Accelerated Aging in Young Sickle Cell Patients Linked to Elevated T-cell p16INK4a | Aging-US

Aging-US #published this #trending research paper on November 14, 2024 in Volume 16, Issue 21, entitled “Adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease exhibit accelerated aging with elevated T-cell p16INK4a expression" by researchers from the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Sapere Bio, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC; Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Cogent Biosciences, Waltham, MA. @uncchapelhill #aging #sicklecelldisease #scd #adolescents #research #openaccess #openscience #peerreview #journal #publishing #meded DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206152 Corresponding author - Samuel R. Wilson - samuel.wilson@med.unc.edu Abstract People living with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience complications indicative of an accelerated aging phenotype typified by early decline in physical function and increased risk for age-related conditions. Cellular senescence, measured by expression of p16INK4a in peripheral T-lymphocytes, is recognized as one of the underlying contributors to organismal aging. To examine if cellular senescence is increased in SCD patients, we cross-sectionally measured and compared expression of p16 mRNA in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in 18 adolescents and young adults with SCD to 27 similarly aged individuals without SCD. Expression of p16 was dramatically higher in individuals with SCD vs. without SCD (10.1 vs. 8.7 log2 p16 units, respectively, p less than 0.001) — a gap of 43 years in biological age — consistent with accelerated aging in the SCD population. Race was not associated with the increased p16 expression in the SCD group. These initial results suggest that individuals with SCD have a significantly higher cellular senescence burden which may contribute to premature aging, physiological decline, and excess morbidities. Additional longitudinal assessment and consideration for trials of senolytic therapies among individuals living with SCD and high p16 expression are warranted to improve their health span. Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://aging.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Faging.206152 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts Keywords - aging, sickle cell disease, p16, adolescents, young adults About Aging-US The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population. The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.) Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Aging-US LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc Media Contact 18009220957 MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM