Next up, @LPiolopez and a remarkable finding about #aging. Preprint here: https://t.co/lyUdFGX4L0
Atavistic Genetic Expression Dissociation (AGED) during aging: meta-phylostratigraphic evidence of cellular- and tissue-levels phylogenetic dissociation
Abstract:
"Aging is commonly attributed to accumulated damage, or evolved antagonistic genetic trade-offs, which lead to an accumulation of genetic damage, noise, or DNA methylation causing the misexpression of key genes necessary for longevity. We propose an atavistic dysregulation of gene expression at cellular and tissue-levels during aging, which frames aging as a gradual regression toward ancestral cellular states. Similar to the atavistic model of cancer, in which cells revert to unicellular-like behavior, aging may result from a progressive breakdown of coordinated morphogenetic control, leading organs and tissues to revert towards less integrated, ancient unicellular states. This view suggests that aging may involve a progressive reversal of the well-known ontogenetic tracing of prior phylogenetic embryonic characteristics. Moreover, as in cancer, aging could involve a loss of large-scale coordination, with different tissues reverting to ancient gene expression to different degrees. We tested this hypothesis using a meta-phylostratigraphic analysis to ask: do older human tissues express more ancient genes, and does the variance of transcriptional phylogenetic age across tissues increase with organismal age? We found: (1) An atavistic over-representation of differential expression in the most ancient genes for two multi-tissue aging databases covering skin, ovarian, immune, senescent and mesenchymal-senescent cells; (2) No atavistic over-representation of the differential genet expression during aging of brain cells and mesenchymal stem cells; and (3) overall age-dependent increase of heterogeneity in the direction of the phylogenetic position of tissues�� transcriptional profiles. Our analyses suggest that aging involves uncoordinated and tissue-specific phylogenetic changes in gene expression. Understanding aging as a structured, heterogenous atavistic process opens new avenues for rejuvenation, focusing on restoring multicellular coherence with respect to evolutionarily-youthful gene expression."
In other words, during aging, some tissues shift their gene expression toward more ancient genes, and, there arises a lack of concordance between body tissues with respect to the phylogenetic age of the genes they express. Thus, while I often talk about morphogenetic/cognitive systems dissociating and losing integration spatially, it appears that aging is a dissociative disorder with respect to time (evolutionary time). Lots more to do, but very exciting.
Here's a new preprint on #bioelectricity from our voltage imaging and developmental biology wizard @DrPTMcMillen:
https://t.co/WZXppwHlss
"The neural crest as a bioelectric Rosetta Stone: translating the analog and digital bioelectric code with Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging (FLIM)"
Abstract:
"Translating the bioelectric code remains one of the core challenges to widespread biomedical translation of bioelectric interventions, as well as a better evolutionary understanding of how developmental ionic signaling became the basis of neural intelligence. Thus, it is essential to develop model systems and protocols in which diverse bioelectrical parameters can be quantitatively studied together, in the living state, and connected to cell- and tissue-level outcomes. Here, we apply state-of-the-art quantitative Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) optical estimation of membrane potential (Vmem) to map the bioelectric dynamics of spreading Xenopus laevis neural crest cells over roughly 18-hour time periods. We identify a slow “analog” bioelectric component that functions on the scale of hours, and a faster “digital” component that acts on the scale of seconds. We then use information theory to show that digital NCC Vmem dynamics are largely distinct from calcium dynamics. Finally, we provide a survey of diverse bioelectric events revealing a deep complexity in collective bioelectric dynamics, likely involving tunneling nanotubes in their transmission, which suggests numerous avenues for further investigation."
This is Dr. Michael Levin (@drmichaellevin).
He’s a visionary biologist of our century.
Most think biology is all about genes & chemistry—Levin proves it’s also about bioelectricity.
Here are his 5 mind-blowing discoveries (& how they could redefine your health): 🧵
@MarioNawfal The height of irony: Someone who wants to colonize Mars supports someone (Georgescu) who doesn't believe humans ever set foot on the Moon.
Genomic & non-genomic action of 🌞 #vitaminD on ion channels – Targeting ⚡️ #mitochondria
This review summarizes current knowledge on the regulation of ion channels from plasma and mitochondrial membranes by the active form of vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3)
https://t.co/PEaI00xBvr
160,404 individuals during a median of 14 years of follow-up. After multivariable adjustment for relevant risk factors comparing the lowest to the highest quintiles of DHA, there was 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality. https://t.co/NW5mXO0mPg
Our latest #OmegaMatters episode is live! This conversation focuses on the relationship between the #Omega3Index and heart remodeling. It greatly expands on a press release we just issued about this very topic 2 days ago. Watch 👀 https://t.co/pQ0mZN47GL