bims-senagi Biomed News
on Senescence and aging
Issue of 2022–01–16
39 papers selected by
Maria Grazia Vizioli, Mayo Clinic
  1. Targeting Cellular Senescence with Senotherapeutics: Senolytics and Senomorphics.
  2. Chromatin basis of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
  3. Therapeutic opportunities for senolysis in cardiovascular disease.
  4. Skin senescence: mechanisms and impact on whole-body aging.
  5. Chronic HIV Infection and Aging: Application of a Geroscience-Guided Approach.
  6. Endothelial and systemic upregulation of miR-34a-5p fine-tunes senescence in progeria.
  7. Coordinated post-transcriptional control of oncogene-induced senescence by UNR/CSDE1.
  8. Downregulation of JMJD2a and LSD1 is involved in CK2 inhibition-mediated cellular senescence through the p53-SUV39h1 pathway.
  9. The Impact of Exercise on Telomere Length, DNA Methylation and Metabolic Footprints.
  10. STING up-regulates VEGF expression in oxidative stress-induced senescence of retinal pigment epithelium via NF-κB/HIF-1α pathway.
  11. cGAS/STING: novel perspectives of the classic pathway.
  12. The role and biology of senescent cells in ageing-related tissue damage and repair.
  13. NAP1L2 drives mesenchymal stem cell senescence and suppresses osteogenic differentiation.
  14. The metabolome as a biomarker of aging in Drosophila melanogaster.
  15. Age-Dependent Decline of NAD+-Universal Truth or Confounded Consensus?
  16. AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent nuclear localization of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in senescent human diploid fibroblasts.
  17. The landscape of human tissue and cell type specific expression and co-regulation of senescence genes.
  18. Autophagy facilitates age-related cell apoptosis-a new insight from senile cataract.
  19. Single-Cell Analysis Identify Transcription Factor BACH1 as a Master Regulator Gene in Vascular Cells During Aging.
  20. Unfolded protein response alleviates acid-induced premature senescence by promoting autophagy in nucleus pulposus cells.
  21. Local Elimination of Senescent Cells Promotes Bone Defect Repair during Aging.
  22. Increased WIP1 Expression With Aging Suppresses the Capacity of Oocytes to Respond to and Repair DNA Damage.
  23. Metformin protects lens epithelial cells against senescence in a naturally aged mouse model.
  24. Immunosenescence, Inflammaging, and Frailty: Role of Myeloid Cells in Age-Related Diseases.
  25. Longevity Factor FOXO3: A Key Regulator in Aging-Related Vascular Diseases.
  26. Induction of Cellular Senescence in Rat Vaginal Fibroblasts and Treatment With Senolytics: An in Vitro Model for the Study of Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
  27. The Mechanism of Stem Cell Aging.
  28. In vitro and in vivo effects of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus on nucleus pulposus cell senescence.
  29. Pancreatic Cancer and Cellular Senescence: Tumor Microenvironment under the Spotlight.
  30. Aging is associated with increased brain iron through cortex-derived hepcidin expression.
  31. Aging-related cell type-specific pathophysiologic immune responses that exacerbate disease severity in aged COVID-19 patients.
  32. Loss of CMTM6 promotes DNA damage-induced cellular senescence and antitumor immunity.
  33. Regulation of lung epithelial cell senescence in smoking-induced COPD/emphysema by microR-125a-5p via Sp1 mediation of SIRT1/HIF-1a.
  34. Senescence as a dictator of patient outcomes and therapeutic efficacies in human gastric cancer.
  35. Smooth muscle mineralocorticoid receptor as an epigenetic regulator of vascular aging.
  36. The Mitochondrial Antioxidant Sirtuin3 Cooperates with Lipid Metabolism to Safeguard Neurogenesis in Aging and Depression.
  37. Decline of regenerative potential of old muscle stem cells: contribution to muscle aging.
  38. Mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate alveolar type 2 cells senescence through regulating NAMPT-mediated NAD metabolism.
  39. Reduced Levels of NAD in Skeletal Muscle and Increased Physiologic Frailty Are Associated With Viral Coinfection in Asymptomatic Middle-Aged Adults.
  1. FEBS J. 2022 Jan 11.
    Targeting Cellular Senescence with Senotherapeutics: Senolytics and Senomorphics.
    Lei Zhang, Louise E Pitcher, Vaishali Prahalad, Laura J Niedernhofer, Paul D Robbins.
      The concept of Geroscience is that since aging is the greatest risk factor for many diseases and conditions, targeting the aging process itself will have the greatest impact on human health. Of the hallmarks of aging, cellular senescence has emerged as a druggable therapeutic target for extending healthspan in model organisms. Cellular senescence is a cell state of irreversible proliferative arrest driven by different types of stress, including oncogene-induced stress. Many senescent cells (SnCs) develop a senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) comprising of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, proteases, bioactive lipids, inhibitory molecules, extracellular vesicles, metabolites, lipids and other factors, able to promote chronic inflammation and tissue dysfunction. SnCs upregulate senescent cell anti-apoptotic pathways (SCAPs) that prevent them from dying despite the accumulation of damage to DNA and other organelles. These SCAPs and other pathways altered in SnCs represent therapeutic targets for the development of senotherapeutic drugs that induce apoptosis of SnCs specifically, termed senolytics, or suppress markers of senescence, in particular the SASP, termed senomorphics. Here, we review the current state of the development of senolytics and senomorphics for the treatment of age-related diseases and disorders and extension of healthy longevity. In addition, the challenges of documenting senolytic and senomorphic activity in pre-clinical models and the current state of the clinical application of the different senotherapeutics will be discussed.
    Keywords:  PROTACs; SASP; SCAP; Senescence; aging; drug screening; geroscience; pro-drugs; senolytics; senomorphics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16350
  2. Trends Cell Biol. 2022 Jan 07. pii: S0962-8924(21)00250-6. [Epub ahead of print]
    Chromatin basis of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
    Xue Hao, Chen Wang, Rugang Zhang.
      Cellular senescence is a stable cell growth arrest. Senescent cells are metabolically active, as exemplified by the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, which is termed senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP exerts a range of functions in both normal health and pathology, which is possibly best characterized in cancers and physical aging. Recent studies demonstrated that chromatin is instrumental in regulating the SASP both through nuclear transcription and via the innate immune cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway in the cytoplasm. Here, we will review these regulatory mechanisms, with an emphasis on most recent developments in the field. We will highlight the challenges and opportunities in developing intervention approaches, such as targeting chromatin regulatory mechanisms, to alter the SASP as an emerging approach to combat cancers and achieve healthy aging.
    Keywords:  chromatin structure; cytoplasmic chromatin; enhancer–promoter interaction; senescence-associated secretory phenotype; senomorphics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2021.12.003
  3. FEBS J. 2022 Jan 11.
    Therapeutic opportunities for senolysis in cardiovascular disease.
    Mark Sweeney, Stuart A Cook, Jesús Gil.
      Cellular senescence within the cardiovascular system has, until recently, been understudied and unappreciated as a factor in the development of age-related cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. This is in part due to challenges with defining senescence within post-mitotic cells such as cardiomyocytes. However, recent evidence has demonstrated senescent-like changes, including a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, in cardiomyocytes in response to ageing and cell stress. Other replicating cells, including fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells, within the cardiovascular system have also been shown to undergo senescence and contribute to disease pathogenesis. These findings coupled with the emergence of senolytic therapies, to target and eliminate senescent cells, have provided fascinating new avenues for management of several age-related cardiovascular diseases with high prevalence. In this review, we discuss the role of senescent cells within the cardiovascular system and highlight the contribution of senescence cells to common cardiovascular diseases. We discuss the emerging role for senolytics in cardiovascular disease management while highlighting important aspects of senescence biology which must be clarified before the potential of senolytics can be fully realized.
    Keywords:  Senescence; atherosclerosis; cardiovascular; heart failure; pulmonary hypertension; senolytics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16351
  4. Trends Mol Med. 2022 Jan 07. pii: S1471-4914(21)00319-1. [Epub ahead of print]
    Skin senescence: mechanisms and impact on whole-body aging.
    Ana Catarina Franco, Célia Aveleira, Cláudia Cavadas.
      The skin is the largest organ and has a key protective role. Similar to any other tissue, the skin is influenced not only by intrinsic/chronological aging, but also by extrinsic aging, triggered by environmental factors that contribute to accelerating the skin aging process. Aged skin shows structural, cellular, and molecular changes and accumulation of senescent cells. These senescent cells can induce or accelerate the age-related dysfunction of other nearby cells from the skin, or from different origins. However, the extent and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this opinion, we discuss the possible relevant role of skin senescence in the induction of aging phenotypes to other organs/tissues, contributing to whole-body aging. Moreover, we suggest that topical administration of senolytics/senotherapeutics could counteract the overall whole-body aging phenotype.
    Keywords:  SASP; aging; cellular-senescence; paracrine-senescence; senolytics; skin-aging
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2021.12.003
  5. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2022 Feb 01. 89(Suppl 1): S34-S46
    Chronic HIV Infection and Aging: Application of a Geroscience-Guided Approach.
    Mary C Masters, Alan L Landay, Paul D Robbins, Tamar Tchkonia, James L Kirkland, George A Kuchel, Laura J Niedernhofer, Frank J Palella.
       ABSTRACT: The ability of virally suppressive antiretroviral therapy use to extend the life span of people with HIV (PWH) implies that the age of PWH will also increase. Among PWH, extended survival comes at a cost of earlier onset and increased rates of aging-associated comorbidities and geriatric syndromes, with persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation consequent to chronic HIV infection and to antiretroviral therapy use contributing to an overall decrease in health span. The geroscience hypothesis proposes that the root causes of most aging-related chronic diseases and conditions is the aging process itself. Hence, therapeutically targeting fundamental aging processes could have a greater impact on alleviating or delaying aging-associated comorbidities than addressing each disease individually. Extending the geroscience hypothesis to PWH, we speculate that targeting basic mechanisms of aging will improve overall health with age. Clinical features and pathophysiologic mechanisms of chronic diseases in PWH qualitatively resemble those seen in older adults without HIV. Therefore, drugs that target any of the pillars of aging, including metformin, rapamycin, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors, may also slow the rate of onset of age-associated comorbidities and geriatric syndromes in PWH. Drugs that selectively induce apoptosis of senescent cells, termed senolytics, may also improve health span among PWH. Preliminary evidence suggests that senescent cell burden is increased in PWH, implying that senescent cells are an excellent therapeutic target for extending health span. Recently initiated clinical trials evaluating senolytics in age-related diseases offer insights into the design and potential implementation of similar trials for PWH.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002858
  6. Aging (Albany NY). 2022 Jan 12. 14(undefined):
    Endothelial and systemic upregulation of miR-34a-5p fine-tunes senescence in progeria.
    Christina Manakanatas, Santhosh Kumar Ghadge, Azra Agic, Fatih Sarigol, Petra Fichtinger, Irmgard Fischer, Roland Foisner, Selma Osmanagic-Myers.
      Endothelial defects significantly contribute to cardiovascular pathology in the premature aging disease Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). Using an endothelium-specific progeria mouse model, we identify a novel, endothelium-specific microRNA (miR) signature linked to the p53-senescence pathway and a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Progerin-expressing endothelial cells exert profound cell-non-autonomous effects initiating senescence in non-endothelial cell populations and causing immune cell infiltrates around blood vessels. Comparative miR expression analyses revealed unique upregulation of senescence-associated miR34a-5p in endothelial cells with strong accumulation at atheroprone aortic arch regions but also, in whole cardiac- and lung tissues as well as in the circulation of progeria mice. Mechanistically, miR34a-5p knockdown reduced not only p53 levels but also late-stage senescence regulator p16 with no effect on p21 levels, while p53 knockdown reduced miR34a-5p and partially rescued p21-mediated cell cycle inhibition with a moderate effect on SASP. These data demonstrate that miR34a-5p reinforces two separate senescence regulating branches in progerin-expressing endothelial cells, the p53- and p16-associated pathways, which synergistically maintain a senescence phenotype that contributes to cardiovascular pathology. Thus, the key function of circulatory miR34a-5p in endothelial dysfunction-linked cardiovascular pathology offers novel routes for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment for cardiovascular aging in HGPS and potentially geriatric patients.
    Keywords:  Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome; cardiovascular disease; endothelial senescence; senescence-associated micro RNAs
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203820
  7. Cell Rep. 2022 Jan 11. pii: S2211-1247(21)01715-0. [Epub ahead of print]38(2): 110211
    Coordinated post-transcriptional control of oncogene-induced senescence by UNR/CSDE1.
    Rosario Avolio, Marta Inglés-Ferrándiz, Annagiulia Ciocia, Olga Coll, Sarah Bonnin, Tanit Guitart, Anna Ribó, Fátima Gebauer.
      Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is a form of stable cell-cycle arrest arising in response to oncogenic stimulation. OIS must be bypassed for transformation, but the mechanisms of OIS establishment and bypass remain poorly understood, especially at the post-transcriptional level. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein UNR/CSDE1 enables OIS in primary mouse keratinocytes. Depletion of CSDE1 leads to senescence bypass, cell immortalization, and tumor formation, indicating that CSDE1 behaves as a tumor suppressor. Unbiased high-throughput analyses uncovered that CSDE1 promotes OIS by two independent molecular mechanisms: enhancement of the stability of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factor mRNAs and repression of Ybx1 mRNA translation. Importantly, depletion of YBX1 from immortal keratinocytes rescues senescence and uncouples proliferation arrest from the SASP, revealing multilayered mechanisms exerted by CSDE1 to coordinate senescence. Our data highlight the relevance of post-transcriptional control in the regulation of senescence.
    Keywords:  CSDE1; H-Ras(V12); SASP; UNR; YBX1; mRNA stability; oncogene-induced senescence; post-transcriptional regulation; primary mouse keratinocytes; translational control
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110211
  8. BMB Rep. 2022 Jan 10. pii: 5482. [Epub ahead of print]
    Downregulation of JMJD2a and LSD1 is involved in CK2 inhibition-mediated cellular senescence through the p53-SUV39h1 pathway.
    Jeong-Woo Park, Young-Seuk Bae.
      Lysine methylation is one of the most important histone modifications that modulate chromatin structure. In the present study, the roles of the histone lysine demethylases JMJD2a and LSD1 in CK2 downregulation-mediated senescence were investigated. The ectopic expression of JMJD2a and LSD1 suppressed the induction of senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and heterochromatin foci formation as well as the reduction of colony-forming and cell migration ability mediated by CK2 knockdown. CK2 downregulation inhibited JMJD2a and LSD1 expression by activating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-ribosomal p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) pathway. In addition, the downregulation of JMJD2a and LSD1 was involved in activating the p53-p21Cip1/WAF1-SUV39h1-trimethylation of the histone H3 Lys9 (H3K9me3) pathway in CK2-downregulated cells. Further, CK2 downregulation-mediated JMJD2a and LSD1 reduction was found to stimulate the dimethylation of Lys370 on p53 (p53K370me2) and nuclear import of SUV39h1. Therefore, this study indicated that CK2 downregulation reduces JMJD2a and LSD1 expression by activating mTOR, resulting in H3K9me3 induction by increasing the p53K370me2-dependent nuclear import of SUV39h1. These results suggest that CK2 is a potential therapeutic target for age-related diseases.
  9. Cells. 2022 Jan 04. pii: 153. [Epub ahead of print]11(1):
    The Impact of Exercise on Telomere Length, DNA Methylation and Metabolic Footprints.
    Sandra Haupt, Tobias Niedrist, Harald Sourij, Stephan Schwarzinger, Othmar Moser.
      Aging as a major risk factor influences the probability of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, amongst others. The underlying mechanisms of disease are still not fully understood, but research suggests that delaying the aging process could ameliorate these pathologies. A key biological process in aging is cellular senescence which is associated with several stressors such as telomere shortening or enhanced DNA methylation. Telomere length as well as DNA methylation levels can be used as biological age predictors which are able to detect excessive acceleration or deceleration of aging. Analytical methods examining aging are often not suitable, expensive, time-consuming or require a high level of technical expertise. Therefore, research focusses on combining analytical methods which have the potential to simultaneously analyse epigenetic, genomic as well as metabolic changes.
    Keywords:  DNA methylation; exercise; metabolism; metabolomics; telomere length
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11010153
  10. Life Sci. 2022 Jan 07. pii: S0024-3205(21)01076-6. [Epub ahead of print] 120089
    STING up-regulates VEGF expression in oxidative stress-induced senescence of retinal pigment epithelium via NF-κB/HIF-1α pathway.
    Qingqiu Chen, Li Tang, Yi Zhang, Chengyu Wan, Xiuxian Yu, Yuman Dong, Xiaoting Chen, Xueling Wang, Ning Li, Guang Xin, Meixia Zhang, Zhen Chen, Hai Niu, Wen Huang.
       AIM: Aging-related dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the main pathogenic factors for pathological angiogenesis due to dysregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retinal vascular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the molecular mechanism behind the up-regulation of VEGF in senescent RPE is still blurred.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: As oxidative damage is the key cause of RPE dysfunction, we employed a model of oxidative stress-induced premature senescence of ARPE-19 to explore the effect of senescent RPE on VEGF.
    KEY FINDINGS: We reported that senescent ARPE-19 up-regulated VEGF expression under both short-term and prolonged H2O2 treatment, accompanying with increased HIF-1α, the key mediator of VEGF. STING signaling, which could be activated by oxidative stress-damaged DNA, was also observed to be increased in senescent ARPE-19 treated with H2O2. And the inhibition of STING significantly reduced HIF-1α expression to alleviate the up-regulation of VEGF. NF-κB was also shown to be involved in the regulation of VEGF in senescent ARPE-19 in response to STING signaling. Furthermore, oxidative stress impaired the lysosomal clearance of damaged DNA to enhance STING signaling, thereby up-regulating VEGF expression in senescent RPE.
    SIGNIFICANCE: Our data provide evidence that STING plays an important role in VEGF regulation in senescent RPE induced by oxidative stress.
    Keywords:  Autophagic flux; Retinal pigment epithelium; STING; Senescence; VEGF
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120089
  11. Mol Biomed. 2020 Sep 20. 1(1): 7
    cGAS/STING: novel perspectives of the classic pathway.
    Menghui Gao, Yuchen He, Haosheng Tang, Xiangyu Chen, Shuang Liu, Yongguang Tao.
      Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor and innate immune response initiator. Binding with exogenous or endogenous nucleic acids, cGAS activates its downstream adaptor, stimulator of interferon genes (STING). STING then triggers protective immune to enable the elimination of the pathogens and the clearance of cancerous cells. Apparently, aberrantly activated by self-DNA, cGAS/STING pathway is threatening to cause autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The effects of cGAS/STING in defenses against infection and autoimmune diseases have been well studied, still it is worthwhile to discuss the roles of cGAS/STING pathway beyond the "classical" realm of innate immunity. Recent studies have revealed its involvement in non-canonical inflammasome formation, calcium hemostasis regulation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, perception of leaking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), autophagy induction, cellular senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) production, providing an exciting area for future exploration. Previous studies generally focused on the function of cGAS/STING pathway in cytoplasm and immune response. In this review, we summarize the latest research of this pathway on the regulation of other physiological process and STING independent reactions to DNA in micronuclei and nuclei. Together, these studies provide a new perspective of cGAS/STING pathway in human diseases.
    Keywords:  DNA sensor; Immune; Micronuclei; Nuclei; STING; Senescence; Tumor; cGAS
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-020-00006-z
  12. Mech Ageing Dev. 2022 Jan 07. pii: S0047-6374(22)00011-2. [Epub ahead of print] 111629
    The role and biology of senescent cells in ageing-related tissue damage and repair.
    Markus Schosserer.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2022.111629
  13. Aging Cell. 2022 Jan 15. e13551
    NAP1L2 drives mesenchymal stem cell senescence and suppresses osteogenic differentiation.
    Meilin Hu, Liangyu Xing, Li Zhang, Fan Liu, Sheng Wang, Ying Xie, Jingjing Wang, Hongmei Jiang, Jing Guo, Xin Li, Jingya Wang, Lei Sui, Changyi Li, Dayong Liu, Zhiqiang Liu.
      Senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) impairs stemness and osteogenic differentiation, but the key regulators for senescence and the related osteogenesis are not well defined. Herein, we screened the gene expression profiles of human BMSCs from young and old donors and identified that elevation of the nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 2 (NAP1L2) expression was correlated with BMSC senescence and impaired osteogenesis. Elevated NAP1L2 expression was observed in replicative cell senescence and induced cell senescence in vitro, and in age-related senescent human and mouse BMSCs in vivo, concomitant with significantly augmented chromatin accessibility detected by ATAC-seq. Loss- and gain-of-functions of NAP1L2 affected activation of NF-κB pathway, status of histone 3 lysine 14 acetylation (H3K14ac), and chromatin accessibility on osteogenic genes in BMSCs. Mechanistic studies revealed that NAP1L2, a histone chaperone, recruited SIRT1 to deacetylate H3K14ac on promoters of osteogenic genes such as Runx2, Sp7, and Bglap and suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Importantly, molecular docking analysis showed a possible bond between NAP1L2 and an anti-aging reagent, the nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and indeed, administration of NMN alleviated senescent phenotypes of BMSCs. In vivo and clinical evidence from aging mice and patients with senile osteoporosis also confirmed that elevation of NAP1L2 expression was associated with suppressed osteoblastogenesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that NAP1L2 is a regulator of both BMSC cell senescence and osteogenic differentiation, and provide a new theoretical basis for aging-related disease.
    Keywords:  NAP1L2; bmsc; osteogenesis; senescence; senile osteoporosis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13551
  14. Aging Cell. 2022 Jan 12. e13548
    The metabolome as a biomarker of aging in Drosophila melanogaster.
    Xiaqing Zhao, Forrest T Golic, Benjamin R Harrison, Meghna Manoj, Elise V Hoffman, Neta Simon, Richard Johnson, Michael J MacCoss, Lauren M McIntyre, Daniel E L Promislow.
      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.
    Keywords:  aging; biomarker; drosophila; metabolomics; mortality
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13548
  15. Nutrients. 2021 Dec 27. pii: 101. [Epub ahead of print]14(1):
    Age-Dependent Decline of NAD+-Universal Truth or Confounded Consensus?
    Augusto Peluso, Mads V Damgaard, Marcelo A S Mori, Jonas T Treebak.
      Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential molecule involved in various metabolic reactions, acting as an electron donor in the electron transport chain and as a co-factor for NAD+-dependent enzymes. In the early 2000s, reports that NAD+ declines with aging introduced the notion that NAD+ metabolism is globally and progressively impaired with age. Since then, NAD+ became an attractive target for potential pharmacological therapies aiming to increase NAD+ levels to promote vitality and protect against age-related diseases. This review summarizes and discusses a collection of studies that report the levels of NAD+ with aging in different species (i.e., yeast, C. elegans, rat, mouse, monkey, and human), to determine whether the notion that overall NAD+ levels decrease with aging stands true. We find that, despite systematic claims of overall changes in NAD+ levels with aging, the evidence to support such claims is very limited and often restricted to a single tissue or cell type. This is particularly true in humans, where the development of NAD+ levels during aging is still poorly characterized. There is a need for much larger, preferably longitudinal, studies to assess how NAD+ levels develop with aging in various tissues. This will strengthen our conclusions on NAD metabolism during aging and should provide a foundation for better pharmacological targeting of relevant tissues.
    Keywords:  C. elegans; NAD+; aging; human; monkey; mouse; rat; yeast
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010101
  16. Aging (Albany NY). 2022 Jan 12. 14(undefined):
    AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent nuclear localization of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in senescent human diploid fibroblasts.
    Jee Young Sohn, Hyeok-Jin Kwak, Ji Heon Rhim, Eui-Ju Yeo.
      Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a key glycolytic enzyme that participates in various cellular events, such as DNA repair and apoptosis. The functional diversity of GAPDH depends on its intracellular localization. Because AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates the nuclear translocation of GAPDH in young cells and AMPK activity significantly increases during aging, we investigated whether altered AMPK activity is involved in the nuclear localization of GAPDH in senescent cells. Age-dependent nuclear translocation of GAPDH was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy in human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) and by immunohistochemical analysis in aged rat skin cells. Senescence-induced nuclear localization was reversed by lysophosphatidic acid but not by platelet-derived growth factor. The extracellular matrix from young cells also induced the nuclear export of GAPDH in senescent HDFs. An activator of AMPK, 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), increased the level of nuclear GAPDH, whereas an inhibitor of AMPK, Compound C, decreased the level of nuclear GAPDH in senescent HDFs. Transfection with AMPKα siRNA prevented nuclear translocation of GAPDH in senescent HDFs. The stimulatory effect of AICAR and serum depletion on GAPDH nuclear translocation was reduced in AMPKα1/α2-knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Overall, increased AMPK activity may play a role in the senescence-associated nuclear translocation of GAPDH.
    Keywords:  AMP-activated protein kinase; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; human diploid fibroblasts; nuclear localization; senescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203825
  17. Mol Neurodegener. 2022 Jan 09. 17(1): 5
    The landscape of human tissue and cell type specific expression and co-regulation of senescence genes.
    Peng Xu, Minghui Wang, Won-Min Song, Qian Wang, Guo-Cheng Yuan, Peter H Sudmant, Habil Zare, Zhidong Tu, Miranda E Orr, Bin Zhang.
       BACKGROUND: Cellular senescence is a complex stress response that impacts cellular function and organismal health. Multiple developmental and environmental factors, such as intrinsic cellular cues, radiation, oxidative stress, oncogenes, and protein accumulation, activate genes and pathways that can lead to senescence. Enormous efforts have been made to identify and characterize senescence genes (SnGs) in stress and disease systems. However, the prevalence of senescent cells in healthy human tissues and the global SnG expression signature in different cell types are poorly understood.
    METHODS: This study performed an integrative gene network analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA-seq data in non-diseased human tissues to investigate SnG co-expression signatures and their cell-type specificity.
    RESULTS: Through a comprehensive transcriptomic network analysis of 50 human tissues in the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) cohort, we identified SnG-enriched gene modules, characterized SnG co-expression patterns, and constructed aggregated SnG networks across primary tissues of the human body. Our network approaches identified 51 SnGs highly conserved across the human tissues, including CDKN1A (p21)-centered regulators that control cell cycle progression and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SnG-enriched modules showed remarkable cell-type specificity, especially in fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells. Further analyses of single-cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomic data independently validated the cell-type specific SnG signatures predicted by the network analysis.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study systematically revealed the co-regulated organizations and cell type specificity of SnGs in major human tissues, which can serve as a blueprint for future studies to map senescent cells and their cellular interactions in human tissues.
    Keywords:  Human tissues; Network; RNA-seq; Senescence; Single cell; Transcriptome
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-021-00507-7
  18. Cell Death Dis. 2022 01 10. 13(1): 37
    Autophagy facilitates age-related cell apoptosis-a new insight from senile cataract.
    Jiani Huang, Wangshu Yu, Qin He, Xiaoying He, Ming Yang, Wei Chen, Wei Han.
      Age-related cell loss underpins many senescence-associated diseases. Apoptosis of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is the important cellular basis of senile cataract resulted from prolonged exposure to oxidative stress, although the specific mechanisms remain elusive. Our data indicated the concomitance of high autophagy activity, low SQSTM1/p62 protein level and apoptosis in the same LEC from senile cataract patients. Meanwhile, in primary cultured LECs model, more durable autophagy activation and more obvious p62 degradation under oxidative stress were observed in LECs from elder healthy donors, compared with that from young healthy donors. Using autophagy-deficiency HLE-B3 cell line, autophagy adaptor p62 was identified as the critical scaffold protein sustaining the pro-survival signaling PKCι-IKK-NF-κB cascades, which antagonized the pro-apoptotic signaling. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibitor of autophagy, 3-MA, significantly inhibited p62 degradation and rescued oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in elder LECs. Collectively, this study demonstrated that durable activation of autophagy promoted age-related cell death in LECs. Our work contributes to better understanding the pathogenesis of senescence-associated diseases.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-021-04489-8
  19. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 ;9 786496
    Single-Cell Analysis Identify Transcription Factor BACH1 as a Master Regulator Gene in Vascular Cells During Aging.
    Fei Ge, Qi Pan, Yue Qin, Mengping Jia, Chengchao Ruan, Xiangxiang Wei, Qing Jing, Xiuling Zhi, Xinhong Wang, Lindi Jiang, Elena Osto, Jieyu Guo, Dan Meng.
      Vascular aging is a potent driver of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Vascular aging features cellular and functional changes, while its molecular mechanisms and the cell heterogeneity are poorly understood. This study aims to 1) explore the cellular and molecular properties of aged cardiac vasculature in monkey and mouse and 2) demonstrate the role of transcription factor BACH1 in the regulation of endothelial cell (EC) senescence and its mechanisms. Here we analyzed published single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from monkey coronary arteries and aortic arches and mouse hearts. We revealed that the gene expression of YAP1, insulin receptor, and VEGF receptor 2 was downregulated in both aged ECs of coronary arteries' of monkey and aged cardiac capillary ECs of mouse, and proliferation-related cardiac capillary ECs were significantly decreased in aged mouse. Increased interaction of ECs and immunocytes was observed in aged vasculature of both monkey and mouse. Gene regulatory network analysis identified BACH1 as a master regulator of aging-related genes in both coronary and aorta ECs of monkey and cardiac ECs of mouse. The expression of BACH1 was upregulated in aged cardiac ECs and aortas of mouse. BACH1 aggravated endothelial cell senescence under oxidative stress. Mechanistically, BACH1 occupied at regions of open chromatin and bound to CDKN1A (encoding for P21) gene enhancers, activating its transcription in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Thus, these findings demonstrate that BACH1 plays an important role in endothelial cell senescence and vascular aging.
    Keywords:  BACH1; cellular heterogeneity; endothelial cells; scRNA-seq; vascular aging
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.786496
  20. Cell Biol Int. 2022 Jan 12.
    Unfolded protein response alleviates acid-induced premature senescence by promoting autophagy in nucleus pulposus cells.
    Lei Zhu, Zhi-Yang Xie, Zan-Li Jiang, Xiao-Hu Wang, Hang Shi, Lu Chen, Xiao-Tao Wu.
      Acid-induced cellular senescence is a critical underlying mechanism of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD). Acid stimulation activates a variety of biological changes including autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and related unfolded protein response (UPR), which are important regulators of cellular senescence. However, the precise mechanism of acid-mediated UPR and autophagy in nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) senescence has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we used acid to mimic the acidic microenvironment of IVD, and rat NPCs were cultured with or without autophagy or UPR signaling small-interfering RNAs. The related proteins and genes were assessed by immunofluorescence staining assay, Western blot analyses, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to monitor the activation of these signals and classify the molecular mechanisms underlying the correlation between autophagy and UPR pathway. Cell cycle analyses, senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining, gene expression, and immunoblotting analyses were performed to observe NPC senescence. Results showed that acid stimulation not only induced NPC senescence, but also initiated UPR and autophagy. Silencing the binding immunoglobulin protein signaling of UPR or autophagy signaling promoted rat NPC senescence. Knock-down of the UPR also blocked NPC autophagy. Taken together, UPR inhibits NPC senescence under acidic condition by activating autophagy. Hence, UPR-dependent autophagy could be an effective biologic target for the treatment of IDD in the future.
    Keywords:  acid; binding immunoglobulin protein; endoplasmic reticulum stress; intervertebral disc degeneration; senescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/cbin.11751
  21. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2022 Jan 11.
    Local Elimination of Senescent Cells Promotes Bone Defect Repair during Aging.
    Xiaotao Xing, Haisen Huang, Xin Gao, Jian Yang, Qi Tang, Xun Xu, Yutao Wu, Maojiao Li, Cheng Liang, Lin Tan, Li Liao, Weidong Tian.
      Due to the declined function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), the repair of bone defects in the elderly is retarded. Elimination of senescent cells emerges as a promising strategy for treating age-related diseases. However, whether the local elimination of senescent BMSCs can promote bone regeneration in the elderly remains elusive. To tackle the above issue, we first screened out the specific senolytics for BMSCs and confirmed their effect of eliminating senescent BMSCs in vitro. Treatment with quercetin, which is determined the best senolytics for senescent BMSCs, efficiently removed senescent cells in the population. Moreover, the self-renewal capacity was restored as well as osteogenic ability of BMSCs after treatment. We then designed a microenvironment-responsive hydrogel based on the MMPs secreted by senescent cells. This quercetin-encapsulated hydrogel exhibited a stable microstructure and responsively released quercetin in the presence of senescence in vitro. In vivo, the quercetin-loaded hydrogel effectively cleared the local senescent cells and reduced the secretion of MMPs in the bone. Due to the removal of local senescent cells, the hydrogel significantly accelerated the repair of bone defects in the femur and skull of old rats. Taken together, our study revealed the role of removing senescent cells in bone regeneration and provided a novel therapeutic approach for bone defects in aged individuals.
    Keywords:  BMSCs; bone defect; bone regeneration; hydrogel; quercetin; senescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c22138
  22. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 ;9 810928
    Increased WIP1 Expression With Aging Suppresses the Capacity of Oocytes to Respond to and Repair DNA Damage.
    Jiyeon Leem, Guang-Yu Bai, Jae-Sung Kim, Jeong Su Oh.
      If fertilization does not occur for a prolonged time after ovulation, oocytes undergo a time-dependent deterioration in quality in vivo and in vitro, referred to as postovulatory aging. The DNA damage response is thought to decline with aging, but little is known about how mammalian oocytes respond to the DNA damage during in vitro postovulatory aging. Here we show that increased WIP1 during in vitro postovulatory aging suppresses the capacity of oocytes to respond to and repair DNA damage. During in vitro aging, oocytes progressively lost their capacity to respond to DNA double-strand breaks, which corresponded with an increase in WIP1 expression. Increased WIP1 impaired the amplification of γ-H2AX signaling, which reduced the DNA repair capacity. WIP1 inhibition restored the DNA repair capacity, which prevented deterioration in oocyte quality and improved the fertilization and developmental competence of aged oocytes. Importantly, WIP1 was also found to be high in maternally aged oocytes, and WIP1 inhibition enhanced the DNA repair capacity of maternally aged oocytes. Therefore, our results demonstrate that increased WIP1 is responsible for the age-related decline in DNA repair capacity in oocytes, and WIP1 inhibition could restore DNA repair capacity in aged oocytes.
    Keywords:  DNA repair; WIP1; aging; oocyte; oocyte quality
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.810928
  23. Cell Death Discov. 2022 Jan 10. 8(1): 8
    Metformin protects lens epithelial cells against senescence in a naturally aged mouse model.
    Mengmeng Chen, Yushan Fu, Xu Wang, Ruitong Wu, Dongmei Su, Nan Zhou, Yanhua Qi.
      The senescence of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is a major factor leading to age-related cataract (ARC). ARC results in visual impairment and severe vision loss in elderly patients. However, the specific mechanism of ARC remains unclear, and there are no effective therapeutic agents to halt the formation of ARC. This study aimed to assess the underlying mechanism of the formation of ARC and investigate the potential anti-ageing effect of metformin (MET) on ARC. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: the control group having young mice (3 months old, n = 40), the naturally aged group (aged 20 months, n = 60) and the MET group (MET, 20 months, n = 60). Mice in the control and the naturally aged groups were fed a standard purified mouse diet ad libitum and water, whereas those in the MET group were fed chows supplemented with 0.1% MET for 10 months. The transparency of the lens and age-associated proteins p21 and p53 were analysed in the LECs of these three groups. Furthermore, we determined the expressions of the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and the effect of MET on this pathway in LECs during the ageing process of ARC. In addition, the relationship between autophagy and the senescence of LECs and the role of MET in the autophagy of LECs during the ageing process of ARC were examined. Our results indicated that age-related inactivation of the AMPK pathway and impairment of autophagy might contribute to the senescence of LECs and the occurrence of ARC. More importantly, these results demonstrated that MET effectively alleviated the senescence of LECs and the formation of ARC probably via inactivation of the AMPK pathway and augmentation of autophagy. These findings revealed that MET can be exploited as a potentially useful drug for ARC prevention. Our study will help in enlightening the development of innovative strategies for the clinical treatment of ARC.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-021-00800-w
  24. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2022 Jan 15.
    Immunosenescence, Inflammaging, and Frailty: Role of Myeloid Cells in Age-Related Diseases.
    Augusto Bleve, Francesca Motta, Barbara Durante, Chiara Pandolfo, Carlo Selmi, Antonio Sica.
      The immune system is the central regulator of tissue homeostasis, ensuring tissue regeneration and protection against both pathogens and the neoformation of cancer cells. Its proper functioning requires homeostatic properties, which are maintained by an adequate balance of myeloid and lymphoid responses. Aging progressively undermines this ability and compromises the correct activation of immune responses, as well as the resolution of the inflammatory response. A subclinical syndrome of "homeostatic frailty" appears as a distinctive trait of the elderly, which predisposes to immune debilitation and chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), causing the uncontrolled development of chronic and degenerative diseases. The innate immune compartment, in particular, undergoes to a sequela of age-dependent functional alterations, encompassing steps of myeloid progenitor differentiation and altered responses to endogenous and exogenous threats. Here, we will review the age-dependent evolution of myeloid populations, as well as their impact on frailty and diseases of the elderly.
    Keywords:  Age-related disease; Frailty; Immunosenescence; Inflammaging; Myeloid cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-021-08909-7
  25. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 ;8 778674
    Longevity Factor FOXO3: A Key Regulator in Aging-Related Vascular Diseases.
    Yan Zhao, You-Shuo Liu.
      Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) has been proposed as a homeostasis regulator, capable of integrating multiple upstream signaling pathways that are sensitive to environmental changes and counteracting their adverse effects due to external changes, such as oxidative stress, metabolic stress and growth factor deprivation. FOXO3 polymorphisms are associated with extreme human longevity. Intriguingly, longevity-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human FOXO3 correlate with lower-than-average morbidity from cardiovascular diseases in long-lived people. Emerging evidence indicates that FOXO3 plays a critical role in vascular aging. FOXO3 inactivation is implicated in several aging-related vascular diseases. In experimental studies, FOXO3-engineered human ESC-derived vascular cells improve vascular homeostasis and delay vascular aging. The purpose of this review is to explore how FOXO3 regulates vascular aging and its crucial role in aging-related vascular diseases.
    Keywords:  FOXO3; aging; cardiovascular disease; vascular aging; vascular homeostasis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.778674
  26. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2022 Jan 12.
    Induction of Cellular Senescence in Rat Vaginal Fibroblasts and Treatment With Senolytics: An in Vitro Model for the Study of Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
    Maria E Florian-Rodriguez, Adam M Hare, Neha G Gaddam, Haolin Shi, Patrick Keller, Ruth Ann Word.
       OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro model of cellular senescence using rat vaginal fibroblasts and determine the effects of treatment with senolytics.
    METHODS: Rat vaginal tissue biopsies were collected. Primary vaginal fibroblasts were isolated and characterized by immunofluorescence. To induce cellular senescence, fibroblasts were treated with etoposide at 3, 10, and 20 mM for 24 hours, followed by treatment with the senolytics dasatinib (1 mM) and/or quercetin (20 mM). After treatment, RNA was extracted and the expression of selected genes was quantified. Immunostaining of senescence markers was also performed.
    RESULTS: Fibroblasts were confirmed by positive immunostaining for α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, and negative immunostaining for pan-cytokeratin. Treatment with etoposide resulted in a dose-dependent increase in expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype markers MMP-7, MMP-9, and IL-b1 (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Immunostaining showed increased expression of γ-H2A and p21 after treatment with etoposide. Cells treated with dasatinib and quercetin after etoposide treatment had decreased expression of p21, MMP-7, MMP-9, and IL-1b compared with cells treated only with etoposide (P < 0.05).
    CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of senescence-associated factors provided evidence that senescence can be induced in vaginal fibroblasts in vitro. Furthermore, treatment with the senolytics dasatinib and quercetin abrogated the senescence phenotype induced by etoposide in rat vaginal fibroblasts. Our findings provide a novel model for the study and development of new therapies targeting the disordered extracellular matrix associated with pelvic organ prolapse.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/SPV.0000000000001131
  27. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2022 Jan 09.
    The Mechanism of Stem Cell Aging.
    Liangyu Mi, Junping Hu, Na Li, Jinfang Gao, Rongxiu Huo, Xinyue Peng, Na Zhang, Ying Liu, Hanxi Zhao, Ruiling Liu, Liyun Zhang, Ke Xu.
      Stem cells have self-renewal ability and multi-directional differentiation potential. They have tissue repair capabilities and are essential for maintaining the tissue homeostasis. The depletion of stem cells is closely related to the occurrence of body aging and aging-related diseases. Therefore, revealing the molecular mechanisms of stem cell aging will set new directions for the therapeutic application of stem cells, the study of aging mechanisms, and the prevention and treatment of aging-related diseases. This review comprehensively describes the molecular mechanisms related to stem cell aging and provides the basis for further investigations aimed at developing new anti-stem cell aging strategies and promoting the clinical application of stem cells.
    Keywords:  Aging; Epigenetics; Perception associated secret types; Senescence; Stem cell
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-021-10317-5
  28. J Orthop Res. 2022 Jan 09.
    In vitro and in vivo effects of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus on nucleus pulposus cell senescence.
    Zengxin Jiang, Chang Jiang, Lixia Jin, Zixian Chen, Zhenzhou Feng, Xiaoxing Jiang, Yuanwu Cao.
      Diabetes mellitus contributes to intervertebral disc degeneration. Nucleus pulposus cell senescence plays an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration. However, the effects of hyperglycemia on human nucleus pulposus cells and the underlying process remains poorly understood. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of high glucose levels on human nucleus pulposus cell senescence in vitro and the effects of hyperglycemia on rat nucleus pulposus aging in vivo. Human nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in high-glucose medium (200 mM glucose) for 48 h. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to evaluate human nucleus pulposus cell senescence. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to evaluate reactive oxygen species and advanced glycation end product levels. Transcriptome sequencing followed by bioinformatics analysis was used to understand the abnormal biological processes of nucleus pulposus cells cultured in high-glucose medium. Diabetes mellitus rat models were established and histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to examine nucleus pulposus tissue senescence in vivo. Exposure to a high glucose concentration promoted human nucleus pulposus cell senescence and increased the senescence-related secretion phenotype in human nucleus pulposus cells in vitro and in rat nucleus pulposus tissue in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis showed that hub genes were involved in nucleus pulposus cell cycle activities and cell senescence. The results suggest that appropriate blood glucose control may be key to preventing intervertebral disc degeneration in diabetic patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
    Keywords:  Diabetes mellitus; hyperglycemia; intervertebral disc degeneration; nucleus pulposus; senescence; senescence-related secretion phenotype
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25264
  29. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Dec 27. pii: 254. [Epub ahead of print]23(1):
    Pancreatic Cancer and Cellular Senescence: Tumor Microenvironment under the Spotlight.
    Michela Cortesi, Michele Zanoni, Francesca Pirini, Maria Maddalena Tumedei, Sara Ravaioli, Ilario Giovanni Rapposelli, Giovanni Luca Frassineti, Sara Bravaccini.
      Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the most dismal prognoses of all cancers due to its late manifestation and resistance to current therapies. Accumulating evidence has suggested that the malignant behavior of this cancer is mainly influenced by the associated strongly immunosuppressive, desmoplastic microenvironment and by the relatively low mutational burden. PDAC develops and progresses through a multi-step process. Early in tumorigenesis, cancer cells must evade the effects of cellular senescence, which slows proliferation and promotes the immune-mediated elimination of pre-malignant cells. The role of senescence as a tumor suppressor has been well-established; however, recent evidence has revealed novel pro-tumorigenic paracrine functions of senescent cells towards their microenvironment. Understanding the interactions between tumors and their microenvironment is a growing research field, with evidence having been provided that non-tumoral cells composing the tumor microenvironment (TME) influence tumor proliferation, metabolism, cell death, and therapeutic resistance. Simultaneously, cancer cells shape a tumor-supportive and immunosuppressive environment, influencing both non-tumoral neighboring and distant cells. The overall intention of this review is to provide an overview of the interplay that occurs between senescent and non-senescent cell types and to describe how such interplay may have an impact on PDAC progression. Specifically, the effects and the molecular changes occurring in non-cancerous cells during senescence, and how these may contribute to a tumor-permissive microenvironment, will be discussed. Finally, senescence targeting strategies will be briefly introduced, highlighting their potential in the treatment of PDAC.
    Keywords:  SASP; pancreatic cancer; senescence; senotherapeutics; tumor microenvironment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010254
  30. Elife. 2022 Jan 11. pii: e73456. [Epub ahead of print]11
    Aging is associated with increased brain iron through cortex-derived hepcidin expression.
    Tatsuya Sato, Jason Solomon Shapiro, Hsiang-Chun Chang, Richard A Miller, Hossein Ardehali.
      Iron is an essential molecule for biological processes, but its accumulation can lead to oxidative stress and cellular death. Due to its oxidative effects, iron accumulation is implicated in the process of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanism for this increase in iron with aging, and whether this increase is localized to specific cellular compartment(s), are not known. Here, we measured the levels of iron in different tissues of aged mice, and demonstrated that while cytosolic non-heme iron is increased in the liver and muscle tissue, only the aged brain cortex exhibits an increase in both the cytosolic and mitochondrial non-heme iron. This increase in brain iron is associated with elevated levels of local hepcidin mRNA and protein in the brain. We also demonstrate that the increase in hepcidin is associated with increased ubiquitination and reduced levels of the only iron exporter, ferroportin-1 (FPN1). Overall, our studies provide a potential mechanism for iron accumulation in the brain through increased local expression of hepcidin, and subsequent iron accumulation due to decreased iron export. Additionally, our data support that aging is associated with mitochondrial and cytosolic iron accumulation only in the brain and not in other tissues.
    Keywords:  Aging; Iron; medicine; mouse; oxidative stress
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.73456
  31. Aging Cell. 2022 Jan 12. e13544
    Aging-related cell type-specific pathophysiologic immune responses that exacerbate disease severity in aged COVID-19 patients.
    Yuan Hou, Yadi Zhou, Lara Jehi, Yuan Luo, Michaela U Gack, Timothy A Chan, Haiyuan Yu, Charis Eng, Andrew A Pieper, Feixiong Cheng.
      Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is especially severe in aged patients, defined as 65 years or older, for reasons that are currently unknown. To investigate the underlying basis for this vulnerability, we performed multimodal data analyses on immunity, inflammation, and COVID-19 incidence and severity as a function of age. Our analysis leveraged age-specific COVID-19 mortality and laboratory testing from a large COVID-19 registry, along with epidemiological data of ~3.4 million individuals, large-scale deep immune cell profiling data, and single-cell RNA-sequencing data from aged COVID-19 patients across diverse populations. We found that decreased lymphocyte count and elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) are significantly associated with age-specific COVID-19 severities. We identified the reduced abundance of naïve CD8 T cells with decreased expression of antiviral defense genes (i.e., IFITM3 and TRIM22) in aged severe COVID-19 patients. Older individuals with severe COVID-19 displayed type I and II interferon deficiencies, which is correlated with SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Elevated expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry factors and reduced expression of antiviral defense genes (LY6E and IFNAR1) in the secretory cells are associated with critical COVID-19 in aged individuals. Mechanistically, we identified strong TGF-beta-mediated immune-epithelial cell interactions (i.e., secretory-non-resident macrophages) in aged individuals with critical COVID-19. Taken together, our findings point to immuno-inflammatory factors that could be targeted therapeutically to reduce morbidity and mortality in aged COVID-19 patients.
    Keywords:  COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; aging; cellular immunology; molecular biology of aging
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13544
  32. Oncoimmunology. 2022 ;11(1): 2011673
    Loss of CMTM6 promotes DNA damage-induced cellular senescence and antitumor immunity.
    Hanfeng Wang, Yang Fan, Weihao Chen, Zheng Lv, Shengpan Wu, Yundong Xuan, Chenfeng Wang, Yongliang Lu, Tao Guo, Donglai Shen, Fan Zhang, Qingbo Huang, Yu Gao, Hongzhao Li, Xin Ma, Baojun Wang, Yan Huang, Xu Zhang.
      Recent studies have revealed that chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family member 6 (CMTM6) promotes tumor progression and modulates tumor immunity by regulating programmed death-ligand 1 stability; however, its intrinsic functions and regulatory mechanisms in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain poorly understood. Here, we show that CMTM6 is upregulated in ccRCC tissues and is strongly associated with advanced tumor grades, early metastases, and a worse prognosis. CMTM6 depletion significantly impaired the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells in vitro and in xenograft mouse models in vivo. In addition, targeting CMTM6 promotes anti-tumor immunity, represented by increased infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in syngeneic graft mouse models. Further research revealed that loss of CMTM6 triggered aberrant activation of DNA damage response, resulting in micronucleus formation and G2/M checkpoint arrest, finally leading to cellular senescence with robust upregulation of numerous chemokines and cytokines. Our findings show for the first time the novel role of CMTM6 in maintaining cancer genome stability and facilitating tumor-mediated immunosuppression, linking DNA damage signaling to the secretion of inflammatory factors. Targeting CMTM6 may improve the treatment of patients with advanced ccRCC.
    Keywords:  CMTM6; DNA damage; cellular senescence; immunity; renal cell carcinoma
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2021.2011673
  33. Int J Biol Sci. 2022 ;18(2): 661-674
    Regulation of lung epithelial cell senescence in smoking-induced COPD/emphysema by microR-125a-5p via Sp1 mediation of SIRT1/HIF-1a.
    Hao Wu, Huimin Ma, Lumin Wang, Huazhong Zhang, Lu Lu, Tian Xiao, Cheng Cheng, Peiwen Wang, Yi Yang, Meng Wu, Suhua Wang, Jinsong Zhang, Qizhan Liu.
      Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects the health of more than 300 million people worldwide; at present, there is no effective drug to treat COPD. Smoking is the most important risk factor, but the molecular mechanism by which smoking causes the disease is unclear. The senescence of lung epithelial cells is related to development of COPD. Regulation of miRNAs is the main epigenetic mechanism related to aging. β-Galactose staining showed that the lung tissues of smokers have a higher degree of cellular senescence, and the expression of miR-125a-5p is high. This effect is obvious for smokers with COPD/emphysema, and there is a negative correlation between miR-125a-5p levels and values for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC). After Balb/c mice were chronically exposed to various concentrations of cigarette smoke (CS), plethysmography showed that lung function was impaired, lung tissue senescence was increased, and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was increased. For mouse lung epithelial (MLE)-12 cells treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE), Sp1 and SIRT1 levels were low, HIF-1α acetylation levels were high, and cell senescence and secretion of SASP factors were elevated. Down-regulation of miR-125a-5p or up-regulation of Sp1 reversed these effects. In addition, compared with mice exposed to CS, knockdown of miR-125a-5p reduced lung epithelial cell senescence and COPD/emphysema. Therefore, in smoking-induced COPD, elevated miR-125a-5p participates in the senescence of lung epithelial cells through Sp1/SIRT1/HIF-1α. These findings provide evidence related to the pathogenesis of COPD/emphysema caused by chronic smoking.
    Keywords:  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Emphysema; Senescence; Smoking; microRNAs
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.65861
  34. Cell Death Discov. 2022 Jan 10. 8(1): 13
    Senescence as a dictator of patient outcomes and therapeutic efficacies in human gastric cancer.
    Lulin Zhou, Zubiao Niu, Yuqi Wang, You Zheng, Yichao Zhu, Chenxi Wang, Xiaoyan Gao, Lihua Gao, Wen Zhang, Kaitai Zhang, Gerry Melino, Hongyan Huang, Xiaoning Wang, Qiang Sun.
      Senescence is believed to be a pivotal player in the onset and progression of tumors as well as cancer therapy. However, the guiding roles of senescence in clinical outcomes and therapy selection for patients with cancer remain obscure, largely due to the absence of a feasible senescence signature. Here, by integrative analysis of single cell and bulk transcriptome data from multiple datasets of gastric cancer patients, we uncovered senescence as a veiled tumor feature characterized by senescence gene signature enriched, unexpectedly, in the noncancerous cells, and further identified two distinct senescence-associated subtypes based on the unsupervised clustering. Patients with the senescence subtype had higher tumor mutation loads and better prognosis as compared with the aggressive subtype. By the machine learning, we constructed a scoring system termed as senescore based on six signature genes: ADH1B, IL1A, SERPINE1, SPARC, EZH2, and TNFAIP2. Higher senescore demonstrated robustly predictive capability for longer overall and recurrence-free survival in 2290 gastric cancer samples, which was independently validated by the multiplex staining analysis of gastric cancer samples on the tissue microarray. Remarkably, the senescore signature served as a reliable predictor of chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic efficacies, with high-senescore patients benefited from immunotherapy, while low-senescore patients were responsive to chemotherapy. Collectively, we report senescence as a heretofore unrecognized hallmark of gastric cancer that impacts patient outcomes and therapeutic efficacy.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-021-00769-6
  35. Cardiovasc Res. 2022 Jan 10. pii: cvac007. [Epub ahead of print]
    Smooth muscle mineralocorticoid receptor as an epigenetic regulator of vascular aging.
    Jaime Ibarrola, Seung Kyum Kim, Qing Lu, Jennifer DuPont, Amanda Creech, Zhe Sun, Michael A Hill, Jacob D Jaffe, Iris Z Jaffe.
       AIMS: Vascular stiffness increases with age and independently predicts cardiovascular disease risk. Epigenetic changes, including histone modifications, accumulate with age but the global pattern has not been elucidated nor are the regulators known. Smooth muscle cell-mineralocorticoid receptor (SMC-MR) contributes to vascular stiffness in aging mice. Thus, we investigated the regulatory role of SMC-MR in vascular epigenetics and stiffness.
    METHODS AND RESULTS: Mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling of all histone modifications completely distinguished 3 from 12-month-old mouse aortas. Histone-H3 lysine-27(H3K27) methylation(me) significantly decreased in aging vessels and this was attenuated in SMC-MR-KO littermates. Immunoblotting revealed less H3K27-specific methyltransferase EZH2 with age in MR-intact but not SMC-MR-KO vessels. These aging changes were examined in primary human aortic (HA)SMC from adult versus aged donors. MR, H3K27 acetylation(ac), and stiffness gene (CTGF, Integrin-α5) expression significantly increased, while H3K27me and EZH2 decreased, with age. MR inhibition reversed these aging changes in HASMC and the decline in stiffness genes was prevented by EZH2 blockade. Atomic force microscopy revealed that MR antagonism decreased intrinsic stiffness and the probability of fibronectin adhesion of aged HASMC. Conversely, aging induction in young HASMC with H2O2; increased MR, decreased EZH2, enriched H3K27ac and MR at stiffness gene promoters by ChIP, and increased stiffness gene expression. In 12-month-old mice, MR antagonism increased aortic EZH2 and H3K27 methylation, increased EZH2 recruitment and decreased H3K27ac at stiffness genes promoters, and prevented aging-induced vascular stiffness and fibrosis. Finally, in human aortic tissue, age positively correlated with MR and stiffness gene expression and negatively correlated with H3K27me3 while MR and EZH2 are negatively correlated.
    CONCLUSION: These data support a novel vascular aging model with rising MR in human SMC suppressing EZH2 expression thereby decreasing H3K27me, promoting MR recruitment and H3K27ac at stiffness gene promoters to induce vascular stiffness and suggests new targets for ameliorating aging-associated vascular disease.
    TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: These findings provide a new epigenetic mechanism whereby rising MR in aging human SMC promotes vascular stiffness. Vascular stiffness contributes to common disorders of aging including hypertension, heart and kidney failure, and stroke, yet no therapies successfully target vascular stiffness. Drugs that inhibit MR are already approved and used in the elderly. In addition, drugs targeting histone-modifying enzymes, including EZH2, are being developed to treat cancer. Thus, these results provide preclinical support for drugs that could be immediately tested to treat aging-associated vascular stiffness and raise the potential for some cancer therapies to promote vascular stiffness.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvac007
  36. Cells. 2021 Dec 29. pii: 90. [Epub ahead of print]11(1):
    The Mitochondrial Antioxidant Sirtuin3 Cooperates with Lipid Metabolism to Safeguard Neurogenesis in Aging and Depression.
    Sónia Sá Santos, João B Moreira, Márcia Costa, Rui S Rodrigues, Ana M Sebastião, Sara Xapelli, Susana Solá.
      Neural stem cells (NSCs), crucial for memory in the adult brain, are also pivotal to buffer depressive behavior. However, the mechanisms underlying the boost in NSC activity throughout life are still largely undiscovered. Here, we aimed to explore the role of deacetylase Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a central player in mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative protection, in the fate of NSC under aging and depression-like contexts. We showed that chronic treatment with tert-butyl hydroperoxide induces NSC aging, markedly reducing SIRT3 protein. SIRT3 overexpression, in turn, restored mitochondrial oxidative stress and the differentiation potential of aged NSCs. Notably, SIRT3 was also shown to physically interact with the long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) in NSCs and to require its activation to prevent age-impaired neurogenesis. Finally, the SIRT3 regulatory network was investigated in vivo using the unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS) paradigm to mimic depressive-like behavior in mice. Interestingly, uCMS mice presented lower levels of neurogenesis and LCAD expression in the same neurogenic niches, being significantly rescued by physical exercise, a well-known upregulator of SIRT3 and lipid metabolism. Our results suggest that targeting NSC metabolism, namely through SIRT3, might be a suitable promising strategy to delay NSC aging and confer stress resilience.
    Keywords:  SIRT3; aging; depression; lipid metabolism; mitochondria; neural stem cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11010090
  37. FEBS J. 2022 Jan 13.
    Decline of regenerative potential of old muscle stem cells: contribution to muscle aging.
    Korin Sahinyan, Felicia Lazure, Darren M Blackburn, Vahab D Soleimani.
      Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are required for life-long muscle regeneration. In general, aging has been linked to a decline in the numbers and the regenerative potential of MuSCs. Muscle regeneration depends on the proper functioning of MuSCs, which is itself dependent on intricate interactions with its niche components. Aging is associated with both cell-intrinsic and niche-mediated changes, which can be the result of transcriptional, post-transcriptional or post-translational alterations in MuSCs or in the components of their niche. The interplay between cell intrinsic alterations in MuSCs and changes in the stem cell niche environment during aging and its impact on the number and the function of MuSCs is an important emerging area of research. In this review, we discuss whether the decline in the regenerative potential of MuSCs with age is the cause or the consequence of aging skeletal muscle. Understanding the effect of aging on MuSCs and the individual components of their niche is critical to develop effective therapeutic approaches to diminish or reverse the age-related defects in muscle regeneration.
    Keywords:  Aging; Muscle stem cells; Regeneration; Skeletal muscle; Stem cell niche
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16352
  38. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022 Jan 10. 13(1): 12
    Mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate alveolar type 2 cells senescence through regulating NAMPT-mediated NAD metabolism.
    Xiaofan Lai, Shaojie Huang, Sijia Lin, Lvya Pu, Yaqing Wang, Yingying Lin, Wenqi Huang, Zhongxing Wang.
       BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive deadly fibrotic lung disease with high prevalence and mortality worldwide. The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in pulmonary fibrosis may be attributed to the strong paracrine, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis and immunoregulatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSCs in IPF, especially in terms of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells senescence, are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of MSCs in NAD metabolism and senescence of AT2 cells in vitro and in vivo.
    METHODS: MSCs were isolated from human bone marrow. The protective effects of MSCs injection in pulmonary fibrosis were assessed via bleomycin mouse models. The senescence of AT2 cells co-cultured with MSCs was evaluated by SA-β-galactosidase assay, immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. NAD+ level and NAMPT expression in AT2 cells affected by MSCs were determined in vitro and in vivo. FK866 and NAMPT shRNA vectors were used to determine the role of NAMPT in MSCs inhibiting AT2 cells senescence.
    RESULTS: We proved that MSCs attenuate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Senescence of AT2 cells was alleviated in MSCs-treated pulmonary fibrosis mice and when co-cultured with MSCs in vitro. Mechanistic studies showed that NAD+ and NAMPT levels were rescued in AT2 cells co-cultured with MSCs and MSCs could suppress AT2 cells senescence mainly via suppressing lysosome-mediated NAMPT degradation.
    CONCLUSIONS: MSCs attenuate AT2 cells senescence by upregulating NAMPT expression and NAD+ levels, thus exerting protective effects in pulmonary fibrosis.
    Keywords:  Alveolar type 2 cells; Mesenchymal stromal cells; NAMPT; Pulmonary fibrosis; Senescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02688-w
  39. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2022 Feb 01. 89(Suppl 1): S15-S22
    Reduced Levels of NAD in Skeletal Muscle and Increased Physiologic Frailty Are Associated With Viral Coinfection in Asymptomatic Middle-Aged Adults.
    Thanh Tran, Karol M Pencina, Michael B Schultz, Zhuoying Li, Catherine Ghattas, Jackson Lau, David A Sinclair, Monty Montano.
       BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWH) are disproportionately burdened with multimorbidity and decline in physiologic function compared with their uninfected counterparts, but biological mechanisms that differentially contribute to the decline in muscle function in PLWH compared with uninfected people remain understudied.
    SETTING: The study site was Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
    METHODS: We evaluated skeletal muscle tissue for levels of total nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), NAD+, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in middle-aged asymptomatic PLWH, coinfected with hepatitis C virus and/or cytomegalovirus and compared them with uninfected control participants.
    RESULTS: Of the 54 persons with muscle biopsy data, the mean age was 57 years with 33% women. Total NAD levels declined in skeletal muscle in association with HIV infection and was exacerbated by hepatitis C virus and cytomegalovirus coinfection, with lowest levels of total NAD, NAD+, and NADH among persons who were coinfected with all 3 viruses (P = 0.015, P = 0.014, and P = 0.076, respectively). Levels of total NAD, NAD+, and NADH in skeletal muscle were inversely associated with inflammation (P = 0.014, P = 0.013, and P = 0.055, respectively). Coinfections were also associated with measures of inflammation (CD4/CD8 ratio: P < 0.001 and sCD163: P < 0.001) and immune activation (CD38 and human leukocyte antigen-DR expression on CD8 T cells: P < 0.001). In addition, coinfection was associated with increased physiologic frailty based on the Veteran Aging Cohort Study 1.0 index assessment (P = 0.001).
    CONCLUSIONS: Further research is warranted to determine the clinical relevance of preclinical deficits in NAD metabolites in skeletal muscle in association with viral coinfection and inflammation, as well as the observed association between viral coinfection and physiologic frailty.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002852
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