Heterogeneity of increased biological age in type 2 diabetes correlates with differential tissue DNA methylation, biological variables, and pharmacological treatments

Biological age (BA) closely depicts age-related changes at a cellular level. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) accelerates BA when calculated using clinical biomarkers, but there is a large spread in the magnitude of individuals' age acceleration in T2D suggesting additional factors contributing to BA. Additionally, it is unknown whether BA can be changed with treatment. We hypothesized that potential determinants of the heterogeneous BA distribution in T2D could be due to differential tissue aging as reflected at the DNA methylation (DNAm) level, or biological variables and their respective therapeutic treatments. Publicly available DNAm samples were obtained to calculate BA using the DNAm phenotypic age (DNAmPhenoAge) algorithm. DNAmPhenoAge showed age acceleration in T2D samples of whole blood, pancreatic islets, and liver, but not in adipose tissue or skeletal muscle. Analysis of genes associated with differentially methylated CpG sites found a significant correlation between eight individual CpG methylation sites and gene expression. Clinical biomarkers from participants in the NHANES 2017-2018 and ACCORD cohorts were used to calculate BA using the Klemera and Doubal (KDM) method. Cardiovascular and glycemic biomarkers associated with increased BA while intensive blood pressure and glycemic management reduced BA to CA levels, demonstrating that accelerated BA can be restored in the setting of T2D.

Adrenergic Reprogramming of Preexisting Adipogenic Trajectories Steer Naïve Mural Cells Toward Beige Differentiation

In adult white adipose tissue, cold or β3-adrenoceptor activation promotes the appearance of thermogenic beige adipocytes. Our comprehensive single-cell analysis revealed that these cells arise through the reprogramming of existing adipogenic trajectories, rather than from a single precursor. These trajectories predominantly arise from SM22-expressing vascular mural progenitor cells. Central in this transition is the activation of Adrb3 in mature adipocytes, leading to subsequent upregulation of Adrb1 in primed progenitors. Under thermoneutral conditions, synergistic activation of both Adrb3 and Adrb1 recapitulates the pattern of cold-induced SM22+ cell recruitment. Lipolysis-derived eicosanoids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) prime these processes and in vitro, were sufficient to recapitulate progenitor cells priming. Collectively, our findings provide a robust model for cold-induced beige adipogenesis, emphasizing a profound relationship between mature adipocytes and mural cells during cold acclimation, and revealing the metabolic potential of this unique cellular reservoir.

Natural history study and tissue procurement of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs)

TPS659

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a rare spectrum of malignant neoplasms originating from neuroendocrine cells, most commonly affecting the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and lungs. Tumors may vary from low grade neuroendocrine tumors (NET) to high grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC). The annual occurrence of NENs is increasing worldwide and currently the incidence in the US is about 6 cases per 100,000 people per year. A variety of therapeutic options are available for advanced NENs, however, when to apply a given option, what combination therapeutic approach should be used, how long treatment should be continued is unclear and controversial. Moreover, unlike common cancers, pre-clinical models for NENs are sorely limited. Without robust pre-clinical models our understanding of tumor pathophysiology and novel drug development can be challenging. Methods: A prospective study to evaluate the natural history and sample acquisition of NENs comprehensively and longitudinally. Patients ≥ 18 years old with histological confirmation of NENs, biochemical evidence of NENs, or by imaging studies of NENs are eligible. Participants are invited to NIH for biannual evaluations or as clinically indicated. Patients complete individual medical history, family history, and laboratory assessments including blood, saliva, and tumor for RNA/DNA analysis. A tumor analysis via a 500+ gene panel (Illumina TruSight Oncology 500 Panel) is performed for comprehensive genomic and epigenomic analysis. When feasible, fresh tissue is collected to develop pre-clinical models for drug testing. If clinically indicated, anatomic and functional imaging is performed. We aim to 1) create a repository of biological samples and conduct future investigations to understand the basic biology of NENs with the goal to develop novel treatment approaches, biomarkers of treatment response, and new prognostic and diagnostic models, 2) acquire clinical data so that the overall genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic alternations can be correlated to clinical parameters, 3) establish organoid cultures, cell line models, and xenograft models corresponding to NENs of various grades for drug screening. This protocol will evaluate the natural history of NENs, allow tissue acquisition, and study this heterogenous group of neoplasms with unique tumor biology, and current clinical management to stabilize correlations with clinical outcomes and develop novel therapies. Clinical trial information: NCT05237934 .