Ecological Realism Accelerates Epigenetic Aging in Mice

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epigenetics
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Epigenetic alterations are key to aging, influencing cellular functions and healthspan.
• Most aging studies use lab mice, overlooking environmental impacts on epigenetic changes.
• The social and physical environment's role in epigenetic aging remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how environmental enrichment affects age-associated epigenetic changes.
• To compare epigenetic aging rates between laboratory-reared and "rewilded" mice.
• To identify genomic regions and mechanisms influenced by environmental factors in aging.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of age-associated DNA methylation patterns in liver tissues.
• Analysis of C57BL/6J mice under standardized lab conditions versus an "enriched" outdoor field environment.
• Systematic analysis of epigenetic aging dynamics across the genome.

Main Results:

• "Rewilded" mice exhibited a faster rate of epigenetic aging compared to laboratory-reared mice.
• Genomic region-specific differences in aging rates were observed.
• Accelerated aging in the field was linked to altered 3D genome conformation and liver function.
• Sites gaining methylation with age, involved in DNA repair, showed more pronounced changes.

Conclusions:

• The living environment plays a crucial, often overlooked, role in epigenetic aging.
• Environmental enrichment can accelerate epigenetic aging, impacting cellular functions.
• Findings have implications for aging research, healthspan, and lifespan studies.