LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by
researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and the epigenetic company,
TruDiagnostic, published in "Aging Cell," suggests new and
surprising insights on the connection between retroelements and the
aging process. Embedded in our DNA, retroelements are remnants of
ancient viral infections that are silenced by DNA methylation, an
epigenetic mechanism that cells can use to control gene
expression.
New Study Reveals Novel Epigenetic
Connections Between Retroelements and Aging
In this study, the researchers have shown that analysis of
retroelement-based epigenetic signatures can be used to highly
predict chronological age. However, in a surprising turn, this
epigenetic clock appeared to be not only highly accurate in human
blood but also across various tissues and also in other mammalian
species.
"Our novel portrayal of distinct epigenetic hotspots within
endogenous retroelements that appears to accurately quantify
individual aging, opens the door to new insights on how
retroelements are involved in human aging," said Lishomwa Ndhlovu,
the Herbert J. and Ann L. Siegel Distinguished Professor of
Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. "These findings have
implications in our understanding of age-related disease processes
across populations and in guiding advances in geroscience
research."
The study also further highlighted the potential versatility of
epigenetic age clocks by exhibiting reversibility during temporary
changes, accelerated aging in individuals living with HIV-1,
response to antiretroviral treatment, and accurate even estimations
of the age of lab-grown human brain tissues.
"We are excited by this surprising finding. We show that HERVs
and LINEs methylation patterns may be used for highly accurate
epigenetic clocks of immune system aging, which supports the
hypothesis that interspersed repeat elements may be involved in
aging. Additionally, the fact that this clock has very little
overlap with previous clocks' locations hints to a possibly unique
and novel feature in aging," says TruDiagnostic bioinformatician
Natalia Carreras-Gallo.
With new research pointing to the possibility that retroelements
may contribute to the aging process, the findings could pave the
way for the development of targeted therapies for a range of
age-related conditions.
You can now read the full paper 'Retroelement-Age Clocks:
Epigenetic Age Captured by Human Endogenous Retrovirus and LINE-1
DNA methylation states' in the journal Aging Cell.
For further information or to schedule an interview, please
contact: Ryan@trudiagnostic.com
Dr. Lishomwa Ndhlovu and Dr. Michael
Corley are listed as co-inventors on pending patents
relating to work disclosed in this article.
About TruDiagnostic
TruDiagnostic is a leading health data company and
CLIA-certified laboratory specializing in epigenetic testing and
research. Home to the largest private DNA methylation database
globally, TruDiagnostic partners with notable biotech developers,
researchers, and academic institutions to transform the healthcare
potential of epigenetic data into actionable applications. The
company's TruAge biological aging tests offer the most in-depth
results, helping individuals and healthcare providers make informed
lifestyle and medical decisions based on insights found in the
fluid epigenome.
For more information about TruDiagnostic, please visit
www.trudiagnostic.com.
General Inquiries
Hannah Went, Director of
Operations
hannah@trudiagnostic.com
Media Contact
Katherine Gruneisen, VP of
Marketing
katherine.gruneisen@trudiagnostic.com
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SOURCE TruDiagnostic