Age-Associated ALU Element Instability in White Blood Cells Is Linked to Lower Survival in Elderly Adults: A Preliminary Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

ALU element instability could contribute to gene function variance in aging, and may partly explain variation in human lifespan.

Objective

To assess the role of ALU element instability in human aging and the potential efficacy of ALU element content as a marker of biological aging and survival.

Design

Preliminary cohort study.

Methods

We measured two high frequency ALU element subfamilies, ALU-J and ALU-Sx, by a single qPCR assay and compared ALU-J/Sx content in white blood cell (WBCs) and skeletal muscle cell (SMCs) biopsies from twenty-three elderly adults with sixteen healthy sex-balanced young adults; all-cause survival rates of elderly adults predicted by ALU-J/Sx content in both tissues; and cardiovascular disease (CVD)- and cancer-specific sur

SUBMITTER: Morgan RG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5218400 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature