Aging: a portrait from gene expression profile in blood cells
Elisa Calabria1, Emilia Maria Cristina Mazza2, Kenneth Allen Dyar3,4
1Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Aging
|August 23, 2016
Summary
Reliable biomarkers of aging are crucial for understanding senescence. Gene expression in blood cells reveals early aging signs, including mitochondrial decline and immune system changes, impacting tissue health.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Biomarkers of aging are essential for monitoring interventions, predicting age-related diseases, and understanding aging mechanisms.
- Blood cells offer an accessible tissue source, and their gene expression profiles can reflect disease states and aging processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gene expression changes in whole blood samples from adult and elderly individuals to identify early markers of senescence.
- To correlate gene expression with physiological measures like oxygen consumption.
Main Methods:
- Microarray analysis of whole blood samples from two cohorts: healthy adults (43±3 years) and elderly subjects (68±4 years).
- Monitoring of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) in the same subjects.
Main Results:
- Significant age-related differences in gene expression were observed between adult and elderly groups.
- Decreased transcript levels for mitochondrial respiratory chain components correlated with reduced VO2max in the elderly.
- Age-related changes in blood cell expression of immunosenescence, inflammation, and oxidative stress markers were identified.
Conclusions:
- Blood gene expression profiles provide insights into the early stages of the aging process.
- The immune system plays a significant role in tissue homeostasis and repair, with functions impaired early in aging.
- Mitochondrial function decline is a key feature of aging detectable in blood cells.
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