Xiangyue Hu , Dana Kablawi , Wout F.J. Feitz , Kirsten Y. Renkema , Nine V.A.M. Knoers , Norman D. Rosenblum
{"title":"Increased mTOR signaling secondary to a human ILK missense variant inhibits nephrogenesis with decreased metabolism","authors":"Xiangyue Hu , Dana Kablawi , Wout F.J. Feitz , Kirsten Y. Renkema , Nine V.A.M. Knoers , Norman D. Rosenblum","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nephrogenesis is critical to mammalian kidney function throughout life. Decreased nephron formation, an embryonic process dependent on ureteric-mesenchymal tissue interactions, is a fundamental feature of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) and an antecedent to adult-onset cardiovascular and renal disease. Yet, mechanisms controlling the number of nephrons formed during embryogenesis are largely undefined. Here, we elucidated deleterious effects of increased mTOR signaling on murine nephrogenesis. A rare human genetic missense variant (<em>ILK</em><sup><em>T173I</em></sup>) in Integrin-Linked Kinase (<em>ILK</em>) was identified in a human CAKUT cohort. Replacement of the mouse <em>ILK</em><sup><em>WT</em></sup> allele with <em>Ilk</em><sup><em>T173I</em></sup> caused increased kidney mTOR signaling, low nephron number, and decreased ureteric branching, the latter of which was rescued by rapamycin. Transcriptomic analysis of sorted embryonic kidney cells suggested that elevated mTOR signaling is limited to non-ureteric mesenchyme, a finding that was substantiated by immunostaining in situ. Maturation of nephrogenic cells in <em>Ilk</em><sup><em>T173I</em></sup>-knock-in kidneys was decreased as demonstrated by nephrogenic-specific markers, morphologic analysis, and proliferation of nephrogenic progenitors. Metabolic profiling of non-ureteric cells demonstrated decreased oxidative ATP production. Together, our data revealed a deleterious role of excessive mTOR signaling downstream of <em>ILK</em><sup><em>T173I</em></sup> by inhibiting maturation, cell proliferation and metabolism in the nephrogenic cell lineage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 112115"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rossella La Grotta , Cecilie Agergaard Sørensen , Asmus Cosmos Skovgaard , Mikael Thinggaard , Serena Dato , Giuseppina Rose , Jonas Mengel-From , Mette Soerensen
{"title":"Circulating microRNAs and cross sectional and longitudinal measurements of physical functioning and frailty: An explorative study in older twins","authors":"Rossella La Grotta , Cecilie Agergaard Sørensen , Asmus Cosmos Skovgaard , Mikael Thinggaard , Serena Dato , Giuseppina Rose , Jonas Mengel-From , Mette Soerensen","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During aging, physical functioning declines, and disability and frailty increase; phenotypes which are bidirectionally linked. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetic regulators of various physiological processes and suggested aging biomarkers. Here we investigate the association between circulating plasma miRNAs and hand grip strength, chair stand, (Rockwood) frailty, and activity of daily living (ADL) in 86 monozygotic twins (73–88 years). In cross-sectional analysis, both individual and twin-pair level analyses were performed, the latter controlling genetic confounding. The majority (74–100 %) of miRNAs identified in the individual-level analysis were validated by twin-pair-level analysis, with 14 miRNAs showing significance (p < 0.05) in both. Longitudinal analysis (up to eight years of follow-up) yielded more significant results (75–93 miRNAs), indicating that miRNAs might be more accurate in predicting functional decline over time. Of these miRNAs, seven showed consistent directions of effects across phenotypes. For all analyses, most (65–79 %) of the observed effect sizes were negative, reflecting reduced functionality with increased miRNA levels. Enrichment analyses revealed pathways of gene expression (incl. p53- and FOXO-mediated transcription), signal transduction, the immune system, metabolism of RNA, among others. Of specific miRNAs, miR-1274a demonstrated negative association in both cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations of ADL. These findings support miRNAs as biomarkers of age-related functional decline.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 112099"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144667931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rui Sun , Xiao-Tao Wu , Hang Shi , Feng Wang , Jia-Wei Gao , Pei-Yang Wang , Zheng-Yuan Xu , Wen-Wu Gan , Yun-Tao Wang , Cong Zhang
{"title":"Mechanism of FTO-mediated m6A demethylation regulation of YAP1 in nucleus pulposus cell senescence","authors":"Rui Sun , Xiao-Tao Wu , Hang Shi , Feng Wang , Jia-Wei Gao , Pei-Yang Wang , Zheng-Yuan Xu , Wen-Wu Gan , Yun-Tao Wang , Cong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence is a critical factor in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Our analysis demonstrates that FTO and YAP1 expression levels are significantly diminished in degenerative NP tissues from both human and rat models, which correlates with increased m6A modification of YAP1 transcripts. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we utilized IL-1β to induce senescence in cultured NP cells. Our findings reveal that FTO knockdown leads to a decrease in YAP1 levels while simultaneously increasing senescence markers. In contrast, the overexpression of YAP1 alleviates the senescence phenotype in FTO-deficient cells, underscoring the protective role of YAP1 in NP cells. This study proposes a novel regulatory pathway in which FTO modulates YAP1 through m6A demethylation, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for mitigating NP cell senescence and IVDD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 112101"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144906923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fabrizio Vecchio , Chiara Pappalettera , Alessia Cacciotti , Federico Frasca , Gabriella Marcon , Paolo Maria Rossini
{"title":"Electrical brain activity in Centenarians: Neurophysiological EEG markers in resilient brain ageing","authors":"Fabrizio Vecchio , Chiara Pappalettera , Alessia Cacciotti , Federico Frasca , Gabriella Marcon , Paolo Maria Rossini","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112100","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112100","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Centenarians are an increasing population, in particular in high income countries. Studying cognitively intact Centenarians’ brain becomes fundamental to understand physiological ageing and how it diverges from pathological one. Resting state EEG were recorded using 27 channels in more than 130 subjects (referred to Young, Adults, Elderly, Centenarians and Alzheimer Disease patients), and the power spectral density (PSD) was computed. The paper demonstrates that Centenarians electrical brain activity is more similar to Elderly’s than expected, despite approximately 30 years of age gap, provided they are cognitively intact. Centenarians EEG signal was expected to progressively approach AD one, but surprisingly they seem to slow-down their ageing and maintain non-pathological and resilient EEG patterns, particularly in Alpha bands: occipital region Centenarians PSD has lower values than Young and Adults but not than Elderly, and higher values than AD. These interesting results suggests that Centenarians brain needs to be investigated to extrapolate its characteristics and try to replicate its mechanisms for a widespread healthy ageing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 112100"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144821878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Human oral microbiome in aging: A systematic review","authors":"Elena Carbone , Elisa Fabrizi , Roberto Rivabene , Marisa Cappella , Paola Fortini , Lucia Conti , Nicoletta Locuratolo , Patrizia Lorenzini , Eleonora Lacorte , Paola Piscopo","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studying aging and risk factors associated with chronic non-communicable diseases is increasingly relevant due to the progressive aging of the global population. Risk factors have focused on diet, physical exercise, cognitive activity, and lifestyle habits; however, recent research has begun to explore how the oral microbiome may influence health and contribute to chronic diseases. The aim of our systematic review is to evaluate the link between human oral microbiome and aging. This SR was carried out using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase, identifying 3490 records, of which 6 met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. These studies were qualitatively assessed using the Revised Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions. Overall, the evidence suggests that while the bacterial and fungal communities remain similar across age groups, there is an increased presence of periodontal pathogens in older subjects. Moreover, bacterial species richness and alpha-diversity decrease with advancing age, though no clear age clustering was observed. Although the reviewed studies offer insights into the association between aging and changes in the oral microbiome, further research is required to address confounding factors, limitations in sample size, and gender differences, in order to better elucidate the role of microbiome alterations in general health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112080"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kalyani Pandya , Annabel Menendez , Mark G. MacAskill , Gillian A. Gray , Adriana A.S. Tavares
{"title":"The impact of aging and biological sex on cardiac collagen metabolism","authors":"Kalyani Pandya , Annabel Menendez , Mark G. MacAskill , Gillian A. Gray , Adriana A.S. Tavares","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112079","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112079","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Age and sex exert profound influences on the heart, shaping its structure, function, and susceptibility to disease. Among the myriad of changes driven by age and sex, alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly collagen influence myocardial health in aging. Collagen, the predominant ECM protein, upholds tissue integrity and function through tightly regulated processes. Aging, a significant cardiovascular risk factor, is linked to increased collagen deposition, left ventricular remodelling, and fibrosis. Similarly, sex differences affect cardiovascular disease progression, with notable variations in the deposition of collagen types I and III between males and females. While collagen accumulation is present in aging in both sexes, females exhibit a tempered response until menopause, primarily due to oestrogen-mediated suppression of excessive collagen remodelling. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying age- and sex-related changes in cardiac collagen metabolism and their implications for myocardial health. Aging-associated fibrosis and collagen accumulation appear mechanistically distinct from those seen with injury or dysfunction, occurring without increased collagen synthesis despite elevated degradation enzymes. Factors such as senescence, inflammation, oxidative stress, and enhanced ECM crosslinking are identified as key drivers of these metabolic shifts. While studies in ovariectomized rodent models have highlighted the role of sex in collagen metabolism, evidence suggests that aging exerts a more dominant influence overall. Additionally, this review emphasizes a critical gap in the field: the limited availability of longitudinal aging fibrosis studies that include both sexes. This scarcity hampers a comprehensive understanding of how aging and sex collectively shape collagen turnover and myocardial health. By assessing these knowledge gaps, the review aims to define current perspectives and may provide insights to help inform the development of more effective, targeted therapeutic approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112079"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Conte , Federica Sevini , Giuseppe Conte , Monica Tognocchi , Erika Ciurca , Lorenzo Trofarello , Antonio Chiariello , Miriam Capri , Claudio Franceschi , Daniela Monti , Mirko Di Rosa , Antonio Cherubini , Fabiola Olivieri , Stefano Salvioli
{"title":"The combination of GDF15, FGF21, sRAGE and NfL plasma levels can identify frailty in community-dwelling people across old age","authors":"Maria Conte , Federica Sevini , Giuseppe Conte , Monica Tognocchi , Erika Ciurca , Lorenzo Trofarello , Antonio Chiariello , Miriam Capri , Claudio Franceschi , Daniela Monti , Mirko Di Rosa , Antonio Cherubini , Fabiola Olivieri , Stefano Salvioli","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Frailty is a complex medical condition characterized by decline in physiological functions and global health of older people, representing a strong risk factor for disability, hospitalization, and mortality. The identification of biomarkers reliably associated with frailty could provide more information on the actual health status and outcome of older subjects. To this aim, we investigated possible associations of four biomarkers related to age and age-related diseases, namely GDF15, FGF21, sRAGE, and NfL, with frailty, measured using frailty index (FI), in community-dwelling subjects of different age. The study was conducted on a cohort of 463 subjects (50–113 years) enrolled before the Covid-19 pandemic and categorized as frail and non-frail, based on a 45-item FI, according to the deficit accumulation model. Plasma levels of the four biomarkers were analysed by Ella Automated ELISA and investigated for their possible association with FI. A Random Forest Decision model was used to assess the biomarkers’ discrimination power with respect to FI. In our cohort, FI was associated with plasma levels of GDF15, NfL and FGF21, but not sRAGE. The first two were also associated with survival. The model based on those four biomarkers estimated frailty with 82 % accuracy. Moreover, frailty estimate obtained with this model led to a more refined prediction of survival on a 3-year follow-up. Our data suggest that GDF15, NfL, FGF21 and sRAGE plasma levels can be proposed as parameters to provide additional information about frailty status and survival with respect to FI in community-dwelling subjects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112077"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144242954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Energetic cost of biosynthesis modulates the growth-longevity tradeoff in mice: Quantitative insights into four lifespan-altering manipulations","authors":"Chen Hou, Fahimeh Taheri","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Life history theory proposes a tradeoff between growth rate and lifespan, typically explained by the allocation of limited energy resources between somatic growth and maintenance. However, this explanation does not give a complete picture of the energy tradeoff. This study investigates two energy allocation mechanisms that influence growth and longevity simultaneously: the redirection of metabolic energy from growth to maintenance under energy limitation, and increased energy investment in biosynthesis, enhancing bio-tissue quality and stress resistance but also slowing growth. By analyzing empirical data from laboratory mice subjected to diet restriction (DR), dwarfism through genetic manipulations (Dwarf), rapamycin treatment (Rap), and growth hormone transgenics (Super), we quantify changes in growth rate, metabolic rate, and biosynthesis energy costs (<em>E</em><sub>m</sub>). Our quantitative analyses demonstrate that although both mechanisms slow growth and extend lifespan, they work differently depending on the type of manipulation. In DR, Dwarf, and Rap mice, these mechanisms act synergistically, significantly enhancing lifespan. These manipulations not only channel more energy from growth to somatic maintenance but also increase the energy investment to biosynthesis and therefore enhance the tissues’ ability of resisting stress. Conversely, in Super mice, the mechanisms partially counteract each other. In this case, the treatment drains energy from somatic maintenance to growth, but slightly increases energy investment to biosynthesis, resulting in less pronounced effects on longevity. These findings suggest that the energetic cost of biosynthesis, a previously underappreciated factor, critically influences the balance between growth rate and lifespan, providing deeper insight into life history evolution and aging mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112088"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C.M. Donado-Pestana , L. Rodrigues , M. Rundle , E.L. Thomas , S. Wopereis , T.E. Gundersen , J.P. Trezzi , D. Bunzel , Y. Kiselova-Kaneva , D. Sonntag , S.E. Kulling , D. Ivanova , K. Hiller , C.A. Drevon , L. Brennan , J.D. Bell , B. van Ommen , G. Frost , H. Daniel , J. Fiamoncini
{"title":"Plasma metabolomic profiles reveal sex-specific response to an oral glucose tolerance test in late middle-aged adults","authors":"C.M. Donado-Pestana , L. Rodrigues , M. Rundle , E.L. Thomas , S. Wopereis , T.E. Gundersen , J.P. Trezzi , D. Bunzel , Y. Kiselova-Kaneva , D. Sonntag , S.E. Kulling , D. Ivanova , K. Hiller , C.A. Drevon , L. Brennan , J.D. Bell , B. van Ommen , G. Frost , H. Daniel , J. Fiamoncini","doi":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mad.2025.112081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex is a key determinant of human phenotype, with males and females exhibiting distinct anthropometric and metabolic features that influence disease susceptibility. This study investigated sex-specific metabolic differences in late middle-aged adults without diagnosed metabolic diseases, both in the fasting state and during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Using data from the NutriTech project, we analyzed plasma metabolomic responses during the OGTT, along with detailed assessments of body composition and fasting clinical parameters. Females exhibited 28 % greater total adipose tissue, mainly subcutaneous, whereas males had more intra-abdominal fat and higher energy expenditure. Females showed elevated fasting levels of fatty acids—particularly very-long-chain fatty acids— leptin, and adiponectin. Males had slightly higher fasting glycemia (∼ 5 %) and a more pronounced glycemic increase during the OGTT (17 %), along with elevated insulin levels. In both fasting and postprandial states, males showed higher circulating levels (p < 0.05) of aromatic and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and their catabolites. Conversely, females had higher sphingomyelins levels during fasting and throughout the OGTT, and increased postprandial levels of secondary bile acids (p < 0.05). These sex-specific metabolic features in late middle-aged adults may enhance our understanding of metabolic disease risk and support the development of more targeted prevention strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical trial registration number</h3><div>NCT01684917</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18340,"journal":{"name":"Mechanisms of Ageing and Development","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112081"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}