Posted: April 29th, 2018

What molecular and cellular changes are associated with aging?

What molecular and cellular changes are associated with aging?

Aging is a complex and multifactorial process that affects all living organisms. It is characterized by a gradual decline of physiological functions, occurring at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Aging is also the major risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging is essential for developing interventions that can extend healthspan and lifespan.

One of the main molecular changes associated with aging is the accumulation of oxidative stress, which is caused by an imbalance between the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are highly reactive molecules that can damage DNA, proteins, lipids, and other biomolecules. ROS are generated as by-products of normal cellular metabolism, especially in the mitochondria, which are the organelles responsible for energy production. ROS can also be induced by external factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, smoking, and inflammation. To counteract ROS, cells have developed antioxidant systems that include both enzymatic and nonenzymatic components. However, with aging, the antioxidant capacity of cells declines, leading to increased oxidative damage and impaired cellular functions .

Another molecular change associated with aging is the alteration of epigenetic mechanisms, which are processes that regulate gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs. These mechanisms can modulate the activity of genes involved in various cellular processes, such as cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, apoptosis, senescence, differentiation, and stem cell maintenance. Epigenetic changes can be influenced by environmental factors, such as diet, stress, exercise, and exposure to toxins. Some epigenetic changes can be inherited across generations, affecting the lifespan and healthspan of the offspring .

A major cellular change associated with aging is the loss of telomeres, which are protective structures at the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres consist of repeated DNA sequences and associated proteins that prevent chromosome degradation and fusion. Telomeres shorten with each cell division due to the end-replication problem, which is the inability of DNA polymerase to fully replicate the ends of linear DNA molecules. Telomere shortening can also be accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. When telomeres reach a critical length, cells enter a state of senescence or apoptosis, which are mechanisms that limit the proliferation of damaged or dysfunctional cells. However, some cells can escape senescence or apoptosis by activating telomerase, an enzyme that can elongate telomeres. Telomerase is normally expressed in stem cells and germ cells but is also upregulated in most cancer cells .

Another cellular change associated with aging is the dysfunction of autophagy, which is a process that degrades and recycles damaged or unnecessary cellular components. Autophagy plays a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and quality control by removing misfolded proteins, aggregated proteins, defective organelles, and invading pathogens. Autophagy also regulates cellular metabolism by providing energy and nutrients during stress conditions. However, with aging, autophagy becomes impaired due to various factors, such as reduced autophagy gene expression,
increased accumulation of p62 (a protein that mediates autophagy substrate recognition), decreased lysosomal function (the organelles where autophagy substrates are degraded), and increased mTOR (a protein kinase that inhibits autophagy) activity. Impaired autophagy leads to increased accumulation of cellular waste products and decreased cellular adaptation to stress .

These molecular and cellular changes associated with aging interact with each other and contribute to the decline of tissue function and organ performance. However,
aging is not inevitable or uniform among individuals or species. There are interventions that can modulate the aging process and extend healthspan and lifespan. Some of these interventions include calorie restriction (CR), physical exercise,
mental activities, pharmacological agents (such as senolytics or rapamycin), gene therapy (such as telomerase activation or sirtuin overexpression), stem cell therapy (such as rejuvenation or replacement of aged cells), and epigenetic reprogramming (such as resetting the epigenetic clock or enhancing pluripotency). These interventions target different aspects of the aging process and may have synergistic effects .

References:

: Molecular and cellular pathways contributing to brain aging | Behavioral
and Brain Functions | Full Text
https://behavioralandbrainfunctions.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12993-021-00179-9

: Understanding of the Biology of Aging | National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/aging-strategic-directions-research/goal-biology-impact

: Aging: Molecular Pathways and Implications on the … – Hindawi
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2017/7941563/

: Ageing and health – World Health Organization (WHO)
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health

: Molecular Mechanisms of Aging: The Role of Oxidative Stress and …
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S2079057019040027

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