Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anthony Lagnado, Jack Leslie, Marie-Helene Ruchaud-Sparagano, Stella Victorelli, Petra Hirsova, Mikolaj Ogrodnik, Amy L. Collins, Maria Grazia Vizioli, Leena Habiballa, Gabriele Saretzki, Shane A. Evans, Hanna Salmonowicz, Adam Hruby, Daniel Geh, Kevin D. Pavelko, David Dolan, Helen L. Reeves, Sushma Grellscheid, Colin H. Wilson, Sanjay Pandanaboyana, Madison Doolittle, Thomas von Zglinicki, Fiona Oakley, Suchira Gallage, Caroline L. Wilson, Jodie Birch, Bernadette Carroll, James Chapman, Mathias Heikenwalder, Nicola Neretti, Sundeep Khosla, Claudio Akio Masuda, Tamar Tchkonia, James L. Kirkland, Diana Jurk, Derek A. Mann, Joao F. Passos
Summary: The research shows that neutrophils cause oxidative damage to telomeres in non-immune cells, promoting cellular senescence. In aged liver, senescent cells recruit neutrophils, potentially leading to the spread of senescence.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Karen D. Lincoln, Ann W. Nguyen
Summary: The study identified three distinct risk types among African Americans, with the high-risk type characterized by chronic health conditions, shorter STL, strained social relationships, and high psychosocial stress. African Americans were also less likely to be assigned to the health risk type, which was characterized by chronic health conditions, shorter STL, optimal social relationships, and low psychosocial stress. The biopsychosocial risk typology provided valuable insights into factors influencing accelerated aging in African Americans.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Domenico Schiano-Lomoriello, Kenneth J. Hoffer, Irene Abicca, Giacomo Savini
Summary: The study found that the ANTERION device had high repeatability in measurements, with good agreement with MS-39 and IOLMaster for most parameters. Astigmatism repeatability improved with higher degrees of astigmatism.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tsung-Po Lai, Mark Simpson, Krunal Patel, Simon Verhulst, Jungsik Noh, Natalie Roche, Debra Heller, George Guirguis, Jerry W. Shay, Utz Herbig, Abraham Aviv
Summary: The study suggests that the placenta and possibly the chorioamniotic membranes undergo telomere length-mediated replicative aging, with accumulation of short telomeres and telomere dysfunction-induced DNA damage foci, but without shortening of the mean telomere length.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Ryan L. Brown, Elissa E. Epel, Jue Lin, Dena B. Dubal, Aric A. Prather
Summary: Aging biomarkers may be interconnected through direct co-regulation or common processes associated with aging or stress. Klotho, an aging regulator, is involved in regulating insulin signaling, phosphate homeostasis, oxidative stress, and age-related inflammation. This study investigated the association between klotho levels and telomere length in immune cells among mothers caregiving for children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to understand the potential impact of high caregiving stress on these aging biomarkers. Our results showed a positive association between klotho levels and telomere length in certain immune cells among high-stress mothers of children with ASD, but not among low-stress mothers of neurotypical children. There were no significant associations between klotho and telomerase activity in either group.
Article
Cell Biology
Jennia Michaeli, Riham Smoom, Noa Serruya, Hosniyah El Ayoubi, Keren Rotshenker-Olshinka, Naama Srebnik, Ofir Michaeli, Talia Eldar-Geva, Yehuda Tzfati
Summary: The current trend of delayed reproduction in society calls for a better understanding of reproductive aging. This study found that longer leukocyte telomere length may be associated with higher oocyte quality and can serve as a potential biomarker for assessing reproductive potential.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Julie Goswami, Taleen A. MacArthur, Dhanya Ramachandran, Cillian R. Mahony, Annelise S. Howick, Tammy Price-Troska, Riley J. Thompson, Grant M. Spears, Kent R. Bailey, Mrinal S. Patnaik, Joao F. Passos, Myung S. Park, Alejandro Ferrer
Summary: This study aims to investigate the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cell telomere length (PBMC-TL) in coagulation and clinical outcomes after traumatic injury. The research found that shortened PBMC-TL in older patients was associated with accelerated thrombin generation and decreased likelihood of being discharged home.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Edward A. Ruiz-Narvaez, Ana Baylin, Jorge Azofeifa, Alejandro Leal, Luis Rosero-Bixby
Summary: This study aimed to identify dietary factors associated with leukocyte telomere length in the elderly population of Costa Rica. The results suggest that a traditional Costa Rican dietary pattern is positively associated with telomere length, potentially contributing to the extended longevity of elderly Costa Ricans.
Article
Cell Biology
Tenghui Yu, Jesse Slone, Wensheng Liu, Ryan Barnes, Patricia L. Opresko, Landon Wark, Sabine Mai, Steve Horvath, Taosheng Huang
Summary: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the aging process, and the accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial genome is believed to contribute to this dysfunction. By studying a mouse model with error-prone mitochondrial DNA polymerase, researchers found that high levels of mitochondrial DNA mutations can lead to oxidative damage, compromised DNA integrity, and accelerated aging. These findings suggest that mitochondria play a central role in aging and may guide future research on potential therapeutics to mitigate the aging process.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Varun Vohra, Michael Z. Z. Cheng, Qian-Li Xue, Eleanor M. Simonsick, Andrew P. Lane, Yuri Agrawal, Nicholas R. Rowan
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between sensory impairments (olfaction, vision, hearing, and touch) and telomere length in older adults. The results showed that severe olfaction impairment and touch impairment were significantly associated with shortened telomere length. Moreover, having multiple sensory impairments was also associated with shortened telomere length.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ziyi Shen, Yuanhui Wang, Guanzhen Wang, Wei Gu, Shengchao Zhao, Xiaomeng Hu, Wei Liu, Yi Cai, Zhihong Ma, Rupesh K. Gautam, Jia Jia, Chunpeng (Craig) Wan, Tingdong Yan
Summary: Telomeres are unique structures at the ends of chromosomes that stabilize chromosomal structures. Telomerase, a reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex, synthesizes telomeres. Telomerase activity is generally absent in human somatic cells, except in stem cells and germ cells. However, most human cancer cells have increased telomerase activity, allowing them to divide continuously. Developing drugs targeting telomerase has been a focus of research for inhibiting cancer growth and delaying aging.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreaz Dupoue, Pauline Blaimont, Frederic Angelier, Cecile Ribout, David Rozen-Rechels, Murielle Richard, Donald Miles, Pierre de Villemereuil, Alexis Rutschmann, Arnaud Badiane, Fabien Aubret, Olivier Lourdais, Sandrine Meylan, Julien Cote, Jean Clobert, Jean-Francois Le Galliarde
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between life history, telomere length (TL), and extinction risk in a cold-adapted ectotherm (Zootoca vivipara) facing climate-induced extirpations. The results suggest intergenerational accumulation of accelerated aging rate in declining populations, with most neonates inheriting short telomeres and unlikely to reach recruitment. TL also explained females' reproductive performance at adulthood.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Emma Naomi James, Virag Sagi-Kiss, Mark Bennett, Maria Elzbieta Mycielska, Lee Peng Karen-Ng, Terry Roberts, Sheila Matta, Inderjeet Dokal, Jacob Guy Bundy, Eric Kenneth Parkinson
Summary: The study found that there is a connection between plasma metabolite signatures and aging-related diseases, in particular with DKC1-related diseases and telomere dysfunction. However, other TCA metabolites, lactate, and pyruvate clearly distinguish DKC1 patients from normal individuals. These findings have important implications for early diagnosis of aging and the development of anti-aging therapeutics.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
M. Donatella Semeraro, Gunter Almer, Wilfried Renner, Hans-Juergen Gruber, Markus Herrmann
Summary: This study questions the utility of RTL in PBMCs as a biomarker for individual aging assessment.
Article
Cell Biology
Lucia Chico-Sordo, Isabel Cordova-Oriz, Alba Maria Polonio, Lucia Sanchez S-Mellado, Marta Medrano, Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco, Elisa Varela
Summary: Successful reproduction is crucial for both individuals and society, but the reproductive span does not progress in sync with lifespan. As reproductive organs age, hormonal levels decrease, impacting health and fertility. The effects of aging on fertility vary between women and men, affecting reproductive potential and gamete quality. The molecular pathways involved in reproductive aging and the possibility of halting or reversing these aging events are important areas of investigation.
MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Niki Teunissen, Anne Peters
Summary: Invasive species can have catastrophic direct effects on native species, but their indirect cascading effects across trophic levels are less understood. This study quantifies the impact of an invasive cane toad species on a riparian site in northwest Australia, revealing complex indirect effects across trophic levels. Despite the population decline of monitor lizards, the next trophic level did not experience an increase. Instead, the suite of nest predators changed, with monitor lizards being replaced by avian predators. This highlights the importance of considering direct observations on predator-prey interactions to detect trophic cascades.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christina Bauch, Marie Claire Gatt, Simon Verhulst, Jose Pedro Granadeiro, Paulo Catry
Summary: Mercury contamination is a major concern in the marine environment due to its high toxicity and potential harm to wildlife and human health. This study found that Cory's Shearwaters with higher mercury concentrations had shorter telomeres, particularly in males. The effect of mercury on telomere length was stronger in individuals with longer telomeres. This suggests that mercury contamination may have sublethal effects on aging and health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sergio Nolazco, Kaspar Delhey, Marie Fan, Michelle L. Hall, Sjouke A. Kingma, Michael J. Roast, Niki Teunissen, Anne Peters
Summary: Female decorations are often less elaborate than males, and it is unclear how this affects their function. We investigated the condition dependence and fitness associations of plumage patches in female purple-crowned fairy-wrens, some ornamental and some cryptic. Unlike previous studies in males, we found no evidence of fitness benefits associated with female ornaments. Our study suggests that female ornaments may be less informative than male ornaments.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jordan Boersma, Alexandra McQueen, Anne Peters, Joseph F. Welklin, Sarah Khalil, Rene Quispe, Wolfgang Goymann, Hubert Schwabl
Summary: Experimental manipulations and studies on hormone control have improved our understanding of vertebrate traits. Innovations in implant methods have led to the discovery of beeswax implants as the most effective in delivering physiologically relevant doses. However, more research is needed on the degradation and dosage of beeswax implants.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Yoran H. Gerritsma, Merijn M. G. Driessen, Simon Verhulst
Summary: Individual variation in animal personality is influenced by developmental conditions and environmental factors. In this study, we manipulated parental foraging conditions in zebra finches and found that adverse environmental conditions during development and larger brood sizes negatively affected offspring growth but did not impact behavior in standardized tests. These results suggest that variation in personality can be attributed to environmental effects, but not early life adversity as manipulated in this study.
Article
Ornithology
Mirjam J. Borger, Christina Bauch, Jelle J. Boonekamp, Simon Verhulst
Summary: Variation in developmental conditions can influence fitness in later life, and in jackdaws, larger eggs result in larger nestlings. A cross-foster experiment was conducted to determine if this association is due to egg size alone or if it is influenced by proficient parents producing larger eggs and nestlings. The study found that 92% of the association between egg size and nestling mass can be attributed to a direct effect of egg size. The remaining 8% could be explained by parental chick rearing ability, although this component was not significantly different from zero.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justin R. Eastwood, Andreaz Dupoue, Kaspar Delhey, Simon Verhulst, Andrew Cockburn, Anne Peters
Summary: Suboptimal conditions during development can shorten telomeres, but the relationship between early-life telomere length (TL) and survival or lifespan may vary due to biological or methodological differences. In a study on superb fairy-wrens, early-life TL did not predict mortality across different life stages, contrary to a similar study on another species. A meta-analysis of 23 studies including 32 effect sizes found a significant effect of early-life TL on mortality, but publication bias weakened the effect. However, early-life TL had negative effects on mortality risk throughout life.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Niki Teunissen, Hamish McAlpine, Skye F. F. Cameron, Brett P. P. Murphy, Anne Peters
Summary: Climate change is causing changes in fire frequency and intensity, which highlights the importance of understanding how species and ecosystems respond. The study analyzes the impacts of low-intensity and high-intensity fire on riparian habitats in northern Australia. The findings show that both types of fire reduce population density, but the mechanisms and recovery time differ with fire intensity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justin R. R. Eastwood, Andreaz Dupoue, Simon Verhulst, Andrew Cockburn, Anne Peters
Summary: Exposure to rising sublethal temperatures can affect development and somatic condition, and thereby Darwinian fitness. The study found that climate during the nestling phase has the greatest impact on nestling telomere length (TL), and this impact is influenced by temperature and rainfall in a complex manner. These findings reveal the potential effects of climate warming on wildlife fitness and underscore the need to understand the mechanisms underlying these complex associations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa P. Badas, Christina Bauch, Jelle J. Boonekamp, Ellis Mulder, Simon Verhulst
Summary: Early-life conditions affect fitness, and the combined effect of extrinsic stressors may be synergistic. Blood-sucking parasites may further shorten telomeres, especially in larger families, while infection has no impact on telomere shortening in smaller families. Larger nestlings have shorter telomeres, and in enlarged broods, nestlings are lighter at fledging.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Blanca Jimeno, Yoran Gerritsma, Ellis Mulder, Simon Verhulst
Summary: Early-life environmental conditions can have long-term effects on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression, but the correlations between GR expression in different tissues vary widely, suggesting that developmental effects on GR expression should be region-specific rather than organism-wide. Additionally, GR expression in blood and ventral striatum is positively correlated with nestling mass in adult females, indicating sex-dependent physiological constraints during development. Further study is needed to explore tissue-specific effects of early life adversity.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
S. J. van Hasselt, D. Martinez-Gonzalez, G-J Mekenkamp, A. L. Vyssotski, S. Verhulst, N. C. Rattenborg, P. Meerlo
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)