Developmental programming of adult haematopoiesis system
The Barker hypothesis of ‘foetal origin of adult diseases’ has led to emphasize the concept of ‘developmental programming’, based on the crucial role of epigenetic factors. Accordingly, it has been demonstrated that parental adversity (before conception and during pregnancy) and foetal factors (i.e., hypoxia, malnutrition and placental insufficiency) permanently modify the physiological systems of the progeny, predisposing them to premature ageing and chronic disease during adulthood. Thus, an altered functionality of the endocrine, immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems is observed in the progeny. However, it remains to be understood whether the haematopoietic system itself also repres…
The Physical Activity and Nutritional INfluences in Ageing (PANINI) Toolkit: a standardized approach towards physical activity and nutritional assessment of older adults
Assessing multiple domains of health in older adults requires multidimensional and large datasets. Consensus on definitions, measurement protocols and outcome measures is a prerequisite. The Physical Activity and Nutritional INfluences In Ageing (PANINI) Toolkit aims to provide a standardized toolkit of best-practice measures for assessing health domains of older adults with an emphasis on nutrition and physical activity. The toolkit was drafted by consensus of multidisciplinary and pan-European experts on ageing to standardize research initiatives in diverse populations within the PANINI consortium. Domains within the PANINI Toolkit include socio-demographics, general health, nutrition, ph…
DNA methylation of shelf, shore and open sea CpG positions distinguish high microsatellite instability from low or stable microsatellite status colon cancer stem cells.
Aim: To investigate the genome-wide methylation of genetically characterized colorectal cancer stem cell (CR-CSC) lines. Materials & methods: Eight CR-CSC lines were isolated from primary colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, cultured and characterized for aneuploidy, mutational status of CRC-related genes and microsatellite instability (MSI). Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed by MethylationEPIC microarray. Results: We describe a distinctive methylation pattern that is maintained following in vivo passages in immune-compromised mice. We identified an epigenetic CR-CSC signature associated with MSI. We noticed that the preponderance of the differentially methylated positions do not re…
Physical Activity and Nutrition INfluences In ageing (PANINI): consortium mission statement
First paragraph: Current demographic trends indicate that by the year 2020, almost one in five of the European population will be aged 65 years or over. Although life expectancy is increasing by 2 years per decade, the period of life spent in good health is not keeping pace and most Europeans spend their last decade in poor health. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand how lifestyle factors can influence age-related changes from gene to society level and how they may be integrated into a net effect of healthy ageing. It is also crucial to develop and validate interventions and health policies to ensure that more of our older adults have a healthy and active later life. This is…