Project description:Epigenetic clocks can quantify DNA methylation by measuring the methylation levels at specific sites in the genome, which correlate with biological age (BA). Accelerated aging, where BA exceeds chronological age (CA), has been studied in relation to cancer development, but its utility in cancer prevention remains unclear. Accelerated aging holds promise as a tool to explain the rise in early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). We investigate the association of accelerated aging and the presence of pre-neoplastic polyps (PNP) in the colon, defined as tubular adenomas and sessile serrated adenomas. In this study of persons under age 50 undergoing colonoscopy, we used peripheral blood samples to determine BA and age acceleration metrics. Age acceleration was determined by interrogating DNA methylation (DNAm) at specific CpG sites across the genome, which has been shown to correlate with age. We then conducted logistic regression analyses to evaluate the association between age acceleration and PNPs. In total, 51 patient samples were evaluated. We found that that the odds of harboring a PNP are 17% higher with 1 year of accelerated aging, as measured by GrimAge. However, the strongest risk factor for PNPs remained male sex. This represents one of the first studies to explore accelerated aging and PNP in patients under the age of 50. A risk-stratified approach to EOCRC screening would minimize unnecessary colonoscopies and minimize healthcare burden while addressing the rise in EOCRC. Our findings suggest that BA calculations with peripheral blood collections could be an important component of such a risk model.
Project description:Genome wide DNA methylation assays was conducted using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadArray technology (Methyl850K chip) that allows genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of 866,836 CpG sites. We included baseline and 2-year follow-up samples from 25 persons with mild cognitive impairment (cases) and 20 persons with cognitively normal (controls). Sample was balanced by age and sex.
Project description:We isolated highly purified CD8+CD28+ and CD8+CD28- T cell populations from healthy young and elderly persons for gene expression profiling using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays. We demonstrate that the gene expression profile of CD8+CD28- T cells is very similar in young and elderly persons. In contrast, CD8+CD28+ in elderly differ from CD8+CD28+ in young persons. Hierarchical clustering revealed that CD8+CD28+ in elderly are located between CD8+CD28+ in young and CD8?CD28- (young and old) T cells regarding their differentiation state. Our study demonstrates a dichotomy of gene expression levels between CD8+CD28+ T cells in young and elderly persons but a similarity between CD8+CD28- T cells in young and elderly persons. As CD8+CD28+ T cells from elderly and young persons are distinct due to a different composition of the population, these results suggest that the gene expression profile does not depend on chronological age but depends on the differentiation state of the individual cell types.
Project description:Expression data from hyperplastic polyps and normal colonic mucosa from patients with familial and sporadic hyperplastic polyposis syndrome (HPPS). We aim to characterize at a molecular level a cohort of hyperplastic lesions from HPPS patients with and without family history. RNA from hyperplastic polyps and normal colonic mucosa (proximal and distal) from patients with familial and sporadic HPPS were included in this study. Total RNA was isolated from each tissue sample, quantified and its quality evaluated. cRNA preparation, hybridization and analysis of results was performed according to Affymetrix recommendations. cRNA was hybridised in the GeneChip array (Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0, Affymetrix), and the intensity was measured.
Project description:In this study we compared gene expression of precancerous SSA/Ps and benign MVHPs with particular focus on genes involved in colorectal cancer. We also identify genes whose expression can be used to differentiate SSA/Ps and MVHPs. These results provide insight into the development of SSA/Ps and illustrates differences between these related colonic polyps. Total RNA from 6 samples of normal colon, 6 microvesicular hyperplastic polyps, and 6 sessile serrated adenomas/polyps were compared
Project description:We performed RNAseq on intestinal polyps from diptheria toxin-treated ApcMin;Lgr5DTR mice to investigate the effect of an acute selective pressure on stem cell populations in intestinal lesions. Lgr5+ cells in the ApcMin;Lgr5DTR mice were ablated with a single intraperitoneal dose of diphtheria toxin in saline (50 μg/kg), and samples were collected after 24 hours and after 5 days. Untreated ApcMin mice were used as control. Intestinal polyps were excised and collected for RNA sequencing.
Project description:Expression data from hyperplastic polyps and normal colonic mucosa from patients with familial and sporadic hyperplastic polyposis syndrome (HPPS). We aim to characterize at a molecular level a cohort of hyperplastic lesions from HPPS patients with and without family history.
Project description:Interventions: Group 1: Circular of the respective health insurance companies at their 50-54 years old insured persons. Besides the information about the offer of screening colonoscopy from the age of 50 and the invitation to its awareness, the letter contains a one-minute risk self-check for colorectal cancer (intervention group).
Group 2: Circular of the respective health insurance companies at their 50-54 years insured persons. The letter includes information about the offer of screening colonoscopy from the age of 50 and invitation to its awareness. The letter does not contain a one-minute risk self-check for colorectal cancer (control group).
Primary outcome(s): Increase of colorectal neoplasm detection rates through an invitation letter containing a risk self-check compared to an invitation letter without risk self-check.
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized controlled study; Masking: Blinded (masking used); Control: Other; Assignment: other; Study design purpose: prevention
Project description:Cannabis use has been controversial, largely having been designated a controlled substance over the last century. The link between cannabis smoking and disease pathogenesis may best be explored through DNA methylation, an epigentic mechanism. We investigated the relationship between epigenetic age and cannabis smoking in participants within the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) cohort (n=93) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00920348). Blood samples were profiled for DNA methylation using the Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChipv1 at two separate laboratories and the blood epigenetic age of each sample was calculated using the Clock Foundation tool (https://dnamage.clockfoundation.org). An ANOVA was used to identify differences in the age acceleration residuals associated with cannabis smoking status (never, former, and current), adjusted for chronological age, sex, body mass index (BMI), batch, cigarette smoking status, and the first two principal components of blood cell proportions. Our observations indicated that current cannabis smoking and higher joint-years exposure are associated with epigenetic age acceleration; cessation, however, may help to normalize in part this age acceleration.