scholarly journals Age-dependent modulation of bone metabolism in zebrafish scales as new model of male osteoporosis in lower vertebrates

GeroScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Carnovali ◽  
Giuseppe Banfi ◽  
Massimo Mariotti

Abstract After middle age, in human bone, the resorption usually exceeds formation resulting in bone loss and increased risk of fractures in the aged population. Only few in vivo models in higher vertebrates are available for pathogenic and therapeutic studies about bone aging. Among these, male Danio rerio (zebrafish) can be successfully used as low vertebrate model to study degenerative alterations that affect the skeleton during aging, reducing the role of sex hormones. In this paper, we investigated the early bone aging mechanisms in male zebrafish (3, 6, 9 months old) scales evaluating the physiological changes and the effects of prednisolone, a pro-osteoporotic drug. The results evidentiated an age-dependent reduction of the mineralization rate in the fish scales, as highlighted by growing circle measurements. Indeed, the osteoblastic ALP activity at the matrix deposition site was found progressively downregulated. The higher TRAP activity was found in 63% of 9-month-old fish scales associated with resorption lacunae along the scale border. Gene expression analysis evidentiated that an increase of the tnfrsf1b (homolog of human rank) in aging scales may be responsible for resorption stimulation. Interestingly, prednisolone inhibited the physiological growth of the scale and induced in aged scales a more significant bone resorption compared with untreated fish (3.8% vs 1.02%). Bone markers analysis shown a significant reduction of ALP/TRAP ratio due to a prednisolone-dependent stimulation of tnfsf11 (homolog of human rankl) in scales of older fish. The results evidentiated for the first time the presence of a senile male osteoporosis in lower vertebrate. This new model could be helpful to identify the early mechanisms of bone aging and new therapeutic strategies to prevent age-related bone alterations in humans.

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 260-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Tuck ◽  
R. M. Francis ◽  
B. C. Hanusch

SummaryMale osteoporosis is common and results in considerable morbidity and mortality. There are distinct differences in the normal aging of bone between the genders, which result in a lower fracture rate in men. Men who suffer from osteoporosis are much more likely than women to have secondary causes. The identification and treatment of these secondary causes, wherever possible, will result in substantial improvements in BMD. There is now evidence for use of many of the existing agents to treat osteoporosis in men. In younger hypogonadal men testosterone replacement is worth considering, but in older men especially the over sixties this is less effective and there is an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular and prostatic outcomes. Prostate cancer is an increasingly common cause, which is partially the result of the success of ADT. There is now good evidence for the use of bisphosphonates and denosumab in this group of patients. HIV, whilst not being specific to men, is an increasingly recognised cause of male osteoporosis. The reasons for this are multifactorial and some may well be attributable to the anti-retroviral therapy itself. There is emerging evidence of an increased fracture risk in HIV infected individuals. The bone loss can be prevented by the use of bisphosphonates.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Farahmand ◽  
J. D. Ringe

SummaryOsteoporosis in men is increasingly recognized as an important public health problem but affected patients are still under-diagnosed and -treated. As in women the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy has to be adapted to the individual case. In the practical management it is very important to detect possible causes of secondary osteoporosis, to explain the possibilities of basic therapy counteracting individual risk factors and communicate that osteoporosis is a chronic disease and adherence to a long-term treatment is crucial. In established severe osteoporosis a careful analgesic therapy is important to avoid further bone loss related to immobility. In elderly men with increased risk of falling insufficient Vitamin D supply or impaired activation of Vitamin D due to renal insufficiency must be taken into consideration. Specific medications available today for the treatment of male osteoporosis comprise among antiresorptive drugs the bis phosphonates alendronate, risedronate and zoledronic acid. Denosumab, the first biological therapy is approved for men with androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. An important advantage of this potent antiresorptive drug is the increased adherence due to the comfortable application by sixmonthly subcutaneous injections. Study results from the 2-year multi-center randomized controlled ADAMO-Study will very soon allow the use of denosumab in all types of male osteoporosis. Teriparatide, the 34 N-terminal amino acid sequence of parathyroid hormone was approved for men with osteoporosis as an anabolic agent based on proven efficacy by different studies. Among drugs with other modes of action the D-hormone pro-drug alfacalcidol can be used in men alone or in combination with the advantage of pleiotropic effects on calcium absorption, parathyroids, bone and muscle. Recently also Strontium-ranelate was approved for male patients with the limitation to exclude men with clinical relevant cardiovascular risk factors. In general the possibilities to treat male osteoporosis have considerably improved during recent years. Today there is a choice of a spectrum of drugs from mild to strong potency with different modes of action on bone turnover to design strategies for individual male patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (29) ◽  
pp. 3098-3111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Liberale ◽  
Giovanni G. Camici

Background: The ongoing demographical shift is leading to an unprecedented aging of the population. As a consequence, the prevalence of age-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications is set to increase in the near future. Endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffening characterize arterial aging and set the stage for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerotic plaques evolve over time, the extent to which these changes might affect their stability and predispose to sudden complications remains to be determined. Recent advances in imaging technology will allow for longitudinal prospective studies following the progression of plaque burden aimed at better characterizing changes over time associated with plaque stability or rupture. Oxidative stress and inflammation, firmly established driving forces of age-related CV dysfunction, also play an important role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and rupture. Several genes involved in lifespan determination are known regulator of redox cellular balance and pre-clinical evidence underlines their pathophysiological roles in age-related cardiovascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Objective: The aim of this narrative review is to examine the impact of aging on arterial function and atherosclerotic plaque development. Furthermore, we report how molecular mechanisms of vascular aging might regulate age-related plaque modifications and how this may help to identify novel therapeutic targets to attenuate the increased risk of CV disease in elderly people.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110026
Author(s):  
Pablo Gili ◽  
Leyre Lloreda Martín ◽  
José-Carlos Martín-Rodrigo ◽  
Naon Kim-Yeon ◽  
Laura Modamio-Gardeta ◽  
...  

Purpose: To identify the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1, CFB, C2, and C3 genes and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Spanish population. Methods: In 187 exudative AMD patients and 196 healthy controls (61% women, mean age 75 years), 12 SNPs as risk factors for AMD in CFH (rs1410996, rs1061170, r380390), ARMS2 (rs10490924, rs10490923), HTRA1 (rs11200638), CFB (rs641153), C2 (rs547154, rs9332739), and C3 (rs147859257, rs2230199, rs1047286) genes were analyzed. Results: The G allele was the most frequent in CFH gene (rs1410996) with a 7-fold increased risk of AMD (OR 7.69, 95% CI 3.17–18.69), whereas carriers of C allele in CFH (rs1061170) showed a 3-fold increased risk for AMD (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.93–5.40). In CFH (rs380390), the presence of G allele increased the risk for AMD by 2-fold (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.47–4.30). In ARMS2 (rs10490924), the T-allele was associated with an almost 5-fold increased risk (OR 5.49, 95% CI 3.23–9.31). The A allele in HTRA1 (rs11200638) was more prevalent in AMD versus controls (OR 6.44, 95% CI 3.62–11.47). In C2 gene (rs9332739) the presence of C increased risk for AMD by 3-fold (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.06–9.06). Conclusion: SNPs in CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1, and C2 genes were associated in our study with an increased risk for exudative AMD in Spanish patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 797-797
Author(s):  
Nicholas Reed ◽  
Charlotte Yeh

Abstract Communication is fundamental to patient-centered care. However, sensory impairment limits communication among older adults. Specifically, hearing impairment strains communication via degraded auditory encoding while vision impairment distresses ability to read and interpret visual cues. The presence of dual sensory impairment, defined as concurrent hearing and vision impairment, may exacerbate these effects. The potential consequence s of age-related sensory loss on health care interactions and outcomes are beginning to surface in epidemiologic studies demonstrating poorer patient-provider communication, higher medical expenditures, increased risk of 30-day readmission, and longer length of stay when compared to individuals without sensory loss. Importantly, these associations may be amenable to intervention via sensory aids; however, uptake to sensory care is low. Notably, less than 20% of persons with hearing impairment have hearing aids and over 55% of Medicare Beneficiaries with reported vision problems have not had an eye examination in the prior year. Affordability and access may contribute to lack of sensory care uptake as Medicare explicitly excludes coverage of vision and hearing services. In this symposium, we will review current and new evidence for whether sensory loss affects health care outcomes, including satisfaction with care, incident delirium during hospitalization, navigation of Medicare, and present data on how persons with sensory loss are more likely to delay their care independent of cost and insurance factors suggesting fundamental changes in health care system interaction. We will place these results within the context of current national quality care and policy initiatives and review methods to address sensory loss.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamar Gefen ◽  
Allegra Kawles ◽  
Beth Makowski-Woidan ◽  
Janessa Engelmeyer ◽  
Ivan Ayala ◽  
...  

Abstract Advancing age is typically associated with declining memory capacity and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Markers of AD such as amyloid plaques (AP) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are commonly found in the brains of cognitively average elderly but in more limited distribution than in those at the mild cognitive impairment and dementia stages of AD. Cognitive SuperAgers are individuals over age 80 who show superior memory capacity, at a level consistent with individuals 20–30 years their junior. Using a stereological approach, the current study quantitated the presence of AD markers in the memory-associated entorhinal cortex (ERC) of seven SuperAgers compared with six age-matched cognitively average normal control individuals. Amyloid plaques and NFTs were visualized using Thioflavin-S histofluorescence, 6E10, and PHF-1 immunohistochemistry. Unbiased stereological analysis revealed significantly more NFTs in ERC in cognitively average normal controls compared with SuperAgers (P < 0.05) by a difference of ~3-fold. There were no significant differences in plaque density. To highlight relative magnitude, cases with typical amnestic dementia of AD showed nearly 100 times more entorhinal NFTs than SuperAgers. The results suggest that resistance to age-related neurofibrillary degeneration in the ERC may be one factor contributing to preserved memory in SuperAgers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nila J. Dharan ◽  
Paul Yeh ◽  
Mark Bloch ◽  
Miriam M. Yeung ◽  
David Baker ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladele A. Oluwayiose ◽  
Haotian Wu ◽  
Hachem Saddiki ◽  
Brian W. Whitcomb ◽  
Laura B. Balzer ◽  
...  

AbstractParental age at time of offspring conception is increasing in developed countries. Advanced male age is associated with decreased reproductive success and increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Mechanisms for these male age effects remain unclear, but changes in sperm DNA methylation over time is one potential explanation. We assessed genome-wide methylation of sperm DNA from 47 semen samples collected from male participants of couples seeking infertility treatment. We report that higher male age was associated with lower likelihood of fertilization and live birth, and poor embryo development (p < 0.05). Furthermore, our multivariable linear models showed male age was associated with alterations in sperm methylation at 1698 CpGs and 1146 regions (q < 0.05), which were associated with > 750 genes enriched in embryonic development, behavior and neurodevelopment among others. High dimensional mediation analyses identified four genes (DEFB126, TPI1P3, PLCH2 and DLGAP2) with age-related sperm differential methylation that accounted for 64% (95% CI 0.42–0.86%; p < 0.05) of the effect of male age on lower fertilization rate. Our findings from this modest IVF population provide evidence for sperm methylation as a mechanism of age-induced poor reproductive outcomes and identifies possible candidate genes for mediating these effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bert Thys ◽  
Andrea S. Grunst ◽  
Nicky Staes ◽  
Rianne Pinxten ◽  
Marcel Eens ◽  
...  

AbstractQuantifying variation in behaviour-related genes provides insight into the evolutionary potential of repeatable among-individual variation in behaviour (i.e. personality). Yet, individuals typically also plastically adjust their behaviour in response to environmental conditions and/or age, thereby complicating the detection of genotype–phenotype associations. Here, using a population of free-living great tits (Parus major), we assessed the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the serotonin transporter gene (SERT) and two repeatable behavioural traits, i.e. female-female aggression and female hissing behaviour. For female-female aggression, a trait showing age-related plasticity, we found no evidence for associations with SERT SNPs, even when assessing potential age-dependent effects of SERT genotype on aggression. We also found no strong support for associations between SERT SNPs and hissing behaviour, yet we identified two synonymous polymorphisms (exon 13 SNP66 and exon 12 SNP144) of particular interest, each explaining about 1.3% of the total variation in hissing behaviour. Overall, our results contribute to the general understanding of the biological underpinning of complex behavioural traits and will facilitate further (meta-analytic) research on behaviour-related genes. Moreover, we emphasize that future molecular genetic studies should consider age-dependent genotype–phenotype associations for behavioural trait (co)variation, as this will vastly improve our understanding of the proximate causes and ultimate consequences of personality variation in natural populations.


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