Tag: Cellular Senescence

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Senescence-Related TME Genes as Key Prognostic Predictors in HNSCC

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In a new study, researchers aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of senescence-related TME genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and their potential implications for immunotherapy response. 

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Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent and heterogeneous form of cancer that affects thousands of individuals worldwide. The prognosis for HNSCC patients can vary greatly, depending on factors such as tumor stage and site. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and disease progression, with cellular senescence being a key component. Senescent cells, characterized by cell-cycle arrest, have been shown to have both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects. However, the prognostic significance of senescence-related TME genes in HNSCC remains poorly understood.

In a new study, researchers Young Chan Lee, Yonghyun Nam, Minjeong Kim, Su Il Kim, Jung-Woo Lee, Young-Gyu Eun, and Dokyoon Kim from Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, and the University of Pennsylvania aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of senescence-related TME genes in HNSCC and their potential implications for immunotherapy response. They utilized data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to identify two distinct subtypes of HNSCC based on the expression of senescence-related TME genes. The team then constructed a risk model consisting of senescence-related TME core genes (STCGs) and validated its prognostic capability in independent cohorts. Their research paper was chosen as an Aging cover paper and published in Volume 16, Issue 2, entitled, “Prognostic significance of senescence-related tumor microenvironment genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.”

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to offer a comprehensive evaluation of the senescence related TME status by integrating senescence related TME genes through a gene-gene network and clustering. Furthermore, we have introduced a novel risk model that utilizes a selected gene set to predict prognosis and confirmed the expression of STCGs in immune cells at single-cell levels.”

The Study

Identification of Prognostic Senescence-Related TME Genes

To identify prognostic senescence-related TME genes, the researchers screened a total of 7,878 genes in the TCGA-HNSCC dataset. They identified 288 genes that belonged to TME-related genes, tumor-associated senescence (TAS) genes, and immune-related genes. From these genes, they selected 91 prognostic senescence-related TME genes (PSTGs) based on differential expression analysis and Cox regression analysis.

Senescence-Related TME Subtypes and Characterization

Using consensus clustering analysis, the researchers classified the HNSCC samples into two distinct subtypes based on the expression of PSTGs: subtype 1 and subtype 2. The two subtypes exhibited significant differences in clinical and molecular characteristics. Subtype 2 had a higher prevalence of HPV-positive and oropharyngeal cancer cases, while subtype 1 was characterized by a higher proportion of advanced tumor stage and overall stage.

Further analysis revealed distinct differences between the subtypes in terms of genetic alterations, methylation patterns, enriched pathways, and immune infiltration. Subtype 1 had a higher mutation rate in the TP53 gene and exhibited hypomethylation in several CpG sites compared to subtype 2. Additionally, subtype 2 showed higher immune scores, stromal scores, and ESTIMATE scores, indicating a more favorable immune microenvironment.

The two subtypes also displayed differences in survival outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that subtype 2 had a more favorable overall survival compared to subtype 1. This difference was enhanced in the HPV-positive cohort, suggesting that the senescence-related TME subtypes may have implications for prognosis in specific patient subgroups.

Risk Scoring Based on Senescence-Related TME Status

Using the 91 PSTGs, the researchers constructed a risk scoring model based on the LASSO Cox regression algorithm. They identified 21 STCGs that were associated with either increased risk or protection. The risk scores based on the expression levels of these genes were calculated for each patient, and the patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups.

The prognostic performance of the risk scoring model was tested in independent cohorts, including the TCGA-HNSCC test set, the GSE41613 cohort, and the KHUMC cohort. The high-risk group showed significantly lower overall survival compared to the low-risk group in the TCGA-HNSCC test set and the GSE41613 cohort. Although not statistically significant, the low-risk group demonstrated a trend towards higher overall survival in the KHUMC cohort.

Immunotherapy Response Prediction and Single-Cell Analysis

The team also investigated the immunotherapy response prediction based on the risk model and the expression of STCGs. They found that the low-risk group had higher immunophenoscores and a significantly higher proportion of responders to immunotherapy compared to the high-risk group.

To further evaluate the senescence-related TME characteristics at the single-cell level, the researchers analyzed single-cell transcriptome data from HNSCC tissue. They found that STCGs were enriched in fibroblast, mono/macrophage, and T cell populations, suggesting that these cell types contribute to the senescent features of HNSCC.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study sheds light on the prognostic significance of senescence-related TME genes in HNSCC. Their findings highlight the heterogeneity of HNSCC and the importance of the senescence-related TME in prognosis and immunotherapy response. The risk scoring model based on STCGs provides a potential prognostic biomarker for HNSCC patients, and the single-cell analysis further elucidates the association between STCGs and specific cell populations within the TME. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between senescence and the TME in HNSCC and have implications for precision medicine and personalized treatment approaches. Further research and validation are needed to fully understand the clinical implications of senescence-related TME genes in HNSCC. However, this study provides valuable insights into the role of cellular senescence in tumor progression and the potential for targeting senescence-related pathways in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HNSCC patients.

“In conclusion, this study comprehensively investigated the prognostic and immunological features of senescence related TME genes in HNSC. By leveraging these senescence related TME genes, we successfully developed a risk model to predict HNSC prognosis and immunotherapy response, which was robustly validated using external transcriptome datasets. These findings provided evidence for the role of senescence in the TME and highlighted the potential of senescence-related biomarkers as promising therapeutic targets.”

Click here to read the full research paper published in Aging.

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Aging is an open-access, traditional, peer-reviewed journal that has published high-impact papers in all fields of aging research since 2009. All papers are available to readers (at no cost and free of subscription barriers) in bi-monthly issues at Aging-US.com.

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How Telomere Dysfunction Affects Female Fertility (A Mouse Study)

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In a new study, researchers aimed to reveal a link between telomere dysfunction, ovarian aging and infertility using a mouse model of accelerated-reproductive senescence.

Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent DNA damage and maintain genomic stability. However, telomeres shorten with each cell division and eventually reach a critical length that triggers cellular senescence or death. Telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA), the enzyme that replenishes telomeric repeats, are influenced by genetic and environmental factors and vary among tissues and individuals.

“Telomere attrition has been identified as one of the molecular determinants of aging [7].”

Telomere dysfunction has been implicated in various age-related diseases, including infertility. Ovarian aging is the main cause of infertility in women, as it leads to a decline in both the quantity and quality of oocytes. Previous studies have shown that TL and TA are reduced in oocytes and granulosa cells of women with diminished ovarian reserve or poor response to ovarian stimulation. Moreover, TL and TA have been associated with ovarian reserve markers and pregnancy outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies.

To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian aging and infertility, researchers Alba M. Polonio, Marta Medrano, Lucía Chico-Sordo, Isabel Córdova-Oriz, Mauro Cozzolino, José Montans, Sonia Herraiz, Emre Seli, Antonio Pellicer, Juan A. García-Velasco, and Elisa Varela from The Health Research Institute La Fe (IIS La Fe), IVIRMA Rome, New Jersey and Madrid, Centro Anatomopatológico, Yale School of Medicine, University of Valencia, and Rey Juan Carlos University conducted a new study using a mouse model of accelerated aging: the Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8). On May 23, 2023, their research paper was published in Aging’s Volume 15, Issue 11, entitled, “Impaired telomere pathway and fertility in Senescence-Accelerated Mice Prone 8 females with reproductive senescence.”

The Study

The SAMP8 mouse model, which has previously been suggested as an Alzheimer’s disease model of aging, also exhibits a shortened estrous cycle, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and reduced fertility in females at just seven months of age. SAMP8 mice have a shorter lifespan compared to senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice. SAMR1 mice do not exhibit reproductive senescence. Thus, the researchers deemed the SAMR1 mouse model an appropriate control group to study the SAMP8 mouse model as a model of ovarian aging and infertility. 

“In the current study, we sought to investigate whether the SAMP8 mice, which show accelerated-reproductive senescence, have alterations in their telomere pathway. This question has not yet been explored in relation to reproduction in this model.”

In this study, the team compared the TL and TA in blood and ovary samples from the SAMP8 female mice at seven months of age (when they show signs of reproductive senescence) with age-matched control SAMR1 mice. They also evaluated the ovarian follicle development, the expression of telomerase subunits (TERT and TERC), and the reproductive outcomes after ovarian stimulation in both groups of mice. In sum, the researchers measured survival rates (in male and female mice), alteration in the telomere pathway at seven months of age, TERT and TERC expression levels, TA on the TL of granulosa cells in developing follicles, and impairment/alterations in the telomere pathway in oogenesis and embryo development.

The results revealed that SAMP8 females had a reduced median lifespan compared to SAMP8 males and SAMR1 males and females. In blood, SAMP8 females had lower mean TL and higher accumulation of short telomeres than the other mice. In ovary, SAMP8 females had lower TA and TERT expression. Furthermore, SAMP8 females had fewer primordial, primary, secondary, and antral follicles than control females, indicating a diminished ovarian reserve. After ovarian stimulation, SAMP8 females had a lower number of oocytes than controls of the same age. Their results suggested that oogenesis and embryo development is impaired in SAMP8 mice at seven months compared to age-matched controls, and this coincides with alterations in the telomere pathway.

Conclusions

“Thus, SAMP8 females represent a bona fide model for the analysis of fertility, not only because it shows similar phenotype to middle-aged women as stated earlier [43], but also because the alterations in the telomere pathway are found in women with fertility disorders [37, 38, 40, 41] and this pathway links reproduction with longevity.”

The researchers concluded that SAMP8 females have impaired telomere pathway and fertility, reflecting signs of reproductive senescence described in middle-aged women. They suggested that the SAMP8 model could be useful in studying the role of telomere dysfunction in ovarian aging and infertility. In addition, this mouse model could be used to test potential therapeutic interventions to improve female reproductive health.

“Understanding the molecular pathways underlying aging and fertility, provides a basis for further studies focused on several topics. First, the analysis of embryo alterations, which can be better assessed in mice than in humans. Second, how reproductive lifespan improvement may ameliorate elderly health. And third, the mechanisms underlying follicle recruitment and development, which are not completely known.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

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Aging is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that has been publishing high-impact papers in all fields of aging research since 2009. These papers are available to readers (at no cost and free of subscription barriers) in bi-monthly issues at Aging-US.com.

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A Promising Approach to Preventing Periodontitis

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A new study by researchers from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Dentistry investigated cellular senescence in periodontal tissue and disease—identifying promising therapeutic targets for preventing periodontitis in the elderly.

A new study by researchers from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Dentistry investigated cellular senescence in periodontal tissue and disease—identifying promising therapeutic targets for preventing periodontitis in the elderly.

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as “Aging (Albany NY)” and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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Repercussions of poor dental health aren’t limited to mere social stigmas. Poor dental health can impart serious consequences on an individual’s overall health. Periodontal disease broadly refers to any disease that affects the gums and the surrounding tissues that support the teeth, including the periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone. Periodontal disease can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes by allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation and organ damage. 

Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of periodontal disease. It is thought to be the most common infectious disease in the United States—affecting more than 40% of adults over 30 years old. Previous research has suggested that aging is a significant risk factor for periodontitis, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

“The direct cause of periodontitis is periodontopathic bacteria, while various environmental factors affect the severity of periodontitis. Previous epidemiological studies have shown positive correlations between aging and periodontitis. However, whether and how aging is linked to periodontal health and disease in biological processes is poorly understood.”

In a recent study, researchers Kuniko Ikegami, Motozo Yamashita, Mio Suzuki, Tomomi Nakamura, Koki Hashimoto, Jirouta Kitagaki, Manabu Yanagita, Masahiro Kitamura, and Shinya Murakami from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Dentistry aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to aging-associated inflammation in periodontitis. On March 1, 2023, their new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 15, Issue 5, entitled, “Cellular senescence with SASP in periodontal ligament cells triggers inflammation in aging periodontal tissue.”

The Study

“In this study, we aimed to clarify the pathophysiological roles of cellular senescence in periodontal tissue and diseases.”

Previous studies have found that senescent cells can secrete senescence-associated secretory proteins (SASP) that induce inflammation and impair wound healing in some chronic diseases. The existence of senescent cells in periodontal tissue and diseases, however, has yet to be clarified. In this study, the researchers investigated cellular senescence and SASP in aging periodontal tissue. The team aimed to uncover the mechanism by which cellular senescence and SASP trigger inflammation in periodontal tissue and to identify potential therapeutic targets for this disease. 

To investigate the role of cellular senescence in periodontitis, the researchers analyzed periodontal tissue in young and aged mice. Alveolar bone volume was compared in the young and aged mice, and beta-galactosidase (β-gal) staining was performed. They found bone resorption in aged mice and many senescence-associated (SA) β-gal-positive cells in their periodontal tissue, leading to inflammation and breakdown of alveolar bone. Very few SA β-gal-positive cells were found in young mouse tissues.

Next, the researchers worked with cells in vitro, primary human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells, and induced cellular senescence through serial passaging (replicative senescence). The growth rate of HPDL cells gradually reduced, and they reached irreversible cell growth arrest, indicating the induction of cellular senescence. Morphological changes were observed through phalloidin staining. The team found that around 70% of aged HPDL cells were positive for SA β-gal, while less than 10% of young HPDL cells were positive. Morphological changes showed that aged HPDL cells had an enlarged and “spread” cell shape compared to young HPDL cells. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed an increase in cell size and granularity of aged HPDL cells compared to young HPDL cells.

TEM analysis showed that senescent cells exhibit metabolic changes and irregularly shaped mitochondria with disrupted cristae and increased accumulation of ROS, which suggest damage and failure of the redox balance. Importantly, the researchers found that the intrinsic inflammation state of aged PDLs was higher than in young PDLs, and susceptibility to bactericidal pathogens (but not inflammatory cytokines) was low in aged PDLs. Additionally, the team observed an age-dependent upregulation of microRNA (miR)-34a in HPDL cells.

“Thus, miR-34a and senescent PDL cells might be promising therapeutic targets for periodontitis in elderly people.”

Summary & Conclusion

In conclusion, poor dental health can have serious implications on an individual’s overall health, as periodontal disease can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Aging is a significant risk factor for periodontitis, which is thought to be the most common infectious disease in the United States. A recent study by researchers from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Dentistry aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to aging-associated inflammation in periodontitis. The study found that senescent cells in periodontal tissue secrete SASP that induce inflammation. The researchers identified potential therapeutic targets for periodontitis and suggest that elimination of senescent PDL cells or suppression of the miR-34a-dependent SIRT1-NF-κB axis may be an attractive therapeutic strategy to prevent periodontitis in humans as we age.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify: 1) the potential for senescent PDL cells to induce inflammation of periodontal tissue, and 2) a miRNA-dependent molecular mechanism of SASP in senescent PDL cells.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

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Aging is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that has been publishing high-impact papers in all fields of aging research since 2009. These papers are available to readers (at no cost and free of subscription barriers) in bi-monthly issues at Aging-US.com.

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Investigating Susceptibility to Radiation-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

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Researchers evaluated three different mouse strains with varying sensitivity to radiation lung fibrosis in an effort to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

Investigating Susceptibility to Radiation-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by Medline/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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Radiation is an effective treatment for many types of cancer. Unfortunately, this treatment has the potential to cause long-term side effects in some patients, including the thickening or scarring of lung tissue, known as pulmonary fibrosis. Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a serious complication that can occur after radiation therapy and can lead to death. Predicting an individual’s risk of developing RIPF remains challenging for clinicians, as little is known about the underlying mechanisms that cause it.

“Differential susceptibility to lung injury from radiation and other toxic insults across mouse strains is well described but poorly understood.”

Previous studies in mouse models have shown that there are natural variations in susceptibility to RIPF among different strains of mice. The mechanism(s) underlying this difference in susceptibility is still unknown. In a new study, researchers Eun Joo Chung, Seokjoo Kwon, Uma Shankavaram, Ayla O. White, Shaoli Das, and Deborah E. Citrin from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute investigated differences in macrophage function across mouse strains and their potential contribution to varied RIPF susceptibility. On September 28, 2022, their research paper was published in Aging’s Volume 14, Issue 19, entitled, “Natural variation in macrophage polarization and function impact pneumocyte senescence and susceptibility to fibrosis.”

The Study

While the precise mechanisms underlying RIPF are not fully understood, it is thought that senescent pneumocytes (or alveolar cells) play a key role. Pneumocytes are a type of cell in the lung that are essential for gas exchange. Type II pneumocytes (AECII) function as alveolar stem cells after lung injury. The researchers hypothesized that macrophages (a type of white blood cell that play an important role in immune responses) may contribute to promoting AECII senescence.

“AECII are known to be in close contact with alveolar macrophages, and, in this fashion, to contribute to lung homeostasis [11].”

The researchers hypothesized that natural variations in macrophage function contribute to differences in RIPF susceptibility. To explore their hypothesis, they evaluated three different mouse strains with varying sensitivity to radiation lung fibrosis: C57L mice (RIPF-prone), C57BL6/J mice (intermediate) and C3H/HeN mice (RIPF-resistant). Female mice (to avoid sex-based differences in results) underwent thoracic irradiation (IR). Changes in macrophages and pneumocytes were assessed.

The Results

The team found that susceptibility to radiation-induced lung injury and premature AECII senescence varied by mouse strain. Pulmonary irradiation led to varied macrophage phenotypes and accumulation in each strain. In responses to polarizing stimuli, macrophages demonstrated strain-dependent responses. M2 macrophages induced AECII senescence via NOX2-derived superoxide production in a strain-dependent manner. Finally, macrophages expressing NOX2 accumulated in fibrotic lungs after radiation.

“NOX1 and NOX2 protein were expressed at the highest levels in C57L BMDM, with intermediate expression in C57BL6/J BMDM and the lowest expression in C3H/HeN BMDM (Figure 6B).”

The researchers demonstrated that the C57L mice (the strain with the greatest sensitivity to RIPF) exhibited the greatest rate of accumulation of senescent AECII cells. At the same time, they found that the fibrosis-sensitive (C57L and C57Bl6/J) mouse strains exhibit a greater accumulation of M2 polarized macrophages than the fibrosis-resistant strain (C3H/HeN).

“However, until now, the impact of M2 polarization on AECII senescence was unexplored. In this study, we identified that M2 macrophage polarization can contribute to AECII senescence, potentially leading to a positive feedback loop that furthers pulmonary injury.”

Conclusion

This study provides new insights into the role of macrophages in RIPF susceptibility. The findings suggest that natural variations in macrophage function contribute to differences in RIPF susceptibility. The different macrophage polarization profiles across strains may contribute to their varying susceptibilities to RIPF by promoting AECII senescence. These findings may help to develop new strategies for the prevention and treatment of RIPF.

“In this study, variation in the accumulation of senescent cells across strains with varying sensitivity to fibrosis has been established. Further, strain variation in macrophage response to polarizing stimuli and capacity to produce superoxide and induce senescence in epithelial cells is described. Together, these data highlight the importance of macrophage-epithelial interactions in the context of lung fibrosis and identify NOX2 as a possible therapeutic target in radiation lung injury.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

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Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.

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Aging-US: Hallmarks of Cancer and Hallmarks of Aging

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“Hyperfunctional signaling directly drives age-related diseases.”

— Mikhail Blagosklonny, M.D., Ph.D.

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BUFFALO, NY- May 18, 2022 – Dr. Mikhail Blagosklonny published his new review paper in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 9, entitled, “Hallmarks of cancer and hallmarks of aging.”

In this review, Dr. Blagosklonny expands on Gems and de Magalhães’ notion that canonic hallmarks of aging are superficial imitations of the hallmarks of cancer. He takes their work a step further and proposes the hallmarks of cancer and aging based on a hierarchical principle and the hyperfunction theory.

“Here I present the hallmarks of cancer, depicted as a circle by Hanahan and Weinberg [1], not as the circle but hierarchically, from molecular levels to the organism (Figure 1).”

Figure 1. Hierarchical representation (from molecular to organismal levels) of the original hallmarks of cancer based on Hanahan and Weinberg. See text for explanation.

Next, Dr. Blagosklonny depicts the hallmarks of aging suggested by López-Otín et al. based on the hierarchical principle. 

“This representation renders hallmarks tangible but reveals three shortcomings (Figure 2).”

Figure 2. Hierarchical representation of the hallmarks of aging based on López-Otín et al. See text for explanation.

The first shortcoming that Dr. Blagosklonny notes is the lack of hallmarks on the organismal level. The second is that the relationship between hallmarks on different levels is unclear. The third is that the inclusion of genetic instability as a hallmark is based on the theory that aging is caused by the accumulation of molecular damage. 

“The molecular damage theory was refuted by key experiments, as discussed in detail [44–51].” 

Dr. Blagosklonny then uses the hyperfunction theory to arrange the hierarchical hallmarks of aging.

“Let us depict hallmarks of aging, according to the hyperfunction theory of aging (Figure 3).”

Figure 3. Hierarchical hallmarks of aging based on hyperfunction theory, applicable to humans. Non-life-limiting hallmarks are shown in brown color. See text for explanation.

Dr. Blagosklonny continues by discussing the key to understanding aging and aging as a selective force for cancer. He concludes this review by discussing the common hallmarks of cancer, aging and cell senescence.

“In organismal aging, cancer and cellular senescence, the same key signaling pathways, such as mTOR, are involved. This is why the same drugs, such as rapamycin, can suppress all of them.”

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204082 

Correspondence to: Mikhail V. Blagosklonny 

Email: Blagosklonny@oncotarget.com, Blagosklonny@rapalogs.com 

Keywords: oncology, carcinogenesis, geroscience, mTOR, rapamycin, hyperfunction theory

Follow Dr. Blagosklonny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Blagosklonny

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About Aging-US:

Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.

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Trending With Impact: Underlying Mechanisms of Replicative Senescence

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Published on the cover of Aging’s Volume 14, Issue 7, researchers conducted a new study investigating the role of IGFBP5 in replicative senescence.

cell division illustration

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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In 1961, Leonard Hayflick and Paul Moorhead proposed a theory later named the Hayflick Limit. They discovered that a normal human cell can divide between 50 and 70 times before it can no longer proliferate and eventually dies. Researchers have since continued to explore this phenomenon and, today, this aging process is known as cellular (replicative) senescence.

“There are currently several experimental models of cellular senescence. Hayflick and Moorhead observed that primary human fibroblasts in culture exhibit a limited proliferative capacity [6]. This growth arrest during passages is called replicative senescence.”

This permanent cessation of the cell cycle is universally found in biology due to known and unknown causes, including the shortening of telomeres. While telomere shortening plays an important role, it is not the only event responsible for inducing cellular senescence. Thus, researchers have spent decades under the microscope experimenting with cellular models of replicative senescence.

In a new study released on April 4, 2022, researchers from Sapporo Medical University in Sapporo, Japan, investigated mechanisms of replicative senescence in vitro. Their trending research paper was published on the cover of Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 7, and entitled, “Downregulation of IGFBP5 contributes to replicative senescence via ERK2 activation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.”

The Study

Cellular senescence is typically characterized by cell growth arrest, an increase of cells positive for SA-β -gal staining, and upregulation of p16 and p19. To begin this study, the team cultured embryonic mouse fibroblasts (MEFs) and conducted cell passages according to the 3T3 method. They found that the MEFs underwent senescence after the 5th passage (P5). The team also found that at P8, the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) mRNA was significantly reduced when compared with that of P2 MEFs.

Next, the team performed a knockdown of IGFBP5 in the MEF cells. Results showed that IGFBP5 knockdown induced premature cellular senescence in P2 MEFs. Knockdown of IGFBP5 increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) but did not affect expression levels of Akt or p16 repressors. The researchers also found that supplementing the cell culture growth medium with additional exogenous IGFBP5 delayed growth arrest and reduced replicative senescence in the MEF cells.

“To examine whether activated ERK1 and ERK2 by IGFBP5 knockdown are involved in the induction of senescent phenotypes, we examined effects of knockdown of ERK1 and ERK2 using a combination with IGFBP5 siRNA in P2 MEFs.”

Upon further analysis of ERK1/2’s role in IGFBP5-knockdown cells, the team found that the silencing of ERK2, and not ERK1, blocked the increase in the number of SA-β-GAL-positive cells. ERK2 knockdown attenuated the reduction in the cell number and upregulation of p16 and p21 in IGFBP5-knockdown cells. This study provides evidence that downregulation of IGFBP5 contributes to replicative senescence via ERK2 activation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Conclusion

For the first time, the role of IGFBP5 in replicative senescence was demonstrated in MEFs. Their findings suggest that ERK2 underlies cellular senescence induced by IGFBP5 downregulation. Cellular senescence appears to be a complex process with many moving parts. While more research is needed to fully understand the role of IGFBP5 in replicative senescence, this study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms involved in this complex process.

“In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that downregulation of IGFBP5 during serial passage contributes to replicative senescence via an ERK2-dependent mechanism (Figure 6). The results suggest that IGFBP5 counteracts replicative senescence in MEFs.”

Figure 6. Schematic summary of our findings. MEFs at early passage secrete certain levels of IGFBP5. Secreted IGFBP5 proteins inhibit MEK/ERK2 by attenuating their phosphorylation (P) in the neighboring cell, leading to suppression of cellular senescence. IGFBP5 secretion is decreased during serial passage, causing activation of ERK2 and cellular senescence.
Figure 6. Schematic summary of our findings. MEFs at early passage secrete certain levels of IGFBP5. Secreted IGFBP5 proteins inhibit MEK/ERK2 by attenuating their phosphorylation (P) in the neighboring cell, leading to suppression of cellular senescence. IGFBP5 secretion is decreased during serial passage, causing activation of ERK2 and cellular senescence.

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.

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Trending With Impact: Radiation, Senescence and Senotherapeutics

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Researchers examined the effects of thoracic radiation-induced senescent cells on tumor progression, and the role of senotherapeutics to mitigate these effects.

Radiation therapy, advanced medical linear accelerator in therapeutic oncology to treat cancer
Radiation therapy, advanced medical linear accelerator in therapeutic oncology to treat cancer

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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Radiation therapy is a highly-efficacious inducer of cancer cell death. With this being said, radiation has also previously been shown to cause premature senescence in the lung parenchyma. Senescence in cancer cells was previously only thought of as a mechanism capable of suppressing tumor cell proliferation by halting the cell cycle. However, a growing body of evidence shows that senescent cells may play a pro-tumorigenic role in cancer.

In the tumor microenvironment, the accumulation of senescent cells can become tumorigenic due to a lack of normal tissue stem cells and due to the expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP expression is when senescent cells secrete high levels of inflammatory cytokines, immune modulators, growth factors, and proteases. In addition to reinforcing senescence, SASP can create a biological environment that is immuno-suppressed and tumor-permissive. Radiation-induced senescence has previously been shown to have negative impacts on cancer patients.

“Cells that have undergone premature senescence due to stress, such as irradiation, are resistant to apoptotic cell death and effectively escape immune surveillance, resulting in their accumulation in tissue over time.”

Recently, researchers from the National Cancer Institute investigated the irradiated lung and the impact of radiation-induced senescent parenchymal cells on tumor growth. They also explored three senotherapeutics, rapamycin, INK-128 and ABT-737, for their potential to mitigate radiation-induced senescence. On February 12, 2022, the team’s priority research paper was published on the cover of Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 3, and entitled, “Senescence-associated tumor growth is promoted by 12-Lipoxygenase.”

The Study

In this study, researchers intravenously injected melanoma cells into murine models two, four and eight weeks after daily fractions of thoracic irradiation exposure. There was also a control arm of unirradiated murine models. Tumor development was monitored by the number and size of the nodules in lung tissues. The number of cells exhibiting senescent activity was also recorded after two, four and eight weeks of thoracic irradiation. Their data demonstrated a correlation between the time points when tumors developed in the irradiated lungs and a marked accumulation of senescent cells.

“As previously described, in irradiated lungs, senescent cells increased significantly 4 and 8 weeks after IR compared to age matched unirradiated controls (Figure 1A).”

A characteristic of oncogene- and stress-induced senescence is the activation of mTOR signaling. Given this connection, the researchers conducted parallel studies evaluating senostatic agents capable of targeting the mTOR pathway, rapamycin and INK-128, and a senolytic agent to selectively eliminate senescent cells, ABT-737.  The data showed that rapamycin and INK-128 significantly reduced the number of tumor nodules in the lungs of irradiated mice compared to the controls. ABT-737 demonstrated reduced pulmonary senescence in irradiated mice.

The researchers also studied 12-Lipoxygensae (12-LOX), an enzyme that metabolizes a certain SASP molecule previously implicated in pulmonary senescence: 12(S)-HETE. 12-LOX is a known contributor to radiation-induced senescence and lung injury. The team specifically focused on the role of 12-LOX in pulmonary senescence and its impact on radiation-enhanced tumor growth. They found that inhibiting 12-LOX activity reduced radiation-induced lung senescence and mitigated radiation-enhanced tumor growth.

“Finally, we link senescence associated 12-LOX activity and production of 12(S)-HETE to the observed enhanced tumor growth after irradiation.”

Conclusion

In sum, the researchers found that radiation therapy can induce senescence in the lung parenchyma and also enhance tumor growth. The contribution of senescence in tumor progression was emphasized by the protection delivered by the mTOR-targeted senostatic and senolytic agents. This important discovery could lead to new therapies for cancer patients who are undergoing radiation therapy.

“Together, this study demonstrates the critical role of senescence in mediating radiation-enhanced tumor growth and identifies Alox12 as an important player in this phenomenon. Treatment with a senostatic agent, INK-128, identified in this study, or with agents like rapamycin and ABT-737 suggested their potential therapeutic use in alleviating radiation associated tumor growth.”

Click here to read the full priority research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available to read at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals offer information that has the potential to benefit our societies from the inside out and may be shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other researchers, far and wide.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Trending With Impact: Therapeutic Strategy Improves Cell Senescence

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In the cover paper of Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 2, researchers discovered a potential therapeutic strategy to target senescent cells and combat aging and age-related diseases.

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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Cellular senescence appears to be a phenomenon fundamentally ingrained within the aging process and linked to age-related diseases. Characterized broadly by permanent cessation of the cell cycle, cellular senescence may not be as permanent as once thought. 

Researchers from Incheon National University and Korea University conducted a new study exploring analogs of oxazoloquinoline and their potential to alleviate cellular senescence. Their trending research paper was published as the cover of Aging (Aging-US) Volume 14, Issue 2, and entitled, “Targeting regulation of ATP synthase 5 alpha/beta dimerization alleviates senescence.”

THE STUDY

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an energy-carrying molecule found in all living cells. In order to meet the energy demands of the cell, the primary function of the mitochondria is to produce ATP. The maintenance of mitochondrial metabolism is inseparably linked with the regulation of senescence. Therefore, dysfunctional mitochondria has been considered as both a target and the cause of senescence. In addition to a marked decrease in ATP production, senescent cells also increase the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 33, or IL-33. The researchers believe that reducing IL-33 may be a possible intervention to reduce senescence in aging patients and age-related diseases.

“In this study, using in-house compound library containing 20 oxazoloquinoline analogs designed to IL-33 inhibitors [9], we aimed to identify compounds capable of ameliorating senescence.”

The researchers investigated 20 oxazoloquinoline analogs using in vitro assays of senescent human diploid fibroblasts and embryonic kidney cells. Efficacy of the candidate compounds was determined using a screening strategy to measure their capacity to increase cell number. Cell numbers were measured between zero and 20 days after compound exposure. The researchers also measured indicators including mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and p21 expression. They found that the analog KB1541 led to the maximum cell number increase, the recovery of mitochondrial function and the alleviation of cellular senescence. The researchers suggest that KB1541 could be a promising therapeutic agent for use in aging-related diseases.

“The increase in mitochondrial cristae length by KB1541 could be explained by previous findings showing that the increase in ATP generation exerted beneficial effects in mitochondrial function including increases in calcium buffering capacity and decrease in overall ROS production [48].”

CONCLUSIONS

“Taken together, our study provides evidence that the fine-tuning of ATP synthase 5 alpha/beta dimerization by KB1541 can induce mitochondrial functional recovery, concomitant recovery of senescent phenotypes, rendering the use of KB1541 as a potentially advantageous therapeutic strategy in aging and age-related diseases.”

The authors acknowledged that further studies are needed to clarify the exact relationship between IL-33 and mitochondrial energy metabolism. Further studies are also needed to investigate whether other IL-33 inhibitors can modulate senescence by the mechanisms found in the study. This research provides valuable insight into the potential of oxazoloquinoline analogs as novel therapeutic agents for aging and age-related diseases. With further exploration, their findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies to combat aging.

“The role of IL-33 in senescence is not clearly elucidated, therefore discovery of a novel interacting partner will provide clues toward revealing its function.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

AGING (AGING-US) VIDEOS: YouTube | LabTube | Aging-US.com

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available to read at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals offer information that has the potential to benefit our societies from the inside out and may be shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other researchers, far and wide.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Trending With Impact: Hair Follicles May Replace Traditional Biopsies

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A new device has been developed by researchers to efficiently and painlessly collect hair follicle tissue samples from laboratory mammals, and even humans.

Figure 6. Markers of senescence analysis in hair follicular cells.
Figure 6. Markers of senescence analysis in hair follicular cells.

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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Laboratory mammals have impacted human-kind far beyond enhancing scientific knowledge in behavioral and environmental research. These animals have greatly contributed to human healthspan and lifespan in countless ways; from validating life-saving cancer therapies to accelerating the future of human anti-aging and longevity interventions. With respect for these salubrious animals, ethical standards (per country) require that researchers handle laboratory mammals with care, and that pain and stress are minimized. Blood and skin tissue samples (biopsies) collected from animals should be replaced whenever possible. For the researchers, this twofold invasive procedure for the animals is also time- and resource-limiting—presenting a bottleneck in the biomedical research process.

“However, we present here a simple method for obtaining biological material in the form of follicular cells from laboratory mice with sufficient quantities and quality for multiple analyses using standard modern molecular biology methods.”

In an effort to efficiently and humanely solve this ethics/logistics problem, researchers—from Palacky University, University Hospital Olomouc, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, and Karolinska Institute—developed a novel, non-invasive device that can be used to collect tissue samples from hair follicles. They tested the applications of this device and authored a research paper of the study. In December of 2021, their paper was published on the cover of Aging (Aging-US) Volume 13, Issue 23, and entitled, “An efficient, non-invasive approach for in-vivo sampling of hair follicles: design and applications in monitoring DNA damage and aging.”

“As millions of laboratory mice are routinely genotyped globally every year this approach represents a major ethical and logistic breakthrough.”

The Follicular Cells’ Collector

As opposed to traditional biopsies, hair follicle collection is a humane, easy, non-invasive, and painless method of DNA and tissue sample collection. Each hair follicle contains approximately 50 cells—of various cell types. 

“This micro-organ structure also has other advantages in biomarker studies, including suitability for investigations of circadian rhythms [5, 7], and the presence of numerous cell types in a small area, which can be easily distinguished, such as keratinocytes, melanocytes, or perifollicular macrophages and mast cells [8–10].”

Previously, the limitations of using hair follicles as DNA and tissue samples stemmed from ineffective technology. Many devices involved ordinary tweezers and forceps with high risks for cross-contamination. The researchers termed their novel tissue sample collection device the “follicular cells’ collector.” The follicular cells’ collector is designed with dual pipettes and utilizes a precision vacuum method of hair follicle extraction. The device can be used to comfortably collect DNA and tissue samples from laboratory mammals, and even from humans. 

“Although hair samples have been previously used for that purpose [29–31], our sample collection approach may motivate researchers to use them more routinely and widely.”

The Study

To validate that these hair follicle samples contain the required genetic information necessary in most studies, researchers compared murine genotyping results of 151 tail biopsies and 151 hair samples. In order to determine the ability of these samples to detect changes in expression patterns induced by external factors, the team also observed the DNA damage response in hair follicle cells after gamma irradiation and after the topical application of chemical clastogens. Further exploring its potential application in aging research, researchers assayed expression patterns of selected markers of biological age and senescence in murine hair follicular cells. The researchers conducted many other tests and experiments using murine hair follicular cells in this study.

“The speed by which the samples can be collected and processed (e.g. by fixation) is among the biggest advantages of our solution as it can be performed within seconds. This fact limits any potential underlying cellular responses and additional DDR [DNA damage response] caused by cofounding stressing factors related to the withdrawal process [2].”

Conclusion

The researchers found that the follicular cells’ collector method of obtaining mouse hair follicular cells can be successfully used for genotyping, quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing and quantitative immunofluorescence. They also demonstrated that this method can successfully monitor quality and expression level changes of selected proteins—induced by external factors and during natural or experimentally induced aging. 

“Our results highlight the value of hair follicles as biological material for convenient in vivo sampling and processing in both translational research and routine applications, with a broad range of ethical and logistic advantages over currently used biopsy-based approaches.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

AGING (AGING-US) VIDEOS: YouTube | LabTube | Aging-US.com

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research and other topics. These papers are available to read at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals offer information that has the potential to benefit our societies from the inside out and may be shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other researchers, far and wide.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Trending With Impact: A New Marker of Aging and Cellular Senescence

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Researchers from the Campisi Lab discovered new insights while investigating Cdkn1a transcript variants 1 and 2.

Embryonic stem cell colony

The Trending with Impact series highlights Aging publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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The phenomenon in which cells are still metabolically active but can no longer proliferate is known as cellular senescence. Cellular senescence is a normal mechanism in development and tissue homeostasis—and a hallmark of aging.

“Most of my lab works on a process called cellular senescence, which is a cellular response to stresses and damage, many of which increase with age,” Dr. Judy Campisi, Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, said in a recent Aging interview. 

An international team of researchers from Dr. Campisi’s lab are in search of new biological markers of cellular senescence and aging. Understanding mechanisms of aging such as senescence is key for developing new, safe interventions that may extend human life—with compounding socioeconomic and cultural impacts. Researchers from this lab come from institutions including the Buck Institute, the University of California, Berkeley’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Universidad de Córdoba, Universidad Mayor, Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, and Unity Biotechnology. The team published a trending 2021 paper in Aging‘s Volume 13, Issue 10, entitled, “Cdkn1a transcript variant 2 is a marker of aging and cellular senescence.” 

“Our results are, to our knowledge, the first to study Ckdn1a transcript variants in the context of aging.”

THE STUDY

There are a number of mechanisms that drive cellular senescence. Previously, mRNA and protein coding gene Cdkn1a transcript variant 1 (p21var1) has been better-studied compared to Cdkn1a transcript variant 2 (p21var2). The authors of this paper explain that this is likely because the encoded protein is identical to that encoded by variant 1, and both variants are regulated by p53. However, neither variants have ever before been studied in the context of aging. In this study, the researchers explored the expression levels of both Cdkn1a transcript variants 1 and 2 in the context of cellular senescence using several tissues from aged mice and a cell culture model of mouse cells.

“The stringent cell growth arrest associated with cellular senescence is determined, among other mechanisms, by activities of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor proteins p16Ink4a and p21Cip1/Waf1, encoded by the Cdkn2a and Cdkn1a loci, respectively [1].”

Study results showed that both variants are induced during cellular senescence. They showed that p21var1 and p21var2 are equally sensitive to transcriptional upregulation after p53 stabilization. The in vitro models also found that p21var2 is preferentially induced with age.

“In sum, p21var2 expression is consistently elevated with age, in contrast with an absence of age-related change in p21var1 levels.”

The researchers conducted further tests in vivo to examine the expression pattern of p21var2 and their results suggested that the circadian regulation of p21Cip1/Waf1 is driven solely by expression of Cdkn1a transcript variant 1. The team also induced cellular senescence in vivo with doxorubicin and ABT-263 (navitoclax) and evaluated the variants’ expression. These results confirmed their in vitro findings that p21var2 is more prone to cellular senescence than p21var1, thus making it a better marker for assessing the presence of senescent cells in vivo.

CONCLUSION

“We show that, although tissue-specific exceptions may arise, p21var2 but not p21var1 is a better candidate marker of aging and senescence in mice.”

Click here to read the full research paper, published by Aging.

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Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers monthly in all fields of aging research and other topics. These papers are available to read at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals offer information that has the potential to benefit our societies from the inside out and may be shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other researchers, far and wide.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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