Castration delays epigenetic aging and feminizes DNA methylation at androgen-regulated loci.

ABSTRACT: In mammals, females generally live longer than males. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underpinning sex-dependent longevity are currently unclear. Epigenetic clocks are powerful biological biomarkers capable of precisely estimating chronological age and identifying novel factors influencing the aging rate using only DNA methylation data. In this study, we developed the first epigenetic clock for domesticated sheep (Ovis aries), which can predict chronological age with a median absolute error of 5.1 months. We have discovered that castrated male sheep have a decelerated aging rate compared to intact males, mediated at least in part by the removal of androgens. Furthermore, we identified several androgen-sensitive CpG dinucleotides that become progressively hypomethylated with age in inta

SUBMITTER: Sugrue VJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8260231 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature