Signs of faster aging process identified through gene research
- Date:
- October 23, 2015
- Source:
- University of Exeter
- Summary:
- New research has shed light on the molecular changes that occur in our bodies as we age. In the largest study of its kind, an international group of researchers examined expression of genes in blood samples from 15,000 people across the world. They found 1,450 genes that are linked to aging, and also uncovered a link between these genes and factors such as diet, smoking and exercise.
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New research has shed light on the molecular changes that occur in our bodies as we age.
In the largest study of its kind, an international group of researchers, including experts from the University of Exeter's Medical School, examined expression of genes in blood samples from 15,000 people across the world.
They found 1,450 genes that are linked to aging, and also uncovered a link between these genes and factors such as diet, smoking and exercise.
Whilst the underlying causes of human aging are largely unknown, growing old increases the risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke -- three of the leading causes of death.
The research team specifically looked for changes in gene expression, a process in which the information contained in genes is 'expressed' by reading the DNA sequence and creating RNA, and subsequently proteins. By looking in blood, the researchers aimed to find easy to measure markers of human aging.
This technique allowed them to develop a new method to predict people's 'biological age' and show that people with a biological age older than their actual age were more likely to have conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.
The research is published in the online edition of scientific journal, Nature Communications.
Dr Luke Pilling, Associate Research Fellow in Genomic Epidemiology at the University of Exeter and part of the research team said: "This study has discovered many genes that change in their patterns of expression with age. This study has not only given insights into aging mechanisms -- such as mitochondrial function -- but these techniques have potential use in prediction and treatment."
The new study, the largest human molecular aging study to date, was led by Dr Marjolein Peters and Dr Andrew Johnson, from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Framingham Heart Study. Professor David Melzer from the University of Exeter oversaw the Exeter contribution.
During the research, the experts identified 1,497 aging genes, of which about 1,450 are newly identified. Many of the genes work together in pathways such as generating the energy supply of the cells (mitochondrial function), metabolic processes, and the stability and flexibility of the cells.
This large amount of newly identified genes provides a key breakthrough to better understand the molecular changes during aging.
Dr Pilling added: "Large, observational, and collaborative projects such as these provide a great platform to focus aging research in the future, with the hope that predictive tests can be developed, and treatment strategies for age-related conditions improved."
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Materials provided by University of Exeter. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Marjolein J. Peters, Roby Joehanes, Luke C. Pilling, Claudia Schurmann, Karen N. Conneely, Joseph Powell, Eva Reinmaa, George L. Sutphin, Alexandra Zhernakova, Katharina Schramm, Yana A. Wilson, Sayuko Kobes, Taru Tukiainen, Michael A. Nalls, Dena G. Hernandez, Mark R. Cookson, Raphael J. Gibbs, John Hardy, Adaikalavan Ramasamy, Alan B. Zonderman, Allissa Dillman, Bryan Traynor, Colin Smith, Dan L. Longo, Daniah Trabzuni, Juan Troncoso, Marcel van der Brug, Michael E. Weale, Richard O'Brien, Robert Johnson, Robert Walker, Ronald H. Zielke, Sampath Arepalli, Mina Ryten, Andrew B. Singleton, Yolande F. Ramos, Harald H. H. Göring, Myriam Fornage, Yongmei Liu, Sina A. Gharib, Barbara E. Stranger, Philip L. De Jager, Abraham Aviv, Daniel Levy, Joanne M. Murabito, Peter J. Munson, Tianxiao Huan, Albert Hofman, André G. Uitterlinden, Fernando Rivadeneira, Jeroen van Rooij, Lisette Stolk, Linda Broer, Michael M. P. J. Verbiest, Mila Jhamai, Pascal Arp, Andres Metspalu, Liina Tserel, Lili Milani, Nilesh J. Samani, Pärt Peterson, Silva Kasela, Veryan Codd, Annette Peters, Cavin K. Ward-Caviness, Christian Herder, Melanie Waldenberger, Michael Roden, Paula Singmann, Sonja Zeilinger, Thomas Illig, Georg Homuth, Hans-Jörgen Grabe, Henry Völzke, Leif Steil, Thomas Kocher, Anna Murray, David Melzer, Hanieh Yaghootkar, Stefania Bandinelli, Eric K. Moses, Jack W. Kent, Joanne E. Curran, Matthew P. Johnson, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Harm-Jan Westra, Allan F. McRae, Jennifer A. Smith, Sharon L. R. Kardia, Iiris Hovatta, Markus Perola, Samuli Ripatti, Veikko Salomaa, Anjali K. Henders, Nicholas G. Martin, Alicia K. Smith, Divya Mehta, Elisabeth B. Binder, K Maria Nylocks, Elizabeth M. Kennedy, Torsten Klengel, Jingzhong Ding, Astrid M. Suchy-Dicey, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Jennifer Brody, Jerome I. Rotter, Yii-Der I. Chen, Jeanine Houwing-Duistermaat, Margreet Kloppenburg, P. Eline Slagboom, Quinta Helmer, Wouter den Hollander, Shannon Bean, Towfique Raj, Noman Bakhshi, Qiao Ping Wang, Lisa J. Oyston, Bruce M. Psaty, Russell P. Tracy, Grant W. Montgomery, Stephen T. Turner, John Blangero, Ingrid Meulenbelt, Kerry J. Ressler, Jian Yang, Lude Franke, Johannes Kettunen, Peter M. Visscher, G. Gregory Neely, Ron Korstanje, Robert L. Hanson, Holger Prokisch, Luigi Ferrucci, Tonu Esko, Alexander Teumer, Joyce B. J. van Meurs, Andrew D. Johnson. The transcriptional landscape of age in human peripheral blood. Nature Communications, 2015; 6: 8570 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9570
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