. In the observed age range, a decrease in locomotion speed, impairment of gait initiation and stability, and long-term memory deficit were revealed. In the cerebral cortex, reduced levels of dopamine and its metabolites and accelerated metabolism of all neurotransmitters under study were found. In the cerebellum, the content of all studied monoamines was elevated, while dopamine metabolism was decelerated. Analysis of correlations between the neurochemical and behavioral parameters showed that the mechanisms of compensation of brain functions during the early aging may be associated with an increase in activity of the monoaminergic systems in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- O A Solovieva
- P. K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - M A Gruden
- P. K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - V S Kudrin
- V. V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology, Moscow, Russia
| | - N P Mikhailova
- P. K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - V B Narkevich
- V. V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology, Moscow, Russia
| | - V V Sherstnev
- P. K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Z I Storozheva
- P. K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Moscow, Russia.
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13
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Tan L, Shi J, Moghadami S, Parasar B, Wright CP, Seo Y, Vallejo K, Cobos I, Duncan L, Chen R, Deisseroth K. Lifelong restructuring of 3D genome architecture in cerebellar granule cells. Science 2023; 381:1112-1119. [PMID: 37676945 PMCID: PMC11059189 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum contains most of the neurons in the human brain and exhibits distinctive modes of development and aging. In this work, by developing our single-cell three-dimensional (3D) genome assay-diploid chromosome conformation capture, or Dip-C-into population-scale (Pop-C) and virus-enriched (vDip-C) modes, we resolved the first 3D genome structures of single cerebellar cells, created life-spanning 3D genome atlases for both humans and mice, and jointly measured transcriptome and chromatin accessibility during development. We found that although the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of cerebellar granule neurons mature in early postnatal life, 3D genome architecture gradually remodels throughout life, establishing ultra-long-range intrachromosomal contacts and specific interchromosomal contacts that are rarely seen in neurons. These results reveal unexpected evolutionarily conserved molecular processes that underlie distinctive features of neural development and aging across the mammalian life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longzhi Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Jenny Shi
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Siavash Moghadami
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Bibudha Parasar
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Cydney P. Wright
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Yunji Seo
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Kristen Vallejo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Inma Cobos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Laramie Duncan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Ritchie Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, 94305
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14
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Jeremic D, Jiménez-Díaz L, Navarro-López JD. Targeting epigenetics: A novel promise for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:102003. [PMID: 37422087 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
So far, the search for a cure for Alzheimer Disease (AD) has been unsuccessful. The only approved drugs attenuate some symptoms, but do not halt the progress of this disease, which affects 50 million people worldwide and will increase its incidence in the coming decades. Such scenario demands new therapeutic approaches to fight against this devastating dementia. In recent years, multi-omics research and the analysis of differential epigenetic marks in AD subjects have contributed to our understanding of AD; however, the impact of epigenetic research is yet to be seen. This review integrates the most recent data on pathological processes and epigenetic changes relevant for aging and AD, as well as current therapies targeting epigenetic machinery in clinical trials. Evidence shows that epigenetic modifications play a key role in gene expression, which could provide multi-target preventative and therapeutic approaches in AD. Both novel and repurposed drugs are employed in AD clinical trials due to their epigenetic effects, as well as increasing number of natural compounds. Given the reversible nature of epigenetic modifications and the complexity of gene-environment interactions, the combination of epigenetic-based therapies with environmental strategies and drugs with multiple targets might be needed to properly help AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danko Jeremic
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, NeuroPhysiology & Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Lydia Jiménez-Díaz
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, NeuroPhysiology & Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Juan D Navarro-López
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, NeuroPhysiology & Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, Spain.
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15
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Ventham NT, Kennedy NA, Kalla R, Adams AT, Noble A, Ennis H, Mowat C, Dunlop MG, Satsangi J. Genome-Wide Methylation Profiling in 229 Patients With Crohn's Disease Requiring Intestinal Resection: Epigenetic Analysis of the Trial of Prevention of Post-operative Crohn's Disease (TOPPIC). Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 16:431-450. [PMID: 37331566 PMCID: PMC10372903 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS DNA methylation alterations may provide important insights into gene-environment interaction in cancer, aging, and complex diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aim first to determine whether the circulating DNA methylome in patients requiring surgery may predict Crohn's disease (CD) recurrence following intestinal resection; and second to compare the circulating methylome seen in patients with established CD with that we had reported in a series of inception cohorts. METHODS TOPPIC was a placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial of 6-mercaptopurine at 29 UK centers in patients with CD undergoing ileocolic resection between 2008 and 2012. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples from 229 of the 240 patients taken before intestinal surgery and analyzed using 450KHumanMethylation and Infinium Omni Express Exome arrays (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Coprimary objectives were to determine whether methylation alterations may predict clinical disease recurrence; and to assess whether the epigenetic alterations previously reported in newly diagnosed IBD were present in the patients with CD recruited into the TOPPIC study. Differential methylation and variance analysis was performed comparing patients with and without clinical evidence of recurrence. Secondary analyses included investigation of methylation associations with smoking, genotype (MeQTLs), and chronologic age. Validation of our previously published case-control observation of the methylome was performed using historical control data (CD, n = 123; Control, n = 198). RESULTS CD recurrence in patients following surgery is associated with 5 differentially methylated positions (Holm P < .05), including probes mapping to WHSC1 (P = 4.1 × 10-9, Holm P = .002) and EFNA3 (P = 4.9 × 10-8, Holm P = .02). Five differentially variable positions are demonstrated in the group of patients with evidence of disease recurrence including a probe mapping to MAD1L1 (P = 6.4 × 10-5). DNA methylation clock analyses demonstrated significant age acceleration in CD compared with control subjects (GrimAge + 2 years; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.7 years), with some evidence for accelerated aging in patients with CD with disease recurrence following surgery (GrimAge +1.04 years; 95% confidence interval, -0.04 to 2.22). Significant methylation differences between CD cases and control subjects were seen by comparing this cohort in conjunction with previously published control data, including validation of our previously described differentially methylated positions (RPS6KA2 P = 1.2 × 10-19, SBNO2 = 1.2 × 10-11) and regions (TXK [false discovery rate, P = 3.6 × 10-14], WRAP73 [false discovery rate, P = 1.9 × 10-9], VMP1 [false discovery rate, P = 1.7 × 10-7], and ITGB2 [false discovery rate, P = 1.4 × 10-7]). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate differential methylation and differentially variable methylation in patients developing clinical recurrence within 3 years of surgery. Moreover, we report replication of the CD-associated methylome, previously characterized only in adult and pediatric inception cohorts, in patients with medically refractory disease needing surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Ventham
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
| | - Nicholas A Kennedy
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Rahul Kalla
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Alex T Adams
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Noble
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Holly Ennis
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Craig Mowat
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm G Dunlop
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Satsangi
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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16
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van’t Sant LJ, Birkisdóttir MB, Ozinga RA, Gyenis Á, Hoeijmakers JH, Vermeij WP, Jaarsma D. Gene expression changes in cerebellum induced by dietary restriction. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1185665. [PMID: 37293544 PMCID: PMC10244750 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1185665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dietary restriction (DR) is a well-established universal anti-aging intervention, and is neuroprotective in multiple models of nervous system disease, including models with cerebellar pathology. The beneficial effects of DR are associated with a rearrangement of gene expression that modulate metabolic and cytoprotective pathways. However, the effect of DR on the cerebellar transcriptome remained to be fully defined. Results Here we analyzed the effect of a classical 30% DR protocol on the transcriptome of cerebellar cortex of young-adult male mice using RNAseq. We found that about 5% of expressed genes were differentially expressed in DR cerebellum, the far majority of whom showing subtle expression changes. A large proportion of down-regulated genes are implicated in signaling pathways, in particular pathways associated with neuronal signaling. DR up regulated pathways in large part were associated with cytoprotection and DNA repair. Analysis of the expression of cell-specific gene sets, indicated a strong enrichment of DR down genes in Purkinje cells, while genes specifically associated with granule cells did not show such a preferential down-regulation. Conclusion Our data show that DR may have a clear effect on the cerebellar transcriptome inducing a mild shift from physiology towards maintenance and repair, and having cell-type specific effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María B. Birkisdóttir
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rutger A. Ozinga
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ákos Gyenis
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan H.J. Hoeijmakers
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wilbert P. Vermeij
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Dick Jaarsma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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17
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Sommerer Y, Dobricic V, Schilling M, Ohlei O, Sabet SS, Wesse T, Fuß J, Franzenburg S, Franke A, Parkkinen L, Lill CM, Bertram L. Entorhinal cortex epigenome-wide association study highlights four novel loci showing differential methylation in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:92. [PMID: 37149695 PMCID: PMC10163801 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01232-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on DNA methylation (DNAm) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have recently highlighted several genomic loci showing association with disease onset and progression. METHODS Here, we conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) using DNAm profiles in entorhinal cortex (EC) from 149 AD patients and control brains and combined these with two previously published EC datasets by meta-analysis (total n = 337). RESULTS We identified 12 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites showing epigenome-wide significant association with either case-control status or Braak's tau-staging. Four of these CpGs, located in proximity to CNFN/LIPE, TENT5A, PALD1/PRF1, and DIRAS1, represent novel findings. Integrating DNAm levels with RNA sequencing-based mRNA expression data generated in the same individuals showed significant DNAm-mRNA correlations for 6 of the 12 significant CpGs. Lastly, by calculating rates of epigenetic age acceleration using two recently proposed "epigenetic clock" estimators we found a significant association with accelerated epigenetic aging in the brains of AD patients vs. controls. CONCLUSION In summary, our study represents the hitherto most comprehensive EWAS in AD using EC and highlights several novel differentially methylated loci with potential effects on gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Sommerer
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Valerija Dobricic
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Marcel Schilling
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Olena Ohlei
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sanaz Sedghpour Sabet
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tanja Wesse
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Janina Fuß
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sören Franzenburg
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Andre Franke
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Laura Parkkinen
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christina M Lill
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Ageing Epidemiology Unit (AGE), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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18
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Foster TC. Animal models for studies of alcohol effects on the trajectory of age-related cognitive decline. Alcohol 2023; 107:4-11. [PMID: 35504438 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in understanding how ethanol use interacts with advancing age to influence the brain and cognition. Animal models are employed to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases that underlie cognitive decline. However, all too often research on problems and diseases of the elderly are conducted in healthy young animals, providing little clinical relevance. The validity of animal models is discussed, and confounds due to age-related differences in anxiety, sensory-motor function, and procedural learning are highlighted in order to enhance the successful translation of preclinical results into clinical settings. The mechanism of action of ethanol on brain aging will depend on the dose, acute or chronic treatment, or withdrawal from treatment and the age examined. Due to the fact that humans experience alcohol use throughout life, important questions concern the effects of the dose and duration of ethanol treatment on the trajectory of cognitive function. Central to this research will be questions of the specificity of alcohol effects on cognitive functions and related brain regions that decline with age, as well as the interaction of alcohol with mechanisms or biomarkers of brain aging. Alternatively, moderate alcohol use may provide a source of reserve and resilience against brain aging. Longitudinal studies have the advantage of being sensitive to detecting the effects of treatment on the emergence of cognitive impairment in middle age and can minimize effects of stress/anxiety associated with the novelty of alcohol exposure and behavioral testing, which disproportionately influence aged animals. Finally, the effect of alcohol on senescent neurophysiology and biomarkers of brain aging are discussed. In particular, the interaction of age and effects of alcohol on inflammation, oxidative stress, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor function, and the balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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19
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Tan L, Shi J, Moghadami S, Wright CP, Parasar B, Seo Y, Vallejo K, Cobos I, Duncan L, Chen R, Deisseroth K. Cerebellar Granule Cells Develop Non-neuronal 3D Genome Architecture over the Lifespan. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.25.530020. [PMID: 36865235 PMCID: PMC9980173 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.25.530020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum contains most of the neurons in the human brain, and exhibits unique modes of development, malformation, and aging. For example, granule cells-the most abundant neuron type-develop unusually late and exhibit unique nuclear morphology. Here, by developing our high-resolution single-cell 3D genome assay Dip-C into population-scale (Pop-C) and virus-enriched (vDip-C) modes, we were able to resolve the first 3D genome structures of single cerebellar cells, create life-spanning 3D genome atlases for both human and mouse, and jointly measure transcriptome and chromatin accessibility during development. We found that while the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of human granule cells exhibit a characteristic maturation pattern within the first year of postnatal life, 3D genome architecture gradually remodels throughout life into a non-neuronal state with ultra-long-range intra-chromosomal contacts and specific inter-chromosomal contacts. This 3D genome remodeling is conserved in mice, and robust to heterozygous deletion of chromatin remodeling disease-associated genes (Chd8 or Arid1b). Together these results reveal unexpected and evolutionarily-conserved molecular processes underlying the unique development and aging of the mammalian cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longzhi Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Jenny Shi
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Siavash Moghadami
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Cydney P. Wright
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Bibudha Parasar
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Yunji Seo
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | | | - Inma Cobos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Laramie Duncan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Ritchie Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA
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20
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Murthy M, Shireby G, Miki Y, Viré E, Lashley T, Warner TT, Mill J, Bettencourt C. Epigenetic age acceleration is associated with oligodendrocyte proportions in MSA and control brain tissue. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12872. [PMID: 36542090 PMCID: PMC10107510 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12872] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Epigenetic clocks are widely applied as surrogates for biological age in different tissues and/or diseases, including several neurodegenerative diseases. Despite white matter (WM) changes often being observed in neurodegenerative diseases, no study has investigated epigenetic ageing in white matter. METHODS We analysed the performances of two DNA methylation-based clocks, DNAmClockMulti and DNAmClockCortical , in post-mortem WM tissue from multiple subcortical regions and the cerebellum, and in oligodendrocyte-enriched nuclei. We also examined epigenetic ageing in control and multiple system atrophy (MSA) (WM and mixed WM and grey matter), as MSA is a neurodegenerative disease comprising pronounced WM changes and α-synuclein aggregates in oligodendrocytes. RESULTS Estimated DNA methylation (DNAm) ages showed strong correlations with chronological ages, even in WM (e.g., DNAmClockCortical , r = [0.80-0.97], p < 0.05). However, performances and DNAm age estimates differed between clocks and brain regions. DNAmClockMulti significantly underestimated ages in all cohorts except in the MSA prefrontal cortex mixed tissue, whereas DNAmClockCortical tended towards age overestimations. Pronounced age overestimations in the oligodendrocyte-enriched cohorts (e.g., oligodendrocyte-enriched nuclei, p = 6.1 × 10-5 ) suggested that this cell type ages faster. Indeed, significant positive correlations were observed between estimated oligodendrocyte proportions and DNAm age acceleration estimated by DNAmClockCortical (r > 0.31, p < 0.05), and similar trends were obtained with DNAmClockMulti . Although increased age acceleration was observed in MSA compared with controls, no significant differences were detected upon adjustment for possible confounders (e.g., cell-type proportions). CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that oligodendrocyte proportions positively influence epigenetic age acceleration across brain regions and highlight the need to further investigate this in ageing and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Murthy
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Gemma Shireby
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Yasuo Miki
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain ScienceHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Emmanuelle Viré
- UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, MRC Prion Unit at UCLUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology1 Wakefield StreetLondonWC1N 1PJUK
| | - Thomas T. Warner
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Reta Lila Weston InstituteUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology1 Wakefield StreetLondonWC1N 1PJUK
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21
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Epigenetic age provides insight into tissue origin in endometriosis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21281. [PMID: 36481772 PMCID: PMC9732286 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25416-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a common reproductive disease with a heterogeneous presentation. Classification attempts have thus far not offered insight into its cause or its symptoms. Endometriosis may result from the migration of shed endometrium to the peritoneal cavity. However, there are cases reported in girls without uteruses and men. While a non-retrograde menstruation origin of ectopic tissue is certain in these cases, we explored the use of DNA methylation age (DNAm age) to distinguish between retrograde and non-retrograde tissue origin in endometriosis. Using publicly available DNA methylation data and Horvath's pan-tissue epigenetic clock, we compared DNAm age and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) of ectopic lesions to eutopic endometrium of diseased and control endometrium. We examined EAA in cancer metastasis and teratomas to control for migration and developmental origin. Disease status does not change DNAm age of eutopic endometrium, but the effect of ectopic status was profound: - 16.88 years (p = 4.82 × 10-7). There were no differences between EAA of primary/metastatic tumor paired samples, suggesting that the observed effect is not due to tissue migration or ectopic location. Immature or mature teratoma compartments decreased DNAm age by 9.44 and 7.40 years respectively, suggesting that developmental state correlates with DNAm age. Ectopic endometriotic tissue exhibits decelerated DNAm age, similar to that observed in teratomas composed of multipotent tissue, but distinct from eutopic tissue. The migration process does not change DNAm age and eutopic endometrium is concordant with chronological age regardless of disease status. We conclude that DNAm age of ectopic lesions suggests a distinct developmental origin for a subset of lesions. This finding may assist in classifying endometriosis into distinct subtypes that may be clinically relevant.
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22
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Liu X, Li XJ, Lin L. Dynamic 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Change: Implication for Aging of Non-Human Primate Brain. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6040041. [PMID: 36547250 PMCID: PMC9777599 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6040041] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Profiling of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in the brain regions of rhesus monkey at different ages reveals accumulation and tissue-specific patterns of 5hmC with aging. Region-specific differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) are involved in neuronal functions and signal transduction. These data suggest that 5hmC may be a key regulator of gene transcription in neurodevelopment and thus a potential candidate for the epigenetic clock. Importantly, non-human primates are the ideal animal models for investigation of human aging and diseases not only because they are more genetically similar to humans but also epigenetically.
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23
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Anusha-Kiran Y, Mol P, Dey G, Bhat FA, Chatterjee O, Deolankar SC, Philip M, Prasad TSK, Srinivas Bharath MM, Mahadevan A. Regional heterogeneity in mitochondrial function underlies region specific vulnerability in human brain ageing: Implications for neurodegeneration. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 193:34-57. [PMID: 36195160 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.09.027] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Selective neuronal vulnerability (SNV) of specific neuroanatomical regions such as frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus (HC) is characteristic of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), although its pathogenetic basis remains unresolved. We hypothesized that physiological differences in mitochondrial function in neuroanatomical regions could contribute to SNV. To investigate this, we evaluated mitochondrial function in human brains (age range:1-90 y) in FC, striatum (ST), HC, cerebellum (CB) and medulla oblongata (MD), using enzyme assays and quantitative proteomics. Striking differences were noted in resistant regions- MD and CB compared to the vulnerable regions- FC, HC and ST. At younger age (25 ± 5 y), higher activity of electron transport chain enzymes and upregulation of metabolic and antioxidant proteins were noted in MD compared to FC and HC, that was sustained with increasing age (≥65 y). In contrast, the expression of synaptic proteins was higher in FC, HC and ST (vs. MD). In line with this, quantitative phospho-proteomics revealed activation of upstream regulators (ERS, PPARα) of mitochondrial metabolism and inhibition of synaptic pathways in MD. Microtubule Associated Protein Tau (MAPT) showed overexpression in FC, HC and ST both in young and older age (vs. MD). MAPT hyperphosphorylation and the activation of its kinases were noted in FC and HC with age. Our study demonstrates that regional heterogeneity in mitochondrial and other cellular functions contribute to SNV and protect regions such as MD, while rendering FC and HC vulnerable to NDDs. The findings also support the "last in, first out" hypothesis of ageing, wherein regions such as FC, that are the most recent to develop phylogenetically and ontogenetically, are the first to be affected in ageing and NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarlagadda Anusha-Kiran
- Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), No. 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India; Department of Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology, NIMHANS, No. 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - Praseeda Mol
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, White Field, Bangalore, 560066, India; Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, 690525, India
| | - Gourav Dey
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, White Field, Bangalore, 560066, India
| | - Firdous Ahmad Bhat
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, White Field, Bangalore, 560066, India
| | - Oishi Chatterjee
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, White Field, Bangalore, 560066, India; Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, 690525, India
| | - Sayali Chandrashekhar Deolankar
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Mariamma Philip
- Department of Biostatistics, NIMHANS, No. 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - T S Keshava Prasad
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India.
| | - M M Srinivas Bharath
- Department of Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology, NIMHANS, No. 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India.
| | - Anita Mahadevan
- Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), No. 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India.
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24
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Gomaa N, Konwar C, Gladish N, Au-Young SH, Guo T, Sheng M, Merrill SM, Kelly E, Chau V, Branson HM, Ly LG, Duerden EG, Grunau RE, Kobor MS, Miller SP. Association of Pediatric Buccal Epigenetic Age Acceleration With Adverse Neonatal Brain Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Among Children Born Very Preterm With a Neonatal Infection. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2239796. [PMID: 36322087 PMCID: PMC9631102 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.39796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Very preterm neonates (24-32 weeks' gestation) remain at a higher risk of morbidity and neurodevelopmental adversity throughout their lifespan. Because the extent of prematurity alone does not fully explain the risk of adverse neonatal brain growth or neurodevelopmental outcomes, there is a need for neonatal biomarkers to help estimate these risks in this population. OBJECTIVES To characterize the pediatric buccal epigenetic (PedBE) clock-a recently developed tool to measure biological aging-among very preterm neonates and to assess its association with the extent of prematurity, neonatal comorbidities, neonatal brain growth, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective cohort study was conducted in 2 neonatal intensive care units of 2 hospitals in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A total of 35 very preterm neonates (24-32 weeks' gestation) were recruited in 2017 and 2018, and neuroimaging was performed and buccal swab samples were acquired at 2 time points: the first in early life (median postmenstrual age, 32.9 weeks [IQR, 32.0-35.0 weeks]) and the second at term-equivalent age (TEA) at a median postmenstrual age of 43.0 weeks (IQR, 41.0-46.0 weeks). Follow-ups for neurodevelopmental assessments were completed in 2019 and 2020. All neonates in this cohort had at least 1 infection because they were originally enrolled to assess the association of neonatal infection with neurodevelopment. Neonates with congenital malformations, genetic syndromes, or congenital TORCH (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes and other agents) infection were excluded. EXPOSURES The extent of prematurity was measured by gestational age at birth and PedBE age difference. PedBE age was computed using DNA methylation obtained from 94 age-informative CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanosine) sites. PedBE age difference (weeks) was calculated by subtracting PedBE age at each time point from the corresponding postmenstrual age. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Total cerebral volumes and cerebral growth during the neonatal intensive care unit period were obtained from magnetic resonance imaging scans at 2 time points: approximately the first 2 weeks of life and at TEA. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, were used to assess neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months. RESULTS Among 35 very preterm neonates (21 boys [60.0%]; median gestational age, 27.0 weeks [IQR, 25.9-29.9 weeks]; 23 [65.7%] born extremely preterm [<28 weeks' gestation]), extremely preterm neonates had an accelerated PedBE age compared with neonates born at a later gestational age (β = 9.0; 95% CI, 2.7-15.3; P = .01). An accelerated PedBE age was also associated with smaller cerebral volumes (β = -5356.8; 95% CI, -6899.3 to -2961.7; P = .01) and slower cerebral growth (β = -2651.5; 95% CI, -5301.2 to -1164.1; P = .04); these associations remained significant after adjusting for clinical neonatal factors. These findings were significant at TEA but not earlier in life. Similarly, an accelerated PedBE age at TEA was associated with lower cognitive (β = -0.4; 95% CI, -0.8 to -0.03; P = .04) and language (β = -0.6; 95% CI, -1.1 to -0.06; P = .02) scores at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study of very preterm neonates suggests that biological aging may be associated with impaired brain growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The associations between epigenetic aging and adverse neonatal brain health warrant further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha Gomaa
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chaini Konwar
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole Gladish
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephanie H. Au-Young
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ting Guo
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Min Sheng
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah M. Merrill
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Edmond Kelly
- Division of Neonatology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vann Chau
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Helen M. Branson
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Linh G. Ly
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emma G. Duerden
- Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth E. Grunau
- Division of Neonatology, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven P. Miller
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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25
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Marttila S, Tamminen H, Rajić S, Mishra PP, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari O, Kähönen M, Kananen L, Jylhävä J, Hägg S, Delerue T, Peters A, Waldenberger M, Kleber ME, März W, Luoto R, Raitanen J, Sillanpää E, Laakkonen EK, Heikkinen A, Ollikainen M, Raitoharju E. Methylation status of VTRNA2-1/ nc886 is stable across populations, monozygotic twin pairs and in majority of tissues. Epigenomics 2022; 14:1105-1124. [PMID: 36200237 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0228] [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: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims & methods: The aim of this study was to characterize the methylation level of a polymorphically imprinted gene, VTRNA2-1/nc886, in human populations and somatic tissues.48 datasets, consisting of more than 30 tissues and >30,000 individuals, were used. Results: nc886 methylation status is associated with twin status and ethnic background, but the variation between populations is limited. Monozygotic twin pairs present concordant methylation, whereas ∼30% of dizygotic twin pairs present discordant methylation in the nc886 locus. The methylation levels of nc886 are uniform across somatic tissues, except in cerebellum and skeletal muscle. Conclusion: The nc886 imprint may be established in the oocyte, and, after implantation, the methylation status is stable, excluding a few specific tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saara Marttila
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, 33014, Finland
| | - Hely Tamminen
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Sonja Rajić
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Pashupati P Mishra
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Fimlab Laboratories, Arvo Ylpön katu 4, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Fimlab Laboratories, Arvo Ylpön katu 4, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Olli Raitakari
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku & Turku University Hospital, Turku, 20014, Finland.,Research Centre of Applied & Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, 20014, Finland.,Department of Clinical Physiology & Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, 20014, Finland
| | - Mika Kähönen
- Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, 33521, Finland
| | - Laura Kananen
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, & Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520,Finland.,Department of Medical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden.,Faculty of Social Sciences (Health Sciences), & Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Juulia Jylhävä
- Department of Medical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden.,Faculty of Social Sciences (Health Sciences), & Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Sara Hägg
- Department of Medical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Thomas Delerue
- Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Bavaria, D-85764,, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Bavaria, D-85764, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Melanie Waldenberger
- Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Bavaria, D-85764,, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus E Kleber
- Vth Department of Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.,SYNLAB MVZ Humangenetik Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Winfried März
- Vth Department of Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.,Competence Cluster for Nutrition & Cardiovascular Health (nutriCARD) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Jena, 07743, Germany.,SYNLAB Academy, SYNLAB Holding Deutschland GmbH, Augsburg, 86156, Germany.,Clinical Institute of Medical & Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Riitta Luoto
- The Social Insurance Institute of Finland (Kela), Helsinki, 00250, Finland.,The UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Kaupinpuistonkatu 1, Tampere, 33500, Finland
| | - Jani Raitanen
- The UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Kaupinpuistonkatu 1, Tampere, 33500, Finland.,Faculty of Social Sciences (Health Sciences), Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland
| | - Elina Sillanpää
- Gerontology Research Center & Faculty of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Eija K Laakkonen
- Gerontology Research Center & Faculty of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
| | - Aino Heikkinen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Miina Ollikainen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Emma Raitoharju
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.,Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland
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Age-dependent changes in Wnt signaling components and synapse number are differentially affected between brain regions. Exp Gerontol 2022; 165:111854. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Thrush KL, Bennett DA, Gaiteri C, Horvath S, van Dyck CH, Higgins-Chen AT, Levine ME. Aging the brain: multi-region methylation principal component based clock in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:5641-5668. [PMID: 35907208 PMCID: PMC9365556 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk increases exponentially with age and is associated with multiple molecular hallmarks of aging, one of which is epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic age predictors based on 5' cytosine methylation (DNAm), or epigenetic clocks, have previously suggested that epigenetic age acceleration may occur in AD brain tissue. Epigenetic clocks are promising tools for the quantification of biological aging, yet we hypothesize that investigation of brain aging in AD will be assisted by the development of brain-specific epigenetic clocks. Therefore, we generated a novel age predictor termed PCBrainAge that was trained solely in cortical samples. This predictor utilizes a combination of principal components analysis and regularized regression, which reduces technical noise and greatly improves test-retest reliability. To characterize the scope of PCBrainAge's utility, we generated DNAm data from multiple brain regions in a sample from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project. PCBrainAge captures meaningful heterogeneity of aging: Its acceleration demonstrates stronger associations with clinical AD dementia, pathologic AD, and APOE ε4 carrier status compared to extant epigenetic age predictors. It further does so across multiple cortical and subcortical regions. Overall, PCBrainAge's increased reliability and specificity makes it a particularly promising tool for investigating heterogeneity in brain aging, as well as epigenetic alterations underlying AD risk and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra L. Thrush
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - David A. Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Christopher Gaiteri
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Christopher H. van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Albert T. Higgins-Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Morgan E. Levine
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego Institute of Science, San Diego, CA 92114, USA
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Xu Y, Zhong L, Wei H, Li Y, Xie J, Xie L, Chen X, Guo X, Yin P, Li S, Zeng J, Li XJ, Lin L. Brain Region- and Age-Dependent 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Activity in the Non-Human Primate. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:934224. [PMID: 35912074 PMCID: PMC9326314 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.934224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of the difficulty in collecting fresh brains of humans at different ages, it remains unknown how epigenetic regulation occurs in the primate brains during aging. In the present study, we examined the genomic distribution of 5hmC, an indicator of DNA methylation, in the brain regions of non-human primates (rhesus monkey) at the ages of 2 (juvenile), 8 (young adult), and 17 (old) years. We found that genomic 5hmC distribution was accumulated in the monkey brain as age increased and displayed unique patterns in the cerebellum and striatum in an age-dependent manner. We also observed a correlation between differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) and genes that contribute to brain region-related functions and diseases. Our studies revealed, for the first time, the brain-region and age-dependent 5hmC modifications in the non-human primate and the association of these 5hmC modifications with brain region-specific function and potentially aging-related brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liying Zhong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huixian Wei
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxiang Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Leijie Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiusheng Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyu Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junwei Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Diseases, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Li Lin
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Guevara EE, Hopkins WD, Hof PR, Ely JJ, Bradley BJ, Sherwood CC. Epigenetic aging of the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in humans and chimpanzees. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1774-1785. [PMID: 35603816 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2080993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic age has emerged as an important biomarker of biological aging. It has revealed that some tissues age faster than others, which is vital to understanding the complex phenomenon of aging and developing effective interventions. Previous studies have demonstrated that humans exhibit heterogeneity in pace of epigenetic aging among brain structures that are consistent with differences in structural and microanatomical deterioration. Here, we add comparative data on epigenetic brain aging for chimpanzees, humans' closest relatives. Such comparisons can further our understanding of which aspects of human aging are evolutionarily conserved or specific to our species, especially given that humans are distinguished by a long lifespan, large brain, and, potentially, more severe neurodegeneration with age. Specifically, we investigated epigenetic aging of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, of humans and chimpanzees by generating genome-wide CpG methylation data and applying established epigenetic clock algorithms to produce estimates of biological age for these tissues. We found that both species exhibit relatively slow epigenetic aging in the brain relative to blood. Between brain structures, humans show a faster rate of epigenetic aging in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to the cerebellum, which is consistent with previous findings. Chimpanzees, in contrast, show comparable rates of epigenetic aging in the two brain structures. Greater epigenetic change in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to the cerebellum may reflect both the protracted development of this structure in humans and its greater age-related vulnerability to neurodegenerative pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine E Guevara
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA.,Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - William D Hopkins
- Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY 10124, USA
| | - John J Ely
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.,MAEBIOS, Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA
| | - Brenda J Bradley
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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Kostiniuk D, Tamminen H, Mishra PP, Marttila S, Raitoharju E. Methylation pattern of polymorphically imprinted nc886 is not conserved across mammalia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261481. [PMID: 35294436 PMCID: PMC8926257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In humans, the nc886 locus is a polymorphically imprinted metastable epiallele. Periconceptional conditions have an effect on the methylation status of nc886, and further, this methylation status is associated with health outcomes in later life, in line with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. Animal models would offer opportunities to study the associations between periconceptional conditions, nc886 methylation status and metabolic phenotypes further. Thus, we set out to investigate the methylation pattern of the nc886 locus in non-human mammals. Data We obtained DNA methylation data from the data repository GEO for mammals, whose nc886 gene included all three major parts of nc886 and had sequency similarity of over 80% with the human nc886. Our final sample set consisted of DNA methylation data from humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutangs, baboons, macaques, vervets, marmosets and guinea pigs. Results In human data sets the methylation pattern of nc886 locus followed the expected bimodal distribution, indicative of polymorphic imprinting. In great apes, we identified a unimodal DNA methylation pattern with 50% methylation level in all individuals and in all subspecies. In Old World monkeys, the between individual variation was greater and methylation on average was close to 60%. In guinea pigs the region around the nc886 homologue was non-methylated. Results obtained from the sequence comparison of the CTCF binding sites flanking the nc886 gene support the results on the DNA methylation data. Conclusions Our results indicate that unlike in humans, nc886 is not a polymorphically imprinted metastable epiallele in non-human primates or in guinea pigs, thus implying that animal models are not applicable for nc886 research. The obtained data suggests that the nc886 region may be classically imprinted in great apes, and potentially also in Old World monkeys, but not in guinea pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Kostiniuk
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Hely Tamminen
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pashupati P. Mishra
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Finnish Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
| | - Saara Marttila
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Emma Raitoharju
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Finnish Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- * E-mail:
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31
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Zhao X, Golic FT, Harrison BR, Manoj M, Hoffman EV, Simon N, Johnson R, MacCoss MJ, McIntyre LM, Promislow DEL. The metabolome as a biomarker of aging in Drosophila melanogaster. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13548. [PMID: 35019203 PMCID: PMC8844127 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many biomarkers have been shown to be associated not only with chronological age but also with functional measures of biological age. In human populations, it is difficult to show whether variation in biological age is truly predictive of life expectancy, as such research would require longitudinal studies over many years, or even decades. We followed adult cohorts of 20 Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) strains chosen to represent the breadth of lifespan variation, obtain estimates of lifespan, baseline mortality, and rate of aging, and associate these parameters with age‐specific functional traits including fecundity and climbing activity and with age‐specific targeted metabolomic profiles. We show that activity levels and metabolome‐wide profiles are strongly associated with age, that numerous individual metabolites show a strong association with lifespan, and that the metabolome provides a biological clock that predicts not only sample age but also future mortality rates and lifespan. This study with 20 genotypes and 87 metabolites, while relatively small in scope, establishes strong proof of principle for the fly as a powerful experimental model to test hypotheses about biomarkers and aging and provides further evidence for the potential value of metabolomic profiles as biomarkers of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaqing Zhao
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Forrest T. Golic
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Benjamin R. Harrison
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Meghna Manoj
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Elise V. Hoffman
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Neta Simon
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Richard Johnson
- Department of Genome Sciences University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Michael J. MacCoss
- Department of Genome Sciences University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
| | - Lauren M. McIntyre
- Genetics Institute University of Florida Gainesville USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology University of Florida Gainesville USA
| | - Daniel E. L. Promislow
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle US
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle US
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Li Piani L, Reschini M, Somigliana E, Ferrari S, Busnelli A, Viganò P, Favero C, Albetti B, Hoxha M, Bollati V. Peripheral mitochondrial DNA, telomere length and DNA methylation as predictors of live birth in in vitro fertilization cycles. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261591. [PMID: 35073322 PMCID: PMC8786209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether telomere length (TL), mitochondrial-DNA (mt-DNA) or epigenetic age estimators based on DNA methylation (DNAm) pattern could be considered reliable predictors of in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) success in terms of live birth rate. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Infertility Unit of the Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico. PATIENTS 181 women aged 37-39 years who underwent IVF at a single-centre between January 2017 and December 2018. INTERVENTIONS On the day of recruitment, blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was isolated from white blood cells. TL, mt-DNA and DNAm assessment was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Biological age (DNAm age) was computed as the algorithm based on methylation pattern of five genes. Epigenetic age acceleration was estimated from the residuals of the linear model of epigenetic age regressed on chronological age. Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINE)-1 methylation pattern was used as a surrogate for global DNA methylation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES This study investigated whether peripheral TL, mt-DNA and DNAm could predict live birth in IVF cycles. RESULTS TL, mt-DNA and LINE-1 methylation were not associated with IVF success. Conversely, DNAm age resulted significantly lower in women who had a live birth compared to women who did not (36.1 ± 4.2 and 37.3 ± 3.3 years, respectively, p = 0.04). For DNAm age, odds ratio (OR) for live birth per year of age was 0.90 (95%CI: 0.82-0.99, p = 0.036) after adjusting for FSH and antral follicle count (AFC) and 0.90 (95%CI: 0.82-0.99, p = 0.028) after adjusting also for number of oocytes retrieved. A significant association also emerged for epigenetic age acceleration after adjustments (OR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.83-1.00, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION DNAm age is associated with IVF success but the magnitude of this association is insufficient to claim a clinical use. However, our findings are promising and warrant further investigation. Assessment of biological age using different epigenetic clocks or focusing on different tissues may reveal new predictors of IVF success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Li Piani
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Reschini
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Edgardo Somigliana
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Ferrari
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Busnelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Fertility Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Viganò
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Favero
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Albetti
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirjam Hoxha
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Bollati
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Tabibzadeh S. Resolving Geroplasticity to the Balance of Rejuvenins and Geriatrins. Aging Dis 2022; 13:1664-1714. [DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Epigenetic Age Acceleration Is Not Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413457. [PMID: 34948253 PMCID: PMC8705580 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation age (DNAm age) estimation is a powerful biomarker of human ageing. To date, epigenetic clocks have not been evaluated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, we perform genome-wide DNA methylation analyses in blood of AMD patients with a documented smoking history (14 AMD, 16 Normal), identifying loci of differential methylation (DML) with a relaxed p-value criterion (p ≤ 10−4). We conduct DNAm age analyses using the Horvath-multi tissue, Hannum and Skin & Blood epigenetic clocks in both blood and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We perform Ingenuity Pathway Analysis Causal Network Analysis (IPA CNA) on the topmost significantly differentially methylated CpG probes in blood and RPE. Results show poor performance of epigenetic clocks in RPE. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) was not observed in AMD. However, we observe positive EAA in blood of smokers, and in smokers with AMD. DML analysis revealed hypomethylation at cg04953735 within RPTOR (p = 6.51 × 10−5; Δβ = −11.95%). IPA CNA in the RPE also identified RPTOR as the putative master regulator, predicted to be inhibited in AMD. In conclusion, this is the first study evaluating an association of epigenetic ageing in AMD. We posit a role for RPTOR as a common master regulator of methylation changes in the RPE in AMD.
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Rauner M, Foessl I, Formosa MM, Kague E, Prijatelj V, Lopez NA, Banerjee B, Bergen D, Busse B, Calado Â, Douni E, Gabet Y, Giralt NG, Grinberg D, Lovsin NM, Solan XN, Ostanek B, Pavlos NJ, Rivadeneira F, Soldatovic I, van de Peppel J, van der Eerden B, van Hul W, Balcells S, Marc J, Reppe S, Søe K, Karasik D. Perspective of the GEMSTONE Consortium on Current and Future Approaches to Functional Validation for Skeletal Genetic Disease Using Cellular, Molecular and Animal-Modeling Techniques. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:731217. [PMID: 34938269 PMCID: PMC8686830 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.731217] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of large human datasets for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the advancement of sequencing technologies have boosted the identification of genetic variants in complex and rare diseases in the skeletal field. Yet, interpreting results from human association studies remains a challenge. To bridge the gap between genetic association and causality, a systematic functional investigation is necessary. Multiple unknowns exist for putative causal genes, including cellular localization of the molecular function. Intermediate traits ("endophenotypes"), e.g. molecular quantitative trait loci (molQTLs), are needed to identify mechanisms of underlying associations. Furthermore, index variants often reside in non-coding regions of the genome, therefore challenging for interpretation. Knowledge of non-coding variance (e.g. ncRNAs), repetitive sequences, and regulatory interactions between enhancers and their target genes is central for understanding causal genes in skeletal conditions. Animal models with deep skeletal phenotyping and cell culture models have already facilitated fine mapping of some association signals, elucidated gene mechanisms, and revealed disease-relevant biology. However, to accelerate research towards bridging the current gap between association and causality in skeletal diseases, alternative in vivo platforms need to be used and developed in parallel with the current -omics and traditional in vivo resources. Therefore, we argue that as a field we need to establish resource-sharing standards to collectively address complex research questions. These standards will promote data integration from various -omics technologies and functional dissection of human complex traits. In this mission statement, we review the current available resources and as a group propose a consensus to facilitate resource sharing using existing and future resources. Such coordination efforts will maximize the acquisition of knowledge from different approaches and thus reduce redundancy and duplication of resources. These measures will help to understand the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and other skeletal diseases towards defining new and more efficient therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Rauner
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ines Foessl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Endocrine Lab Platform, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Melissa M. Formosa
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Erika Kague
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Vid Prijatelj
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- The Generation R Study, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nerea Alonso Lopez
- Rheumatology and Bone Disease Unit, CGEM, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bodhisattwa Banerjee
- Musculoskeletal Genetics Laboratory, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Dylan Bergen
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Björn Busse
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ângelo Calado
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eleni Douni
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Institute for Bioinnovation, B.S.R.C. “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
| | - Yankel Gabet
- Department of Anatomy & Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Natalia García Giralt
- Musculoskeletal Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Grinberg
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERER, IBUB, IRSJD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nika M. Lovsin
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Xavier Nogues Solan
- Musculoskeletal Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Ostanek
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nathan J. Pavlos
- Bone Biology & Disease Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | | | - Ivan Soldatovic
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jeroen van de Peppel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bram van der Eerden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wim van Hul
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Susanna Balcells
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERER, IBUB, IRSJD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janja Marc
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sjur Reppe
- Unger-Vetlesen Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kent Søe
- Clinical Cell Biology, Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - David Karasik
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Marcus Research Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, United States
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Horvath S, Zoller JA, Haghani A, Jasinska AJ, Raj K, Breeze CE, Ernst J, Vaughan KL, Mattison JA. Epigenetic clock and methylation studies in the rhesus macaque. GeroScience 2021; 43:2441-2453. [PMID: 34487267 PMCID: PMC8599607 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00429-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylation levels at specific CpG positions in the genome have been used to develop accurate estimators of chronological age in humans, mice, and other species. Although epigenetic clocks are generally species-specific, the principles underpinning them appear to be conserved at least across the mammalian class. This is exemplified by the successful development of epigenetic clocks for mice and several other mammalian species. Here, we describe epigenetic clocks for the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), the most widely used nonhuman primate in biological research. Using a custom methylation array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40), we profiled n = 281 tissue samples (blood, skin, adipose, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, and cerebral cortex). From these data, we generated five epigenetic clocks for macaques. These clocks differ with regard to applicability to different tissue types (pan-tissue, blood, skin), species (macaque only or both humans and macaques), and measure of age (chronological age versus relative age). Additionally, the age-based human-macaque clock exhibits a high age correlation (R = 0.89) with the vervet monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus), another Old World species. Four CpGs within the KLF14 promoter were consistently altered with age in four tissues (adipose, blood, cerebral cortex, skin). Future studies will be needed to evaluate whether these epigenetic clocks predict age-related conditions in the rhesus macaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Joseph A. Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Amin Haghani
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Anna J. Jasinska
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, USA
| | - Ken Raj
- Radiation Effects Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, , Didcot, UK
| | | | - Jason Ernst
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Kelli L. Vaughan
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 16701 Elmer School Rd., MD 20842 Dickerson, USA
| | - Julie A. Mattison
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 16701 Elmer School Rd., MD 20842 Dickerson, USA
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Raj K, Szladovits B, Haghani A, Zoller JA, Li CZ, Black P, Maddox D, Robeck TR, Horvath S. Epigenetic clock and methylation studies in cats. GeroScience 2021; 43:2363-2378. [PMID: 34463900 PMCID: PMC8599556 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00445-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human DNA methylation profiles have been used successfully to develop highly accurate biomarkers of aging ("epigenetic clocks"). Although these human epigenetic clocks are not immediately applicable to all species of the animal kingdom, the principles underpinning them appear to be conserved even in animals that are evolutionarily far removed from humans. This is exemplified by recent development of epigenetic clocks for mice and other mammalian species. Here, we describe epigenetic clocks for the domestic cat (Felis catus), based on methylation profiles of CpGs with flanking DNA sequences that are highly conserved between multiple mammalian species. Methylation levels of these CpGs are measured using a custom-designed Infinium array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40). From these, we present 3 epigenetic clocks for cats; of which, one applies only to blood samples from cats, while the remaining two dual-species human-cat clocks apply both to cats and humans. We demonstrate that these domestic cat clocks also lead to high age correlations in cheetahs, tigers, and lions. It is expected that these epigenetic clocks for cats possess the potential to be further developed for monitoring feline health as well as being used for identifying and validating anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Raj
- Radiation Effects Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, UK
| | - Balazs Szladovits
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - Amin Haghani
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Joseph A. Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Gonda Building, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Caesar Z. Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Gonda Building, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | | | | | - Todd R. Robeck
- Corporate Zoological Operations, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Gonda Building, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
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38
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Epigenetic clock and methylation studies in vervet monkeys. GeroScience 2021; 44:699-717. [PMID: 34591235 PMCID: PMC9135907 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00466-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation-based biomarkers of aging have been developed for many mammals but not yet for the vervet monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus), which is a valuable non-human primate model for biomedical studies. We generated novel DNA methylation data from vervet cerebral cortex, blood, and liver using highly conserved mammalian CpGs represented on a custom array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40). We present six DNA methylation-based estimators of age: vervet multi-tissue epigenetic clock and tissue-specific clocks for brain cortex, blood, and liver. In addition, we developed two dual species clocks (human-vervet clocks) for measuring chronological age and relative age, respectively. Relative age was defined as ratio of chronological age to maximum lifespan to address the species differences in maximum lifespan. The high accuracy of the human-vervet clocks demonstrates that epigenetic aging processes are evolutionary conserved in primates. When applying these vervet clocks to tissue samples from another primate species, rhesus macaque, we observed high age correlations but strong offsets. We characterized CpGs that correlate significantly with age in the vervet. CpG probes that gain methylation with age across tissues were located near the targets of Polycomb proteins SUZ12 and EED and genes possessing the trimethylated H3K27 mark in their promoters. The epigenetic clocks are expected to be useful for anti-aging studies in vervets.
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39
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Age-related demethylation of the TDP-43 autoregulatory region in the human motor cortex. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1107. [PMID: 34548609 PMCID: PMC8455575 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02621-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), which is encoded by TARDBP, forms aggregates in the motor cortex. This aggregate formation may be triggered by an increase in the TDP-43 level with aging. However, the amount of TDP-43 is autoregulated by alternative splicing of the TARDBP 3′UTR, and how this autoregulation is affected by aging remains to be elucidated. We found that DNA demethylation in the autoregulatory region in the TARDBP 3′UTR reduced alternative splicing and increased TARDBP mRNA expression. Furthermore, in the human motor cortex, we found that this region was demethylated with aging, resulting in increased expression of TARDBP mRNA. The acceleration of DNA demethylation in the motor cortex was associated with the age of ALS onset. In summary, the dysregulation of TDP-43 autoregulation by age-related DNA demethylation in the motor cortex may explain the contribution of aging and motor system selectivity in ALS. In order to assess the effects of aging on the autoregulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and the potential effects of this on the role of TDP-43 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Koike et al examined post-mortem motor cortex tissue from ALS patients. They found that DNA demethylation in the autoregulatory region of the TARDBP 3′UTR, which encodes TDP-43, increased with age and was associated with the onset age of ALS and thus could be indicative of a role for dysregulation of TDP-43 autoregulation in ALS pathology.
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40
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Applying deductive reasoning and the principles of particle physics to aging research. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:22611-22622. [PMID: 34543232 PMCID: PMC8507302 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Aging is debatably one of the biggest mysteries for humanity, a process consisting of myriads of genetic, molecular, environmental, and stochastic deleterious events, leading to a progressive loss of organism functionality. Aging research currently lacks a common conceptual framework, and one challenge in establishing it is the fact that aging is a highly complex process. To help develop a framework of standard aging rules, we suggest the use of deductive reasoning based on particle physics' principles. Specifically, the principles that we suggest applying to study aging are discreteness of processes, transformation as a result of interaction, and understanding of threshold. Using this framework, biological aging may be described as a sequence of highly discrete molecular transformations caused by a combination of various specific internal and external factors. Internal organismal function and interaction of an organism with the environment result in chronic accumulation of molecular damage and other deleterious consequences of metabolism and the consequent loss of system's functionality. The loss of functionality occurs as a series of thresholds the organism reaches before it turns into an utterly non-functional state. We discuss how having a common ground may benefit aging research, introduce the logic of new principles and analyze specific examples of how this framework could be used to study aging and design longevity interventions.
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41
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Simpson DJ, Chandra T. Epigenetic age prediction. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13452. [PMID: 34415665 PMCID: PMC8441394 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced age is the main common risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration. Yet, more is known about the molecular basis of any of these groups of diseases than the changes that accompany ageing itself. Progress in molecular ageing research was slow because the tools predicting whether someone aged slowly or fast (biological age) were unreliable. To understand ageing as a risk factor for disease and to develop interventions, the molecular ageing field needed a quantitative measure; a clock for biological age. Over the past decade, a number of age predictors utilising DNA methylation have been developed, referred to as epigenetic clocks. While they appear to estimate biological age, it remains unclear whether the methylation changes used to train the clocks are a reflection of other underlying cellular or molecular processes, or whether methylation itself is involved in the ageing process. The precise aspects of ageing that the epigenetic clocks capture remain hidden and seem to vary between predictors. Nonetheless, the use of epigenetic clocks has opened the door towards studying biological ageing quantitatively, and new clocks and applications, such as forensics, appear frequently. In this review, we will discuss the range of epigenetic clocks available, their strengths and weaknesses, and their applicability to various scientific queries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Simpson
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tamir Chandra
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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42
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Higgins-Chen AT, Thrush KL, Levine ME. Aging biomarkers and the brain. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 116:180-193. [PMID: 33509689 PMCID: PMC8292153 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying biological aging is critical for understanding why aging is the primary driver of morbidity and mortality and for assessing novel therapies to counter pathological aging. In the past decade, many biomarkers relevant to brain aging have been developed using various data types and modeling techniques. Aging involves numerous interconnected processes, and thus many complementary biomarkers are needed, each capturing a different slice of aging biology. Here we present a hierarchical framework highlighting how these biomarkers are related to each other and the underlying biological processes. We review those measures most studied in the context of brain aging: epigenetic clocks, proteomic clocks, and neuroimaging age predictors. Many studies have linked these biomarkers to cognition, mental health, brain structure, and pathology during aging. We also delve into the challenges and complexities in interpreting these biomarkers and suggest areas for further innovation. Ultimately, a robust mechanistic understanding of these biomarkers will be needed to effectively intervene in the aging process to prevent and treat age-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert T Higgins-Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Kyra L Thrush
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, 300 George St, Suite 501, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Morgan E Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, Suite LH 315A, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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43
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Sillanpää E, Heikkinen A, Kankaanpää A, Paavilainen A, Kujala UM, Tammelin TH, Kovanen V, Sipilä S, Pietiläinen KH, Kaprio J, Ollikainen M, Laakkonen EK. Blood and skeletal muscle ageing determined by epigenetic clocks and their associations with physical activity and functioning. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:110. [PMID: 34001218 PMCID: PMC8127311 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the correspondence of different biological ageing estimates (i.e. epigenetic age) in blood and muscle tissue and their associations with physical activity (PA), physical function and body composition. Two independent cohorts (N = 139 and N = 47) were included, whose age span covered adulthood (23–69 years). Whole blood and m. vastus lateralis samples were collected, and DNA methylation was analysed. Four different DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) estimates were calculated using genome-wide methylation data and publicly available online tools. A novel muscle-specific methylation age was estimated using the R-package ‘MEAT’. PA was measured with questionnaires and accelerometers. Several tests were conducted to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. Body composition was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. DNAmAge estimates from blood and muscle were highly correlated with chronological age, but different age acceleration estimates were weakly associated with each other. The monozygotic twin within-pair similarity of ageing pace was higher in blood (r = 0.617–0.824) than in muscle (r = 0.523–0.585). Associations of age acceleration estimates with PA, physical function and body composition were weak in both tissues and mostly explained by smoking and sex. The muscle-specific epigenetic clock MEAT was developed to predict chronological age, which may explain why it did not associate with functional phenotypes. The Horvath’s clock and GrimAge were weakly associated with PA and related phenotypes, suggesting that higher PA would be linked to accelerated biological ageing in muscle. This may, however, be more reflective of the low capacity of epigenetic clock algorithms to measure functional muscle ageing than of actual age acceleration. Based on our results, the investigated epigenetic clocks have rather low value in estimating muscle ageing with respect to the physiological adaptations that typically occur due to ageing or PA. Thus, further development of methods is needed to gain insight into muscle tissue-specific ageing and the underlying biological pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Sillanpää
- Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland. .,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Aino Heikkinen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kankaanpää
- Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Aini Paavilainen
- Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Urho M Kujala
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tuija H Tammelin
- LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Vuokko Kovanen
- Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Sarianna Sipilä
- Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kirsi H Pietiläinen
- Obesity Research Unit, Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Obesity Center, Endocrinology, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Miina Ollikainen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eija K Laakkonen
- Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
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44
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García-Flores LA, Green CL. Of Mice and Men: Impacts of Calorie Restriction on Metabolomics of the Cerebellum. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:547-551. [PMID: 33560408 PMCID: PMC8427710 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The main purpose of research in mice is to explore metabolic changes in animal models and then predict or propose potential translational benefits in humans. Although some researchers in the brain research field have mentioned that the mouse experiments results still lack the complex neuroanatomy of humans, caution is required to interpret the findings. In mice, we observed in article seventeenth of the series of the effects of graded levels of calorie restriction, metabolomic changes in the cerebellum indicated activation of hypothalamocerebellar connections driven by hunger responses. Therefore, the purpose of the current perspective is to set this latest paper into a wider context of the physiological, behavioral, and molecular changes seen in these mice and to compare and contrast them with previous human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libia Alejandra García-Flores
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
| | - Cara L Green
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
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45
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Pellegrini C, Pirazzini C, Sala C, Sambati L, Yusipov I, Kalyakulina A, Ravaioli F, Kwiatkowska KM, Durso DF, Ivanchenko M, Monti D, Lodi R, Franceschi C, Cortelli P, Garagnani P, Bacalini MG. A Meta-Analysis of Brain DNA Methylation Across Sex, Age, and Alzheimer's Disease Points for Accelerated Epigenetic Aging in Neurodegeneration. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:639428. [PMID: 33790779 PMCID: PMC8006465 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.639428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by specific alterations of brain DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns. Age and sex, two major risk factors for AD, are also known to largely affect the epigenetic profiles in brain, but their contribution to AD-associated DNAm changes has been poorly investigated. In this study we considered publicly available DNAm datasets of four brain regions (temporal, frontal, entorhinal cortex, and cerebellum) from healthy adult subjects and AD patients, and performed a meta-analysis to identify sex-, age-, and AD-associated epigenetic profiles. In one of these datasets it was also possible to distinguish 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) profiles. We showed that DNAm differences between males and females tend to be shared between the four brain regions, while aging differently affects cortical regions compared to cerebellum. We found that the proportion of sex-dependent probes whose methylation is modified also during aging is higher than expected, but that differences between males and females tend to be maintained, with only a few probes showing age-by-sex interaction. We did not find significant overlaps between AD- and sex-associated probes, nor disease-by-sex interaction effects. On the contrary, we found that AD-related epigenetic modifications are significantly enriched in probes whose DNAm varies with age and that there is a high concordance between the direction of changes (hyper or hypo-methylation) in aging and AD, supporting accelerated epigenetic aging in the disease. In summary, our results suggest that age-associated DNAm patterns concur to the epigenetic deregulation observed in AD, providing new insights on how advanced age enables neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Pellegrini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Pirazzini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Sala
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luisa Sambati
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Igor Yusipov
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Alena Kalyakulina
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Francesco Ravaioli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Katarzyna M. Kwiatkowska
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Danielle F. Durso
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Mikhail Ivanchenko
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Daniela Monti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio,” University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Raffaele Lodi
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Pietro Cortelli
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Bologna, Italy
- National Research Council of Italy Institute of Molecular Genetics “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza,” Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Bacalini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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46
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Tollenaar MS, Beijers R, Garg E, Nguyen TTT, Lin DTS, MacIsaac JL, Shalev I, Kobor MS, Meaney MJ, O'Donnell KJ, de Weerth C. Internalizing symptoms associate with the pace of epigenetic aging in childhood. Biol Psychol 2021; 159:108021. [PMID: 33460784 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Childhood psychiatric symptoms may be associated with advanced biological aging. This study examined whether epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) associates with internalizing and externalizing symptoms that were prospectively collected across childhood in a longitudinal cohort study. At age 6 buccal epithelial cells from 148 children (69 girls) were collected to survey genome-wide DNA methylation. EAA was estimated using the Horvath clock. Internalizing symptoms at ages 2.5 and 4 years significantly predicted higher EAA at age 6, which in turn was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms at ages 6-10 years. Similar trends for externalizing symptoms did not reach statistical significance. These findings indicate advanced biological aging in relation to child mental health and may help better identify those at risk for lasting impairments associated with internalizing disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Elika Garg
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada
| | - T T Thao Nguyen
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada
| | - David T S Lin
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada; Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Neurobiology, McGill University, QC, Canada
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada; Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Neurobiology, McGill University, QC, Canada; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Child and Brain Development Program, Canada; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Child and Brain Development Program, Canada; Yale Child Study Center & Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, USA
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
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47
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Sex-differential DNA methylation and associated regulation networks in human brain implicated in the sex-biased risks of psychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:835-848. [PMID: 30976086 PMCID: PMC6788945 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0416-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Many psychiatric disorders are characterized by a strong sex difference, but the mechanisms behind sex-bias are not fully understood. DNA methylation plays important roles in regulating gene expression, ultimately impacting sexually different characteristics of the human brain. Most previous literature focused on DNA methylation alone without considering the regulatory network and its contribution to sex-bias of psychiatric disorders. Since DNA methylation acts in a complex regulatory network to connect genetic and environmental factors with high-order brain functions, we investigated the regulatory networks associated with different DNA methylation and assessed their contribution to the risks of psychiatric disorders. We compiled data from 1408 postmortem brain samples in 3 collections to identify sex-differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and regions (DMRs). We identified and replicated thousands of DMPs and DMRs. The DMR genes were enriched in neuronal related pathways. We extended the regulatory networks related to sex-differential methylation and psychiatric disorders by integrating methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs), gene expression, and protein-protein interaction data. We observed significant enrichment of sex-associated genes in psychiatric disorder-associated gene sets. We prioritized 2080 genes that were sex-biased and associated with psychiatric disorders, such as NRXN1, NRXN2, NRXN3, FDE4A, and SHANK2. These genes are enriched in synapse-related pathways and signaling pathways, suggesting that sex-differential genes of these neuronal pathways may cause the sex-bias of psychiatric disorders.
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48
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Lu Y, Brommer B, Tian X, Krishnan A, Meer M, Wang C, Vera DL, Zeng Q, Yu D, Bonkowski MS, Yang JH, Zhou S, Hoffmann EM, Karg MM, Schultz MB, Kane AE, Davidsohn N, Korobkina E, Chwalek K, Rajman LA, Church GM, Hochedlinger K, Gladyshev VN, Horvath S, Levine ME, Gregory-Ksander MS, Ksander BR, He Z, Sinclair DA. Reprogramming to recover youthful epigenetic information and restore vision. Nature 2020; 588:124-129. [PMID: 33268865 PMCID: PMC7752134 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2975-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 355] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ageing is a degenerative process that leads to tissue dysfunction and death. A proposed cause of ageing is the accumulation of epigenetic noise that disrupts gene expression patterns, leading to decreases in tissue function and regenerative capacity1-3. Changes to DNA methylation patterns over time form the basis of ageing clocks4, but whether older individuals retain the information needed to restore these patterns-and, if so, whether this could improve tissue function-is not known. Over time, the central nervous system (CNS) loses function and regenerative capacity5-7. Using the eye as a model CNS tissue, here we show that ectopic expression of Oct4 (also known as Pou5f1), Sox2 and Klf4 genes (OSK) in mouse retinal ganglion cells restores youthful DNA methylation patterns and transcriptomes, promotes axon regeneration after injury, and reverses vision loss in a mouse model of glaucoma and in aged mice. The beneficial effects of OSK-induced reprogramming in axon regeneration and vision require the DNA demethylases TET1 and TET2. These data indicate that mammalian tissues retain a record of youthful epigenetic information-encoded in part by DNA methylation-that can be accessed to improve tissue function and promote regeneration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuancheng Lu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benedikt Brommer
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiao Tian
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anitha Krishnan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margarita Meer
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel L Vera
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qiurui Zeng
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Doudou Yu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael S Bonkowski
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jae-Hyun Yang
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Songlin Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma M Hoffmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margarete M Karg
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael B Schultz
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alice E Kane
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noah Davidsohn
- Department of Genetics, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ekaterina Korobkina
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karolina Chwalek
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luis A Rajman
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Konrad Hochedlinger
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cancer Center and Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Morgan E Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Meredith S Gregory-Ksander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bruce R Ksander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhigang He
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Sinclair
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Laboratory for Ageing Research, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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49
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Coninx E, Chew YC, Yang X, Guo W, Coolkens A, Baatout S, Moons L, Verslegers M, Quintens R. Hippocampal and cortical tissue-specific epigenetic clocks indicate an increased epigenetic age in a mouse model for Alzheimer's disease. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:20817-20834. [PMID: 33082299 PMCID: PMC7655172 DOI: 10.18632/aging.104056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic clocks are based on age-associated changes in DNA methylation of CpG-sites, which can accurately measure chronological age in different species. Recently, several studies have indicated that the difference between chronological and epigenetic age, defined as the age acceleration, could reflect biological age indicating functional decline and age-associated diseases. In humans, an epigenetic clock associated Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology with an acceleration of the epigenetic age. In this study, we developed and validated two mouse brain region-specific epigenetic clocks from the C57BL/6J hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Both clocks, which could successfully estimate chronological age, were further validated in a widely used mouse model for AD, the triple transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) mouse. We observed an epigenetic age acceleration indicating an increased biological age for the 3xTg-AD mice compared to non-pathological C57BL/6J mice, which was more pronounced in the cortex as compared to the hippocampus. Genomic region enrichment analysis revealed that age-dependent CpGs were enriched in genes related to developmental, aging-related, neuronal and neurodegenerative functions. Due to the limited access of human brain tissues, these epigenetic clocks specific for mouse cortex and hippocampus might be important in further unravelling the role of epigenetic mechanisms underlying AD pathology or brain aging in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Coninx
- Radiobiology Unit, Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol 2400, Belgium
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Yap Ching Chew
- Epigenetics Technologies, Zymo Research Corporation, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Epigenetics Technologies, Zymo Research Corporation, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
| | - Wei Guo
- Epigenetics Technologies, Zymo Research Corporation, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
| | - Amelie Coolkens
- Radiobiology Unit, Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Sarah Baatout
- Radiobiology Unit, Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Mieke Verslegers
- Radiobiology Unit, Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Roel Quintens
- Radiobiology Unit, Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol 2400, Belgium
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50
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Voisin S, Harvey NR, Haupt LM, Griffiths LR, Ashton KJ, Coffey VG, Doering TM, Thompson JLM, Benedict C, Cedernaes J, Lindholm ME, Craig JM, Rowlands DS, Sharples AP, Horvath S, Eynon N. An epigenetic clock for human skeletal muscle. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2020; 11:887-898. [PMID: 32067420 PMCID: PMC7432573 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ageing is associated with DNA methylation changes in all human tissues, and epigenetic markers can estimate chronological age based on DNA methylation patterns across tissues. However, the construction of the original pan-tissue epigenetic clock did not include skeletal muscle samples and hence exhibited a strong deviation between DNA methylation and chronological age in this tissue. METHODS To address this, we developed a more accurate, muscle-specific epigenetic clock based on the genome-wide DNA methylation data of 682 skeletal muscle samples from 12 independent datasets (18-89 years old, 22% women, 99% Caucasian), all generated with Illumina HumanMethylation (HM) arrays (HM27, HM450, or HMEPIC). We also took advantage of the large number of samples to conduct an epigenome-wide association study of age-associated DNA methylation patterns in skeletal muscle. RESULTS The newly developed clock uses 200 cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides to estimate chronological age in skeletal muscle, 16 of which are in common with the 353 cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides of the pan-tissue clock. The muscle clock outperformed the pan-tissue clock, with a median error of only 4.6 years across datasets (vs. 13.1 years for the pan-tissue clock, P < 0.0001) and an average correlation of ρ = 0.62 between actual and predicted age across datasets (vs. ρ = 0.51 for the pan-tissue clock). Lastly, we identified 180 differentially methylated regions with age in skeletal muscle at a false discovery rate < 0.005. However, gene set enrichment analysis did not reveal any enrichment for gene ontologies. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a muscle-specific epigenetic clock that predicts age with better accuracy than the pan-tissue clock. We implemented the muscle clock in an r package called Muscle Epigenetic Age Test available on Bioconductor to estimate epigenetic age in skeletal muscle samples. This clock may prove valuable in assessing the impact of environmental factors, such as exercise and diet, on muscle-specific biological ageing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas R Harvey
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia.,Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Larisa M Haupt
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lyn R Griffiths
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kevin J Ashton
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Vernon G Coffey
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Thomas M Doering
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia.,School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
| | | | - Christian Benedict
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Malene E Lindholm
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Craig
- Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.,Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David S Rowlands
- School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Adam P Sharples
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.,Stem Cells, Ageing and Molecular Physiology Unit, Exercise Metabolism and Adaptation Research Group, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics and Biostatistics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nir Eynon
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
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