New Study Reveals Novel Epigenetic Connections Between Retroelements and Aging

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.

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.

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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.

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