Nutritional Factors Modulating Alu Methylation in an Italian Sample from The Mark-Age Study Including Offspring of Healthy Nonagenarians.

Robertina Giacconi, Marco Malavolta, Alexander Bürkle, María Moreno-Villanueva, Claudio Franceschi, Miriam Capri, P Eline Slagboom, Eugène H J M Jansen, Martijn E T Dollé, Tilman Grune, Daniela Weber, Antti Hervonen, Wolfgang Stuetz, Nicolle Breusing, Fabio Ciccarone, Michele Zampieri, Valentina Aversano, Paola Caiafa, Laura Formentini, Francesco Piacenza, Elisa Pierpaoli, Andrea Basso, Mauro Provinciali, Maurizio Cardelli

Journal: Nutrients 2020;11(12):2986

PMID: 31817660

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Abstract

Alu hypomethylation promotes genomic instability and is associated with aging and age-related diseases. Dietary factors affect global DNA methylation, leading to changes in genomic stability and gene expression with an impact on longevity and the risk of disease. This preliminary study aims to investigate the relationship between nutritional factors, such as circulating trace elements, lipids and antioxidants, and Alu methylation in elderly subjects and offspring of healthy nonagenarians. Alu DNA methylation was analyzed in sixty RASIG (randomly recruited age-stratified individuals from the general population) and thirty-two GO (GeHA offspring) enrolled in Italy in the framework of the MARK-AGE project. Factor analysis revealed a different clustering between Alu CpG1 and the other CpG sites. RASIG over 65 years showed lower Alu CpG1 methylation than those of GO subjects in the same age class. Moreover, Alu CpG1 methylation was associated with fruit and whole-grain bread consumption, LDL2-Cholesterol and plasma copper. The preserved Alu methylation status in GO, suggests Alu epigenetic changes as a potential marker of aging. Our preliminary investigation shows that Alu methylation may be affected by food rich in fibers and antioxidants, or circulating LDL subfractions and plasma copper.

Address: Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, 60121 Ancona, Italy.; Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Box 628, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.; Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Box 628, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.; Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, Box 30, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.; Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.; DIMES-Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Via S. Giacomo, 12, ALMA MATER STUDIORUM, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.; Section of Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.; Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.; Department of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), 14558 Nuthetal, Germany.; NutriAct-Competence Cluster Nutrition Research Berlin-Potsdam, 14458 Nuthetal, Germany.; Department of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), 14558 Nuthetal, Germany.; Medical School, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland.; Institute of Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy.; Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.; Pasteur Institute-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy.

DOI: 10.3390/nu11122986

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Aged, Aging, Alu Elements, Antioxidants, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, Diet, Female, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Italy, Lipoproteins, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrients, Nutritional Status, Trace Elements