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Published on: July 29, 2019
An exposome-wide association study on association between environmental toxicants and accelerated aging
Zhengyang Wu1, Chaoyi Bian2, Ning Zhang1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Education, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; First School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Environmental toxicants like copper are linked to accelerated aging. Males and overweight individuals are more susceptible to these pollutants, necessitating targeted exposure reduction strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Accelerated aging increases chronic disease risk.
- Emerging environmental toxicants are linked to chronic diseases.
- The relationship between accelerated aging and toxicants is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate associations between accelerated aging and environmental toxicants using exposome-wide association study (ExWAS).
- Evaluate the role of systemic inflammation in mediating these associations.
- Identify specific toxicants contributing to accelerated aging.
Main Methods:
- Calculated accelerated aging using Klemera-Doubal method (KDM) biological age.
- Employed ExWAS, deletion-substitution-addition (DSA) algorithm, and exposure-class risk scores (ERS).
- Utilized mediation analysis to assess systemic inflammation's role and conducted mixed-effects analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified 27 environmental toxicants linked to accelerated aging, notably copper, tungsten, and N-Acetyl-S-(phenyl)-L-cysteine.
- Found sex and BMI modify toxicant effects, with males and higher BMI showing greater susceptibility.
- Systemic inflammation (SII) partially mediated associations for metals, nicotine metabolites, and PAHs.
Conclusions:
- Multiple environmental toxicants are risk factors for accelerated aging.
- Males and overweight individuals are more vulnerable to environmental pollutants.
- Findings support targeted strategies to reduce environmental exposures in susceptible populations.
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