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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images
Published on: September 7, 2017
Chromosomal terminal methylation status is associated with gut microbiotic alterations
Toyoki Maeda1, Takahiko Horiuchi2, Naoki Makino2
1The Department of Internal Medicine, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, 4546 Tsurumihara Beppu, Oita, 874-0838, Japan. maedat@beppu.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
Abstract:
We explored the association of fecal bacterial species and somatic telomere changes in patients with chronic disease. The results showed that the length of the combined range of telomere and the methylated subtelomere was correlated with the increase of bacteria species and the numerical superiority of certain strains in feces, the increase of streptococci in men and women, and the increase of E. coli specifically in women. These results suggest that the aging status reflected by telomere length and/or demethylation of neighboring regions correlate with intestinal conditions which influences the proportion of the intestinal microbial population. Shortened telomere length and subtelomeric demethylation status are thought to represent the degree of aging and the accelerating stage of aging velocity, respectively. Hence, the observed biased microbial status is considered to be associated with advanced stage or acceleration phase of biological aging.
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