Markers of biological age in dogs

IF 12.4 1区医学 Q1 CELL BIOLOGY

Ageing Research Reviews Pub Date : 2025-07-09 DOI:10.1016/j.arr.2025.102814

Polina Zemko , Marco Canevelli , Sofia Pavanello , Matteo Cesari , Federico Bonsembiante , Manuela Campisi , Luana Cannella , Simona Buscarnera , Alessandro Zotti , Tommaso Banzato

{"title":"Markers of biological age in dogs","authors":"Polina Zemko , Marco Canevelli , Sofia Pavanello , Matteo Cesari , Federico Bonsembiante , Manuela Campisi , Luana Cannella , Simona Buscarnera , Alessandro Zotti , Tommaso Banzato","doi":"10.1016/j.arr.2025.102814","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As human life expectancy continues to rise, ageing and age-related diseases have become critical societal challenges, driving extensive research across genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and behavioral sciences. In this context, domestic dogs (<em>Canis lupus familiaris</em>) offer a unique model for ageing research due to their shared environmental exposures with humans, diverse genetic profiles, and relatively short lifespans. This review aims to identify potential biomarkers of ageing in dogs, facilitating a deeper understanding of age-related mechanisms and supporting the evaluation of interventions designed to promote healthy ageing. We present a research of peer-reviewed literature on age-related variations of various parameters across multiple biological systems, including epigenetic, telomere, immune, metabolic, and cognitive markers in dogs. Our findings highlight several robust biomarkers, such as DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks, telomere attrition, CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio, hematological markers (e.g., globulin levels), and cognitive function scores. These biomarkers demonstrate strong parallels with human ageing processes, particularly concerning genomic and epigenetic alterations. However, challenges remain, including breed-specific variability, body size differences, and inconsistent evidence regarding inflammageing markers, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines. Despite these limitations, indicators of chronic inflammation (e.g., anemia of chronic disease and elevated globulins) are evident in older dogs. Future research directions include the standardization of biomarker protocols for dogs, the development of longitudinal studies to track dynamic age-related changes, and further exploration of emerging biomarkers, such as those related to microbiome composition and oxidative stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55545,"journal":{"name":"Ageing Research Reviews","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 102814"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Ageing Research Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163725001606","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

As human life expectancy continues to rise, ageing and age-related diseases have become critical societal challenges, driving extensive research across genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and behavioral sciences. In this context, domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) offer a unique model for ageing research due to their shared environmental exposures with humans, diverse genetic profiles, and relatively short lifespans. This review aims to identify potential biomarkers of ageing in dogs, facilitating a deeper understanding of age-related mechanisms and supporting the evaluation of interventions designed to promote healthy ageing. We present a research of peer-reviewed literature on age-related variations of various parameters across multiple biological systems, including epigenetic, telomere, immune, metabolic, and cognitive markers in dogs. Our findings highlight several robust biomarkers, such as DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks, telomere attrition, CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio, hematological markers (e.g., globulin levels), and cognitive function scores. These biomarkers demonstrate strong parallels with human ageing processes, particularly concerning genomic and epigenetic alterations. However, challenges remain, including breed-specific variability, body size differences, and inconsistent evidence regarding inflammageing markers, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines. Despite these limitations, indicators of chronic inflammation (e.g., anemia of chronic disease and elevated globulins) are evident in older dogs. Future research directions include the standardization of biomarker protocols for dogs, the development of longitudinal studies to track dynamic age-related changes, and further exploration of emerging biomarkers, such as those related to microbiome composition and oxidative stress.

查看原文本刊更多论文

狗的生物年龄标记

随着人类预期寿命的持续增长，老龄化和与年龄相关的疾病已成为关键的社会挑战，推动了遗传学、分子生物学、生物化学和行为科学领域的广泛研究。在这种情况下，家犬（Canis lupus familiaris）为衰老研究提供了一个独特的模型，因为它们与人类有共同的环境暴露，不同的基因谱，以及相对较短的寿命。本综述旨在识别狗衰老的潜在生物标志物，促进对年龄相关机制的更深入理解，并支持旨在促进健康衰老的干预措施的评估。我们提出了一项同行评议的研究，研究了狗的多种生物系统中各种参数的年龄相关变化，包括表观遗传、端粒、免疫、代谢和认知标记。我们的研究结果强调了几个强有力的生物标志物，如基于DNA甲基化的表观遗传时钟、端粒损耗、CD4+/CD8+ t细胞比率、血液学标志物（如球蛋白水平）和认知功能评分。这些生物标记物与人类衰老过程有很强的相似之处，特别是在基因组和表观遗传改变方面。然而，挑战仍然存在，包括品种特异性变异性，体型差异，以及关于炎症标志物（如促炎细胞因子）的不一致证据。尽管存在这些限制，慢性炎症的指标（如慢性病贫血和球蛋白升高）在老年犬中是明显的。未来的研究方向包括标准化狗的生物标志物方案，发展纵向研究以跟踪动态年龄相关变化，以及进一步探索新兴生物标志物，如与微生物组组成和氧化应激相关的生物标志物。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Ageing Research Reviews 医学-老年医学

CiteScore

19.80

自引率

2.30%

发文量

216

审稿时长

55 days

期刊介绍： With the rise in average human life expectancy, the impact of ageing and age-related diseases on our society has become increasingly significant. Ageing research is now a focal point for numerous laboratories, encompassing leaders in genetics, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and behavior. Ageing Research Reviews (ARR) serves as a cornerstone in this field, addressing emerging trends. ARR aims to fill a substantial gap by providing critical reviews and viewpoints on evolving discoveries concerning the mechanisms of ageing and age-related diseases. The rapid progress in understanding the mechanisms controlling cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival is unveiling new insights into the regulation of ageing. From telomerase to stem cells, and from energy to oxyradical metabolism, we are witnessing an exciting era in the multidisciplinary field of ageing research. The journal explores the cellular and molecular foundations of interventions that extend lifespan, such as caloric restriction. It identifies the underpinnings of manipulations that extend lifespan, shedding light on novel approaches for preventing age-related diseases. ARR publishes articles on focused topics selected from the expansive field of ageing research, with a particular emphasis on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the aging process. This includes age-related diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. The journal also covers applications of basic ageing research to lifespan extension and disease prevention, offering a comprehensive platform for advancing our understanding of this critical field.