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The Rab3 family proteins in age-related neurodegeneration: unraveling molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets
The Rab3 protein family is composed of a series of small GTP-binding proteins, including Rab3a, Rab3b, Rab3c, and Rab3d, termed Rab3s. They play crucial roles in health, including in brain function, such as through the regulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal activities. In the high-energy-demanding and high-traffic neurons, the Rab3s regulate essential cellular processes, including trafficking of synaptic vesicles and lysosomal positioning, which are pivotal for the maintenance of...
Response of spatially defined microglia states with distinct chromatin accessibility in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Microglial spatial heterogeneity remains a crucial yet not fully answered question in the context of potential cell-directed therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is an unclear understanding of the dynamics of distinct microglia states adjacent to or far from amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and their contributions to neurodegenerative diseases. Here we combine multicolor fluorescence cell fate mapping, single-cell transcriptional analysis, epigenetic profiling, immunohistochemistry and...
Mapping the immune-genetic architecture of aging: A single-cell causal framework for biomarker discovery and therapeutic targeting
Aging is a complex biological process driven by genetic and immune-mediated mechanisms, yet the causal roles of immune-cell-specific gene regulation remain unclear. In this study, we integrate single-cell expression quantitative trait loci (sc-eQTL) data with Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses to identify immune-mediated regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets for aging. Using data from 14 immune cell types, we systematically evaluated 8733 eGenes for causal effects...
Why do ageing rates vary by country? Massive study says politics play a part
No abstract
Testing retrogenesis and physiological explanations for tract-wise white matter aging: links to developmental order, fiber calibre, and vascularization
To understand observed spatial distributions of white-matter (WM) aging, developmentally driven theories termed "retrogenesis" have gained traction, positing that WM tract development order predicts order of declines, with later developing regions expected to deteriorate first, i.e., "last-in-first-out." Alternatively, regions that develop most rapidly may decline most rapidly in aging, i.e., "gains-predict-loss." The validity of such theories remains uncertain, partly due to lack of clarity in...
Expression of progerin enhances disease-related endpoints in a tau seeding reporter cell system
Sporadic Alzheimer's disease and some forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-tau) are neurological disorders of later life where cognitive deficits follow from the progressive accumulation of microtubule-associated tau protein. Disease-related tau accumulation is marked by altered subcellular distribution and rearrangement of this natively unstructured protein into alternative conformational forms, including highly organized fibrillar assemblies. With a partial analogy to effects seen...
The association between dual sensory impairment and social participation among older adults in China: a moderated mediation model of activities of daily living and depressive symptoms
CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms moderated the mediation of ADL on an indirect, negative correlation between DSI and SP. The findings contribute to existing knowledge by illustrating the fundamental mechanisms connecting DSI and SP. These Findings highlight the need for integrated interventions targeting both sensory impairment and mental health to mitigate SP decline in aging populations.
MindCrowd-Expanded: An online multi-domain assessment of cognitive aging
CONCLUSION: The study adds to a growing body of research demonstrating the feasibility and utility of online cognitive testing for reaching large cohorts of individuals across the adult lifespan. We report findings that mirror the existing literature on cognitive aging, but also provide unique insights into the trajectory of cognitive functioning. We discuss the benefits, challenges, and future promise of web-based testing.
The Effect of Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Spending on Nursing Home Care Quality in the United States
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study highlights how capitation rates positively influence care quality in nursing homes within the MLTSS context. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, health care administrators, and managed care organizations seeking to optimize care quality in MLTSS programs.
Cancer mortality and senescence: Is redox therapy an option?
Patient genomics and mouse functional genetics have revealed that senescence is a barrier to metastatic progression of prostate cancer. Many efforts focus on eliminating senescent cells, whereas others aim to elucidate distinct characteristics that set them apart from normal and aging cells. Here, we discuss how exploration of the redox state of senescent cells could help define new markers and pro-oxidant vulnerabilities, drawing analogy to what is known about the redox sensitivity of...
The exposome of healthy and accelerated aging across 40 countries
Protective and risk factors can drive healthy or accelerated aging, with distinct environments modulating their effects. The impact of the exposome-the combined physical and social exposures experienced throughout life-on accelerated aging remains unknown. We assessed delayed and accelerated aging in 161,981 participants from 40 countries (45.09% female; mean age, 67.06; s.d., 9.85) by measuring biobehavioral age gaps (BBAGs), defined as the difference between estimated age from protective and...
Reshaping transplantation with AI, emerging technologies and xenotransplantation
Organ transplantation remains the sole definitive treatment for many forms of end-stage organ failure, yet donor organ shortages impose life-threatening delays for thousands of patients worldwide. Mechanical supports and dialysis provide only temporary respite, while lifelong immunosuppression poses additional risks-including infections, malignancies and considerable healthcare costs. Recent innovations hold promise for overcoming these barriers. Artificial intelligence tools increasingly guide...
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics map senescent vascular cells in arterial remodeling during atherosclerosis in mice
Growing evidence suggests that the induction of cellular senescence in vascular cells is causally linked to the etiology of cardiovascular diseases. To investigate systematically the heterogeneity of senescent vascular cells in atherosclerosis, we used a high-fat diet and PCSK9 overexpression to induce atherosclerosis in a senescence reporter mouse model (p16-tdTomato^(+/-)) and performed single-cell RNA sequencing on whole aortas. Using the SenMayo and CellAge gene sets, we identified four...
Extracellular vesicles from antler blastema progenitor cells reverse bone loss and mitigate aging-related phenotypes in mice and macaques
Antler blastema progenitor cells (ABPCs) are a distinct population of skeletal mesenchymal stem cells found in regenerating deer antlers, with strong stemness and renewal capacity in vitro. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as potential therapeutic candidates that can mediate donor cells' beneficial effects. Here, we tested the effects of ABPC-derived EVs (EVs^(ABPC)) on aging in mice and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We identified a variety of unique factors in...
Targeting PBK with small-molecule 1-<em>O</em>-acetyl-4<em>R</em>,6<em>S</em>-britannilactone for the treatment of neuroinflammation
Neuroinflammation is a complex immunological phenomenon characterized by a dysregulated inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS) that can be triggered by various pathological injuries, such as toxins, which are involved in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases (PD and AD), therefore, suppressing neuroinflammation serves as an effective treatment for CNS diseases. Herein, we found that natural soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor 1-O-acetyl-4R,6S-britannilactone (AB)...
Amyloid-β modulates the phase separation and aggregation of α-synuclein
The aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and α-synuclein (αSyn) into insoluble proteinaceous deposits is a hallmark of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Recent evidence suggests that these amyloidogenic proteins act in synergy, with their coaggregation frequently observed in these disorders. In this study, we investigate the interaction of Aβ and αSyn using various biophysical tools. In particular, we explore the cocondensation of Aβ with αSyn, elucidating the pathways through which Aβ modulates...
Senescence Alters Antimicrobial Peptide Expression and Induces Amyloid-beta Production in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Age-related retinal degeneration, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, are major causes of blindness in modern society. Recent studies suggest that dysbiosis and intraocular translocation of bacteria from the blood circulation are critically involved in retinal degeneration. We hypothesise that the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) cells can protect the neuroretina from blood-borne pathogens by producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The antimicrobial activity may...