14-weeks combined exercise epigenetically modulated 118 genes of menopausal women with prediabetes

Targeting epigenetic mechanisms in amyloid-β-mediated Alzheimer's pathophysiology: unveiling therapeutic potential

Alzheimer's disease is a prominent chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by a gradual decline in memory leading to dementia. Growing evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease is associated with accumulating various amyloid-β oligomers in the brain, influenced by complex genetic and environmental factors. The memory and cognitive deficits observed during the prodromal and mild cognitive impairment phases of Alzheimer's disease are believed to primarily result from synaptic dysfunction. Throughout life, environmental factors can lead to enduring changes in gene expression and the emergence of brain disorders. These changes, known as epigenetic modifications, also play a crucial role in regulating the formation of synapses and their adaptability in response to neuronal activity. In this context, we highlight recent advances in understanding the roles played by key components of the epigenetic machinery, specifically DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs, in the development of Alzheimer's disease, synaptic function, and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Moreover, we explore various strategies, including enriched environments, exposure to non-invasive brain stimulation, and the use of pharmacological agents, aimed at improving synaptic function and enhancing long-term potentiation, a process integral to epigenetic mechanisms. Lastly, we deliberate on the development of effective epigenetic agents and safe therapeutic approaches for managing Alzheimer's disease. We suggest that addressing Alzheimer's disease may require distinct tailored epigenetic drugs targeting different disease stages or pathways rather than relying on a single drug.

When to Trust Epigenetic Clocks: Avoiding False Positives in Aging Interventions

Recent human studies have suggested that aging interventions can reduce aging biomarkers related to morbidity and mortality risk. Such biomarkers may potentially serve as early, rapid indicators of effects on healthspan. An increasing number of studies are measuring intervention effects on epigenetic clocks, commonly used aging biomarkers based on DNA methylation profiles. However, with dozens of clocks to choose from, different clocks may not agree on the effect of an intervention. Furthermore, changes in some clocks may simply be the result of technical noise causing a false positive result. To address these issues, we measured the variability between 6 popular epigenetic clocks across a range of longitudinal datasets containing either an aging intervention or an age-accelerating event. We further compared them to the same clocks re-trained to have high test-retest reliability. We find the newer generation of clocks, trained on mortality or rate-of-aging, capture aging events more reliably than those clocks trained on chronological age, as these show consistent effects (or lack thereof) across multiple clocks including high-reliability versions, and including after multiple testing correction. In contrast, clocks trained on chronological age frequently show sporadic changes that are not replicable when using high-reliability versions of those same clocks, or when using newer generations of clocks and these results do not survive multiple-testing correction. These are likely false positive results, and we note that some of these clock changes were previously published, suggesting the literature should be re-examined. This work lays the foundation for future clinical trials that aim to measure aging interventions with epigenetic clocks, by establishing when to attribute a given change in biological age to a bona fide change in the aging process.

Map of epigenetic age acceleration: A worldwide analysis

We present a systematic analysis of epigenetic age acceleration based on by far the largest collection of publicly available DNA methylation data for healthy samples (93 datasets, 23 K samples), focusing on the geographic (25 countries) and ethnic (31 ethnicities) aspects around the world. We employed the most popular epigenetic tools for assessing age acceleration and examined their quality metrics and ability to extrapolate to epigenetic data from different tissue types and age ranges different from the training data of these models. In most cases, the models proved to be inconsistent with each other and showed different signs of age acceleration, with the PhenoAge model tending to systematically underestimate and different versions of the GrimAge model tending to systematically overestimate the age prediction of healthy subjects. Referring to data availability and consistency, most countries and populations are still not represented in GEO, moreover, different datasets use different criteria for determining healthy controls. Because of this, it is difficult to fully isolate the contribution of "geography/environment", "ethnicity" and "healthiness" to epigenetic age acceleration. Among the explored metrics, only the DunedinPACE, which measures aging rate, appears to adequately reflect the standard of living and socioeconomic indicators in countries, although it has a limited application to blood methylation data only. Invariably, by epigenetic age acceleration, males age faster than females in most of the studied countries and populations.

SLC25A19 is a novel prognostic biomarker related to immune invasion and ferroptosis in HCC

SLC25A19 is a mitochondrial thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) carrier that mediates TPP entry into the mitochondria. SLC25A19 has been recognized to play a crucial role in many metabolic diseases, but its role in cancer has not been clearly reported. Based on clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the following parameters were analyzed among HCC patients: SLC25A19 expression, enrichment analyses, immune infiltration, ferroptosis and prognosis analyses. In vitro, the SLC25A19 high expression was validated by qRT-PCR and Immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, a series of cell function experiments, including CCK8, EdU, clone formation, trans-well and scratch assays, were conducted to illustrate the effect of SLC25A19 on the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Meanwhile, indicators related to ferroptosis were also detected. SCL25A19 is highly expressed in HCC and predicts a poor prognosis. Elevated SLC25A19 expression in HCC patients was markedly associated with T stage, pathological status (PS), tumor status (TS), histologic grade (HG), and AFP. Our results indicate that SLC25A19 has a generally good prognosis predictive and diagnostic ability. The results of gene enrichment analyses showed that SLC25A19 is significantly correlated with immune infiltration, fatty acid metabolism, and ferroptosis marker genes. In vitro experiments have confirmed that silencing SLC25A19 can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration ability of cancer cells and induce ferroptosis in HCC. In conclusion, these findings indicate that SLC25A19 is novel prognostic biomarker related to immune invasion and ferroptosis in HCC, and it is an excellent candidate for therapeutic target against HCC.

Sphingolipid and Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO) Levels in Women with Obesity after Combined Physical Training

Obesity causes metabolic changes, such as the development of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, physical exercise promotes protection against these diseases. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate whether combined physical training can improve the metabolic system of women with obesity, reducing plasma concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and sphingolipids, regardless of weight loss. Fourteen obese women (BMI 30-40 kg/m2), aged 20-40 years, sedentary, were submitted to 8 weeks of combined physical training (strength and aerobic exercises). The training was performed three times/week, 55 min/session, at 75-90% maximum heart rate. All participants were evaluated pre- and post-exercise intervention, and their body composition, plasma TMAO, creatinine, lipid profile, and sphingolipid concentrations were recorded. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), Speed lactate threshold 1 (SpeedLT1), and Speed lactate threshold 2 (SpeedLT2) evaluated physical performance. Results: After combined exercise, it did not change body composition, but TMAO, total cholesterol, and sphingolipid concentrations significantly decreased (p < 0.05). There was an increase in physical performance by improving VO2max, SpeedLT1, and SpeedLT2 (p < 0.05). The combined physical exercise could induce cardiovascular risk protection by decreasing TMAO in obese women, parallel to physical performance improvement, independent of weight loss.

Bioactive alkaloidal and phenolic phytochemicals as promising epidrugs for diabetes mellitus 2: A review of recent development

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains a major chronic metabolic disorder affecting hundreds of millions of the global population, mostly among adults, engendering high rates of morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by complex aetiologies including insulin deficiency and resistance, and hyperglycemia, and these significantly constitute therapeutic challenges. Several pathways have been implicated in its pathophysiology and treatment including the epigenetic regulatory mechanism, notably, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation/demethylation, histone modification, non-coding ribonucleic acid (ncRNA) modulation and other relevant pathways. Many studies have recently documented the implications of phytochemicals on the aforementioned biomarkers in the pathogenesis and treatment of T2D. In this review, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the epigenetic effects of some bioactive alkaloidal and phenolic phytochemicals as potential therapeutic alternatives for T2D have been overviewed from the recent literature (2019-2024). From the survey, the natural product-based compounds, C1-C32 were curated as potent epigenetic modulators for T2D. Their cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-T2D activities with relevant epigenetic biomarkers were revealed. Although, more comprehensive experimental analyses are observably required for validating their activity and toxicological indices. Thus, perspectives and challenges were enumerated for such demanding future translational studies. The review reveals advances in scientific efforts towards reversing the global trend of T2D through epigenetic phytotherapeutics.

Eight Weeks of Physical Training Decreases 2 Years of DNA Methylation Age of Sedentary Women

Purpose: The acceleration of epigenetic age is a predictor of mortality and contributes to the increase in chronic diseases. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle is a strategy to reduce epigenetic age. The present study aimed to determine whether eight weeks of combined (aerobic and strength) training (CT) can influence the epigenetic age of women between 50 and 70 years old and the differences in sites and methylated regions. Methods: Eighteen women (AARLow: lower age acceleration residual, n = 10; AARHigh: higher age acceleration residual, n = 8) participated in a combined exercise training program (60 minutes, 3× a week) for eight weeks. DNA was extracted from whole blood using the salting out technique. DNA methylation was performed using the array technique (Illumina's Infinium Methylation BeadChip 850k). We used the DNA Methylation Age Calculator platform to calculate the biological epigenetic age. Two-way ANOVA followed by FISHER LSD posthoc was Applied, adopting p < .05. Results: After eight weeks of CT, there were no changes to the epigenetic age acceleration for the AARLow group (PRE: -2.3 ± 3.2 to POST: -2.3 ± 3.6). However, the AARHigh group significantly decreased the age acceleration (PRE: 3.6 ± 2.6 to POST: 2.2 ± 2.7) (group effect, p = .01; time effect, p = .31; group vs. time effect, p = .005). Conclusion: CT for eight weeks benefits the epigenetic clock of women with the most accelerated age.

The influence of serum selenium in differential epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of CPT1B gene in women with obesity

INTRODUCTION

The increasing prevalence of obesity has become a major health problem worldwide. The causes of obesity are multifactorial and could be influenced by dietary patterns and genetic factors. Obesity has been associated with a decrease in micronutrient intake and consequently decreased blood concentrations. Selenium is an essential micronutrient for human health, and its metabolism could be affected by obesity, especially severe obesity. This study aimed to identify differential methylation genes associated with serum selenium concentration in women with and without obesity.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: Obese (Ob) n = 20 and Non-Obese (NOb) n = 14, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). Anthropometry, body composition, serum selenium, selenium intake, and biochemical parameters were evaluated. DNA extraction and bisulfite conversion were performed to hybridize the samples on the 450k Methylation Chip Infinium Beadchip (Illumina). Bioinformatics analysis was performed using the R program and the Champ package. The differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using the Bumphunter method. In addition, logarithmic conversion was performed for the analysis of serum selenium and methylation.

RESULTS

In the Ob group, the body weight, BMI, fat mass, and free fat mass were higher than in the NOb group, as expected. Interestingly, the serum selenium was lower in the Ob than in the NOb group without differences in selenium intake. One DMR corresponding to the CPT1B gene, involved in lipid oxidation, was related to selenium levels. This region was hypermethylated in the Ob group, indicating that the intersection between selenium deficiency and hypermethylation could influence the expression of the CPT1B gene. The transcriptional analysis confirmed the lower expression of the CPT1B gene in the Ob group.

CONCLUSION

Studies connecting epigenetics to environmental factors could offer insights into the mechanisms involving the expression of genes related to obesity and its comorbidities. Here we demonstrated that the mineral selenium might play an essential role in lipid oxidation via epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of the CPT1B gene in obesity.

The Heterogeneity of Post-Menopausal Disease Risk: Could the Basis for Why Only Subsets of Females Are Affected Be Due to a Reversible Epigenetic Modification System Associated with Puberty, Menstrual Cycles, Pregnancy and Lactation, and, Ultimately, Menopause?

For much of human evolution, the average lifespan was <40 years, due in part to disease, infant mortality, predators, food insecurity, and, for females, complications of childbirth. Thus, for much of evolution, many females did not reach the age of menopause (45-50 years of age) and it is mainly in the past several hundred years that the lifespan has been extended to >75 years, primarily due to public health advances, medical interventions, antibiotics, and nutrition. Therefore, the underlying biological mechanisms responsible for disease risk following menopause must have evolved during the complex processes leading to Homo sapiens to serve functions in the pre-menopausal state. Furthermore, as a primary function for the survival of the species is effective reproduction, it is likely that most of the advantages of having such post-menopausal risks relate to reproduction and the ability to address environmental stresses. This opinion/perspective will be discussed in the context of how such post-menopausal risks could enhance reproduction, with improved survival of offspring, and perhaps why such risks are preserved. Not all post-menopausal females exhibit risk for this set of diseases, and those who do develop such diseases do not have all of the conditions. The diseases of the post-menopausal state do not operate as a unified complex, but as independent variables, with the potential for some overlap. The how and why there would be such heterogeneity if the risk factors serve essential functions during the reproductive years is also discussed and the concept of sets of reversible epigenetic changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, and lactation is offered to explain the observations regarding the distribution of post-menopausal conditions and their potential roles in reproduction. While the involvement of an epigenetic system with a dynamic "modification-demodification-remodification" paradigm contributing to disease risk is a hypothesis at this point, validation of it could lead to a better understanding of post-menopausal disease risk in the context of reproduction with commonalities may also lead to future improved interventions to control such risk after menopause.

Identification of Key Osteoporosis Genes Through Comparative Analysis of Men's and Women's Osteoblast Transcriptomes

Osteoporosis disproportionately affects older women, yet gender differences in human osteoblasts remain unexplored. Identifying mechanisms and biomarkers of osteoporosis will enable the development of preventative and therapeutic approaches. Transcriptome data of 187 osteoblast samples from men and women were compared. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to discover co-expressed modules. Enrichment analysis was performed to annotate DEGs. Preservation analysis determined whether modules and pathways were similar between genders. Blood methylation, transcriptome data, mouse phenotype data, and drug treatment data were utilized to identify key osteoporosis genes. We identified 1460 DEGs enriched in immune response, neurogenesis, and GWAS osteoporosis-related genes. WGCNA uncovered 8 modules associated with immune response, development, collagen metabolism, mitochondrion, and amino acid synthesis. Preservation analysis indicated modules and pathways were generally similar between genders. Incorporating GWAS and mouse phenotype data revealed 9 key genes, including GMDS, SMOC2, SASH1, MMP2, AHCYL1, ARRDC2, IGHMBP2, ATP6V1A, and CTSK. These genes were differentially methylated in patient blood and differentiated high and low bone mineral density patients in pre- and postmenopausal women. Denosumab treatment in postmenopausal women down-regulated 6 key genes, up-regulated T cell proportions, and down-regulated fibroblast proportion. qRT-PCR was used to confirm the genes in postmenopausal women. We identified 9 key osteoporosis genes by comparing the transcriptome of osteoblasts in women and men. Our findings' clinical implications were confirmed by multi-omics data and qRT-PCR, and our study provides novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment.

Exercise training modifies the whole blood DNA methylation profile in middle-aged and older women

This is a longitudinal single-arm clinical trial aimed to investigate whether exercise training would modify the whole blood methylation profile in healthy women. A total of 45 subjects were engaged in an exercise training protocol during a 14-wk follow up, consisting of aerobic cardiorespiratory and muscle strength exercises. Subjects were evaluated at baseline (PRE), after 7 wk of exercise training (POST 7), and after 14 wk of exercise training (POST 14). Functional primary outcomes included anthropometric, blood pressure, biochemical measurements, physical tests, and global health assessments. Blood samples were collected at each time point to determine the methylation profile using a DNA methylation array technique screening up to 850k different sites. Exercise training decreased blood pressure and triglyceride levels and enhanced physical performance, including upper- and lower-body maximum strength. Moreover, exercise training improved markers of quality of life. In the array analysis, 14 wk of exercise training changed the methylation of more than 800 sites. Across these differentially methylated sites, we found that differentially methylated sites in the promoter region were more hypermethylated after exercise training, suggesting that this hypermethylation process may affect the transcription process. When inputting the differentially methylated sites in pathway analysis, we found several metabolic pathways, including AMPK signaling, TGF-β signaling, and insulin signaling. This study demonstrates that exercise training promotes a robust change in the whole blood methylation profile and provides new insights into the key regulators of exercise-induced benefits.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have shown that exercise training lowers blood pressure and triglyceride levels, improves physical performance, and improves quality of life in middle-aged and elderly women. Regarding epigenetic data, we noticed that more than 800 sites are differentially methylated in whole blood after physical training. We emphasize that the differentially methylated sites in the promoter region are more hypermethylated after physical training. In addition, this study shows that key members of metabolic pathways, including AMPK signaling, TGF-β signaling, and insulin signaling, are among the genes hypermethylated after physical exercise in older women.

Comparing Fourteen Weeks of Multicomponent Training Versus Combined Training in Physically Inactive Older Women: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Combined (CT) and multicomponent training (MT) presents several benefits for aging individuals. However, the literature does not provide evidence on which of the two physical training models can better enhance improvements in physical capacity and health parameters in middle-aged and older women.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of MT and CT on physical capacity, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial assessment, and biochemical profile of physically inactive women aged between 50 and 70 years.

METHODS

Participants were randomized into two groups: MT (32 women, 64.2 ± 6.4 years) and CT (39 women, 61.4 ± 4.3 years). Both training sessions had a weekly volume of 180 min, for 14 weeks, with assessments at baseline and after the training period.

RESULTS

CT showed better results when compared to MT. In the four evaluation blocks, we noticed differences in the effect size (L = large, M = moderate, S = small, and T = trivial) between the groups in 26 variables in total, highlighting the CT group (L = 11, M = 5, S = 2, and T = 8) compared to the MT group (L = 8, M = 7, S = 7, and T = 4). Our findings showed group-time differences for strength variables using the maximum dynamic repetition test in upper and lower limbs and for agility. The multicomponent training showed improvement in the functional strength of the upper limbs evaluated through the elbow flexion and extension test (p = 0.037), and HDL (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Fourteen weeks of CT showed better benefits when compared to MT.