Project description:Dietary restriction has shown benefits in physiological, metabolic, and molecular signatures associated with aging. In mice, periodic dietary restriction, that accompanies cyclical periods of reduced calories, mitigates aging phenotypes, yet the effects of this periodic restriction in higher order, genetically heterogenous mammals, have not been investigated. Reducing caloric intake in middle-aged Rhesus Macaques for four days followed by ad libitum eating for ten days, repeated for six cycles, led to significant changes in body composition, metabolome, and microbiome of the restricted monkeys compared to their ad libitum fed (age and sex matched) controls. These changes were also associated with stabilized blood parameters. The changes in metabolome, microbiome, and body compositions were additive, with consistent but increasingly pronounced changes in later cycles, suggesting sustaining benefits in non-human primates. These results suggest this type of cyclical dietary restriction, that is easy to adhere to, will also have translational benefits in humans while enhancing aging-associated parameters.
Project description:Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of high grade prostate cancer (PC) and worse prognosis for PC patients. Recently, we showed in men that obesity-related periprostatic white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation, characterized by macrophages surrounding dead or dying adipocytes forming crown-like structures, was associated with high grade PC. Possibly, interventions that suppress periprostatic WAT inflammation will improve outcomes for men with PC. We found that supplemental 17β-estradiol (E2) could decrease periprostatic WAT inflammation in obese male mice in association with reduction in weight and calorie consumption. Here, we tested the hypothesis that calorie restriction alone would have similar effects on periprostatic WAT inflammation in obese male mice. To test this hypothesis, male mice were fed high fat diet to induce obesity and then switched to a 30% caloric restriction diet for an addition 7 weeks until sacrifice. LFD fed mice and mice fed HFD ad libitum serve as controls.
Project description:During aging, stromal functions are thought to be impaired, yet little is known whether this stems from molecular and cellular changes of fibroblasts, a major component of stroma. Using population- and single-cell whole transcriptomics, and long-term lineage tracing, we studied alterations in murine dermal fibroblasts during physiological aging under different dietary regimes known to affect longevity. We show that the identity of aged fibroblasts becomes undefined, with the distinct fibroblast states present in young skin no longer clearly demarcated. In addition, old fibroblasts not only reduce the expression of genes involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix, but intriguingly, also gain adipogenic traits, paradoxically becoming similar to neonatal pro-adipogenic fibroblasts. These age-related alterations are sensitive to systemic changes in metabolism: long-term caloric restriction prevents them in old fibroblasts in a reversible manner, whereas a high-fat diet potentiates them in young fibroblasts. Finally, inhibition of the master regulator of adipogenesis, PPARgamma, attenuates fibroblast aging in vivo, providing potential anti-aging therapeutic alternatives to caloric restriction.
Project description:During aging, stromal functions are thought to be impaired, yet little is known whether this stems from molecular and cellular changes of fibroblasts, a major component of stroma. Using population- and single-cell whole transcriptomics, and long-term lineage tracing, we studied alterations in murine dermal fibroblasts during physiological aging under different dietary regimes known to affect longevity. We show that the identity of aged fibroblasts becomes undefined, with the distinct fibroblast states present in young skin no longer clearly demarcated. In addition, old fibroblasts not only reduce the expression of genes involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix, but intriguingly, also gain adipogenic traits, paradoxically becoming similar to neonatal pro-adipogenic fibroblasts. These age-related alterations are sensitive to systemic changes in metabolism: long-term caloric restriction prevents them in old fibroblasts in a reversible manner, whereas a high-fat diet potentiates them in young fibroblasts. Finally, inhibition of the master regulator of adipogenesis, PPARgamma, attenuates fibroblast aging in vivo, providing potential anti-aging therapeutic alternatives to caloric restriction.
Project description:During aging, stromal functions are thought to be impaired, yet little is known whether this stems from molecular and cellular changes of fibroblasts, a major component of stroma. Using population- and single-cell whole transcriptomics, and long-term lineage tracing, we studied alterations in murine dermal fibroblasts during physiological aging under different dietary regimes known to affect longevity. We show that the identity of aged fibroblasts becomes undefined, with the distinct fibroblast states present in young skin no longer clearly demarcated. In addition, old fibroblasts not only reduce the expression of genes involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix, but intriguingly, also gain adipogenic traits, paradoxically becoming similar to neonatal pro-adipogenic fibroblasts. These age-related alterations are sensitive to systemic changes in metabolism: long-term caloric restriction prevents them in old fibroblasts in a reversible manner, whereas a high-fat diet potentiates them in young fibroblasts. Finally, inhibition of the master regulator of adipogenesis, PPARgamma, attenuates fibroblast aging in vivo, providing potential anti-aging therapeutic alternatives to caloric restriction.
Project description:During aging, stromal functions are thought to be impaired, yet little is known whether this stems from molecular and cellular changes of fibroblasts, a major component of stroma. Using population- and single-cell whole transcriptomics, and long-term lineage tracing, we studied alterations in murine dermal fibroblasts during physiological aging under different dietary regimes known to affect longevity. We show that the identity of aged fibroblasts becomes undefined, with the distinct fibroblast states present in young skin no longer clearly demarcated. In addition, old fibroblasts not only reduce the expression of genes involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix, but intriguingly, also gain adipogenic traits, paradoxically becoming similar to neonatal pro-adipogenic fibroblasts. These age-related alterations are sensitive to systemic changes in metabolism: long-term caloric restriction prevents them in old fibroblasts in a reversible manner, whereas a high-fat diet potentiates them in young fibroblasts. Finally, inhibition of the master regulator of adipogenesis, PPARgamma, attenuates fibroblast aging in vivo, providing potential anti-aging therapeutic alternatives to caloric restriction.
Project description:During aging, stromal functions are thought to be impaired, yet little is known whether this stems from molecular and cellular changes of fibroblasts, a major component of stroma. Using population- and single-cell whole transcriptomics, and long-term lineage tracing, we studied alterations in murine dermal fibroblasts during physiological aging under different dietary regimes known to affect longevity. We show that the identity of aged fibroblasts becomes undefined, with the distinct fibroblast states present in young skin no longer clearly demarcated. In addition, old fibroblasts not only reduce the expression of genes involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix, but intriguingly, also gain adipogenic traits, paradoxically becoming similar to neonatal pro-adipogenic fibroblasts. These age-related alterations are sensitive to systemic changes in metabolism: long-term caloric restriction prevents them in old fibroblasts in a reversible manner, whereas a high-fat diet potentiates them in young fibroblasts. Finally, inhibition of the master regulator of adipogenesis, PPARgamma, attenuates fibroblast aging in vivo, providing potential anti-aging therapeutic alternatives to caloric restriction.