Using DNA Methylation Profiling to Evaluate Biological Age and Longevity Interventions

Daniel A Petkovich; Dmitriy I Podolskiy; Alexei V Lobanov; Sang-Goo Lee; Richard A Miller; Vadim N Gladyshev

doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2017.03.016

Using DNA Methylation Profiling to Evaluate Biological Age and Longevity Interventions

Cell Metab. 2017 Apr 4;25(4):954-960.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.03.016.

Authors

Daniel A Petkovich¹, Dmitriy I Podolskiy¹, Alexei V Lobanov¹, Sang-Goo Lee¹, Richard A Miller², Vadim N Gladyshev³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
² Department of Pathology and Geriatrics Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
³ Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: vgladyshev@rics.bwh.harvard.edu.

Abstract

The DNA methylation levels of certain CpG sites are thought to reflect the pace of human aging. Here, we developed a robust predictor of mouse biological age based on 90 CpG sites derived from partial blood DNA methylation profiles. The resulting clock correctly determines the age of mouse cohorts, detects the longevity effects of calorie restriction and gene knockouts, and reports rejuvenation of fibroblast-derived iPSCs. The data show that mammalian DNA methylomes are characterized by CpG sites that may represent the organism's biological age. They are scattered across the genome, they are distinct in human and mouse, and their methylation gradually changes with age. The clock derived from these sites represents a biomarker of aging and can be used to determine the biological age of organisms and evaluate interventions that alter the rate of aging.

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Clocks / genetics
DNA Methylation / genetics*
Female
Longevity / genetics*
Male
Mice, Inbred C57BL

Abstract

MeSH terms

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