The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging

<p dir="ltr">Several progeroid syndromes’ causative mutations have been linked to epigenetic age acceleration as measured via several epigenetic clocks. At the same time, several protective variants have also been discovered that can reduce the risk of developing certain age-related...

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Main Author: Yosra Bejaoui (8552574) (author)
Other Authors: Luma Srour (22254409) (author), Abeer Qannan (14779192) (author), Junko Oshima (1626) (author), Chadi Saad (5369351) (author), Steve Horvath (28847) (author), Hamdi Mbarek (134997) (author), Nady El Hajj (686554) (author)
Published: 2025
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author Yosra Bejaoui (8552574)
author2 Luma Srour (22254409)
Abeer Qannan (14779192)
Junko Oshima (1626)
Chadi Saad (5369351)
Steve Horvath (28847)
Hamdi Mbarek (134997)
Nady El Hajj (686554)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_facet Yosra Bejaoui (8552574)
Luma Srour (22254409)
Abeer Qannan (14779192)
Junko Oshima (1626)
Chadi Saad (5369351)
Steve Horvath (28847)
Hamdi Mbarek (134997)
Nady El Hajj (686554)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Yosra Bejaoui (8552574)
Luma Srour (22254409)
Abeer Qannan (14779192)
Junko Oshima (1626)
Chadi Saad (5369351)
Steve Horvath (28847)
Hamdi Mbarek (134997)
Nady El Hajj (686554)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-02-10T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_role_of_protective_genetic_variants_in_modulating_epigenetic_aging/30233944
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biological sciences
Genetics
Unimodal antigeroid syndromes
Epigenetic aging
Protective variants
APOE
PCSK9
Progeroid syndromes
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">Several progeroid syndromes’ causative mutations have been linked to epigenetic age acceleration as measured via several epigenetic clocks. At the same time, several protective variants have also been discovered that can reduce the risk of developing certain age-related disorders. However, the impact of these protective variants on epigenetic aging has not been well elucidated. Our research, which involved screening over 14,669 healthy individuals enrolled in the Qatar BioBank (QBB) and sequenced by the Qatar Genome Project (QGP), identified individuals carrying protective variants against age-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and atherosclerosis. In this study, we measured methylation levels in blood DNA using the EPIC v2 arrays. In addition, epigenetic age was calculated using various epigenetic clocks. Our analysis revealed that the APOE*E2 protective variant reduces the rate of GrimAge epigenetic aging when compared to individuals with the APOE4 AD risk allele. Furthermore, our differential DNA methylation analysis discovered the association of the <i>PCSK9</i> protective variant with specific biological processes related to immune function and the cardiovascular system. In conclusion, APOE*E2 protective variants have a positive impact on epigenetic aging, while <i>PCSK9</i> protective variants have a significant effect on DNA methylation signatures. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms by which protective variants influence epigenetic aging, particularly the role of APOE*E2 protective variants in biological aging. Furthermore, additional research is required to fully uncover the processes that might enable specific targeted therapies to mimic the effects of beneficial mutations, such as LOF variants in <i>PCSK9</i>, in reducing the risk of geriatric disorders.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: GeroScience<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2</a></p>
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id Manara2_983b753b6c130cd453bd09cbc1d1ca75
identifier_str_mv 10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30233944
publishDate 2025
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic agingYosra Bejaoui (8552574)Luma Srour (22254409)Abeer Qannan (14779192)Junko Oshima (1626)Chadi Saad (5369351)Steve Horvath (28847)Hamdi Mbarek (134997)Nady El Hajj (686554)Biological sciencesGeneticsUnimodal antigeroid syndromesEpigenetic agingProtective variantsAPOEPCSK9Progeroid syndromes<p dir="ltr">Several progeroid syndromes’ causative mutations have been linked to epigenetic age acceleration as measured via several epigenetic clocks. At the same time, several protective variants have also been discovered that can reduce the risk of developing certain age-related disorders. However, the impact of these protective variants on epigenetic aging has not been well elucidated. Our research, which involved screening over 14,669 healthy individuals enrolled in the Qatar BioBank (QBB) and sequenced by the Qatar Genome Project (QGP), identified individuals carrying protective variants against age-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and atherosclerosis. In this study, we measured methylation levels in blood DNA using the EPIC v2 arrays. In addition, epigenetic age was calculated using various epigenetic clocks. Our analysis revealed that the APOE*E2 protective variant reduces the rate of GrimAge epigenetic aging when compared to individuals with the APOE4 AD risk allele. Furthermore, our differential DNA methylation analysis discovered the association of the <i>PCSK9</i> protective variant with specific biological processes related to immune function and the cardiovascular system. In conclusion, APOE*E2 protective variants have a positive impact on epigenetic aging, while <i>PCSK9</i> protective variants have a significant effect on DNA methylation signatures. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms by which protective variants influence epigenetic aging, particularly the role of APOE*E2 protective variants in biological aging. Furthermore, additional research is required to fully uncover the processes that might enable specific targeted therapies to mimic the effects of beneficial mutations, such as LOF variants in <i>PCSK9</i>, in reducing the risk of geriatric disorders.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: GeroScience<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2</a></p>2025-02-10T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1007/s11357-025-01548-2https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_role_of_protective_genetic_variants_in_modulating_epigenetic_aging/30233944CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/302339442025-02-10T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
Yosra Bejaoui (8552574)
Biological sciences
Genetics
Unimodal antigeroid syndromes
Epigenetic aging
Protective variants
APOE
PCSK9
Progeroid syndromes
status_str publishedVersion
title The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
title_full The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
title_fullStr The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
title_full_unstemmed The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
title_short The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
title_sort The role of protective genetic variants in modulating epigenetic aging
topic Biological sciences
Genetics
Unimodal antigeroid syndromes
Epigenetic aging
Protective variants
APOE
PCSK9
Progeroid syndromes