Age-related changes in genomic stability of horses.
Abstract: Recently, the old horse has been proposed as a model to study telomere-dependent senescence, immunosenescence and inflamm-aging. In the present paper, we used 80 Hucul and Anglo-Arabian horses divided into 3 age groups (juvenile, adult, old) to evaluate age-dependent changes at the genomic and DNA level and in cell proliferative potential. The level of positive TUNEL cells (both apoptotic and with DNA fragmentation), oxidative DNA damage (8-oxoG immunostaining), sister chromatid exchange and bleomycin-induced chromatid breaks were significantly increased in the combined old group compared to the combined adult group. We observed a negative correlation between micronuclei formation and age, which may be associated with damaged cells undergoing apoptosis, rather than expressing micronuclei. We were unable to show any significant changes in the nuclear division index value, which reflects the proliferative status of the viable cell fraction during aging. Here, we show that breed-independent and age-associated changes in genomic stability may contribute, at least in part, to the aging process in the horse.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-04-30 PubMed ID: 21557962DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2011.04.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigated the changes in genome stability in horses as they age, using 80 Hucul and Anglo-Arabian horses. It explored age-dependent changes at the DNA level and in cell proliferation, and suggests that alterations in genomic stability could contribute to the aging process in horses.
Research Overview
- This study focused on two horse breeds, Hucul and Anglo-Arabian, and 80 individuals were divided into three age groups: juvenile, adult, and old. The primary goal was to examine any changes in genome stability and cell proliferation characteristics as these horses aged.
- The researchers used the horse as a model to understand specific aging processes such as telomere-dependent senescence, immunosenescence, and inflamm-aging.
Genomic and DNA Changes
- Several markers were used to assess age-dependent changes at the genomic and DNA level: TUNEL positive cells (an indicator of cell death or apoptosis, and DNA fragmentation), oxidative DNA damage (8-oxoG immunostaining), sister chromatid exchange and bleomycin-induced chromatid breaks.
- Significant increases were recorded in these markers in the old age group when compared to the adult group, indicating an increase in DNA damage, cell death, and genetic instability in older horses. This further implies a reduction in genomic stability as the horses aged.
Cell Proliferation and Age
- Researchers also examined the correlation between cell proliferation (through the measurement of the nuclear division index) and age. This index reflects the proliferative status of viable cells during aging.
- No significant changes were observed in the nuclear division index value among the different age groups, implying that the ability of cells to divide and proliferate may not noticeably diminish with age in horses.
Genomic Instability and Aging
- A negative correlation was observed between micronuclei formation (a marker of genomic instability) and age. Horses showed decreased micronuclei formation as they aged, suggesting that damaged cells are more likely to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death) rather than expressing micronuclei.
- The study concludes that breed-independent and age-associated changes in genomic stability might contribute to the aging process in horses. However, more research would still be needed to understand and identify the impact of these changes on overall horse health, longevity and quality of life.
Cite This Article
APA
Wnuk M, Bugno-Poniewierska M, Lewinska A, Oklejewicz B, Zabek T, Bartosz G, Słota E.
(2011).
Age-related changes in genomic stability of horses.
Mech Ageing Dev, 132(5), 257-268.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2011.04.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Genetics, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana, Rzeszow, Poland. mawnuk@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Aging / metabolism
- Aging / pathology
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Cell Division
- Chromatids / metabolism
- Chromatids / pathology
- DNA Fragmentation
- Genomic Instability
- Horses
- Telomere / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- DeNotta S, McFarlane D. Immunosenescence and inflammaging in the aged horse. Immun Ageing 2023 Jan 6;20(1):2.
- Wójcik E, Sokół A. Assessment of chromosome stability in boars. PLoS One 2020;15(4):e0231928.
- Wójcik E, Szostek M. Assessment of genome stability in various breeds of cattle. PLoS One 2019;14(6):e0217799.
- Bullone M, Lavoie JP. The Contribution of Oxidative Stress and Inflamm-Aging in Human and Equine Asthma. Int J Mol Sci 2017 Dec 5;18(12).
- Wnuk M, Lewinska A, Gurgul A, Zabek T, Potocki L, Oklejewicz B, Bugno-Poniewierska M, Wegrzyn M, Slota E. Changes in DNA methylation patterns and repetitive sequences in blood lymphocytes of aged horses. Age (Dordr) 2014 Feb;36(1):31-48.
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