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Quantum biology typically involves light exciting an electron to a higher energy state, or a magnetic field splitting a single state into several having different energies, or tunneling to flout the energy barrier between states. In chemiexcitation, electrons reach an excited state without light. A ground-state chemical reaction creates a reaction product born in the excited state, due to transient mixing between ground- and excited-state wavefunctions when the reaction intermediate molecule is twisted. We outline the chemiexcitation process and its biological triggers, describe the distinctive molecules susceptible to chemiexcitation, and review recent evidence that melanin in the human retina is chemiexcited as a strategy to prevent age-related macular degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a patient with isolated stromal lipofuscinosis of the seminal vesicle, a rare entity characterized by intracytoplasmic pigmented granules within stromal cells intimately surrounding seminal vesicle epithelium. Only 4 patients with this unusual phenomenon have been previously reported in the literature. Recognizing this incidental and presumably non-pathologic finding is important to prevent misclassification as a more concerning lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is an emerging cause of blindness in aged people worldwide. One of the key signs of AMD is the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which is indispensable for the maintenance of the adjacent photoreceptors. Because of impaired energy metabolism resulting from constant light exposure, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, accumulation of drusen in AMD‐affected eyes is observed. Drusen contain damaged cellular proteins, lipoprotein particles, lipids and carbohydrates and they are related to impaired protein clearance, inflammation, and extracellular matrix modification. When autophagy, a major cellular proteostasis pathway, is impaired, the accumulations of intracellular lipofuscin and extracellular drusen are detected. As these aggregates grow over time, they finally cause the disorganisation and destruction of the RPE and photoreceptors leading to visual loss. In this review, the role of autophagy in drusen biogenesis is discussed since impairment in removing cellular waste in RPE cells plays a key role in AMD progression. In the future, means which improve intracellular clearance might be of use in AMD therapy to slow the progression of drusen formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of reductions in various body mass components on the erythrocyte oxidative status and glycemic state of people with obesity (PWO). Methods: A total of 53 PWO followed a six-month individualized low-calorie diet with exercise, during which anthropometric, biochemical, and oxidative parameters were measured. The participants were divided into groups based on weight (W), visceral fat area (VFA), total body water (TBW), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) losses, as well as normoglycemia (NG) and hyperglycemia (HG). Results: Weight reduction normalized glycemia and influenced erythrocyte enzyme activity. Regardless of the tissue type lost (VFA, TBW, or SMM), glutathione peroxidase activity decreased in all groups, accompanied by an increase in glutathione reductase activity. Lipofuscin (LPS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations decreased regardless of the type of tissue lost. The α-/γ-tocopherol ratio increased in those losing >10% body weight, >15% VFA, and >5% TBW. In the NG group, compared to the HG group, there was a decrease in glutathione peroxidase and an increase in glutathione reductase, with these changes being stronger in the HG group. The LPS and MDA concentrations decreased in both groups. Significant correlations were observed between glucose reduction and changes in catalase, retinol, and α-tocopherol, as well as between VFA reduction and changes in vitamin E, L-LPS, and the activities of L-GR and L-GST. Conclusions: This analysis highlights the complex interactions between glucose metabolism, oxidative state, and erythrocyte membrane integrity, crucial for understanding diabetes and its management. This study shows the significant metabolic adaptability of erythrocytes in response to systemic changes induced by obesity and hyperglycemia, suggesting potential therapeutic targets to improve metabolic health in obese individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The very-low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is recommended as an effective dietary approach for the management of obesity. This study investigated changes in circulating biomarkers of redox homeostasis induced by a multiphase VLCKD in obese individuals. A total of 40 obese subjects were prescribed a multiphasic VLCKD for eleven weeks. Anthropometric measurements, body composition parameters, calorimetric measures, and standard laboratory markers of glucose and lipid metabolism were evaluated at baseline (T 0) and at the end of the dietary intervention (T 1). Additionally, circulating markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant status were analyzed in serum and erythrocytes. Compared to T 0 , at T 1 the multiphase VLCKD induced significant weight loss and reduction of waist circumference, with beneficial effects on body composition parameters and the glucose/lipid biochemical profile. Moreover, a decrease in serum markers of oxidative damage was reported at T 1 , while no changes in serum markers of antioxidant status and in erythrocyte redox markers were observed. In addition, a significant association was found between variations in anthropometric measurements, body composition, glucose metabolism parameters, and changes in circulating markers of oxidative damage. Regression models showed that variation in lipofuscin was significant predictor of changes in body mass index, fat mass, visceral adiposity, and insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the multiphase VLCKD improves serum redox balance by reducing markers of oxidative damage in obese individuals, highlighting the interplay between adiposity, glucose metabolism, and redox homeostasis in the pathogenesis of obesity. Furthermore, these data provide a rationale for future investigations aimed at testing serum lipofuscin as a reliable redox marker in obesity. [Display omitted] • Multiphase very-low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is promising for obesity • Multiphase VLCKD induces beneficial changes in serum markers of redox balance • Serum parameters of oxidative damage are reduced by multiphase VLCKD • Multiphase VLCKD-induced redox changes associate with weight and fat mass loss • Serum lipofuscin may be suggested as a reliable biomarker in obesity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid peroxidation plays an important role in various pathologies and aging, at least partially mediated by ferroptosis. The role of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation during ferroptosis remains poorly understood. We show that supplementation of exogenous iron in the form of ferric ammonium citrate at submillimolar doses induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in mitochondria that precede ferroptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 and the redox mediator methylene blue, which inhibits the production of ROS in complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, prevent both mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. SkQ1 and methylene blue also prevented accumulation of lipofuscin observed after 24 h incubation of cardiomyocytes with ferric ammonium citrate. Using isolated cardiac mitochondria as an in vitro ferroptosis model, it was shown that rotenone (complex I inhibitor) in the presence of ferrous iron stimulates lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin accumulation. Our data indicate that ROS generated in complex I stimulate mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, lipofuscin accumulation, and ferroptosis induced by exogenous iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 23-month-old neutered male dog of unknown ancestry presented with a history of progressive neurological signs that included anxiety, cognitive impairment, tremors, seizure activity, ataxia, and pronounced visual impairment. The clinical signs were accompanied by global brain atrophy. Due to progression in the severity of disease signs, the dog was euthanized at 26 months of age. An examination of the tissues collected at necropsy revealed dramatic intracellular accumulations of autofluorescent inclusions in the brain, retina, and cardiac muscle. The inclusions were immunopositive for subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase, and their ultrastructural appearances were similar to those of lysosomal storage bodies that accumulate in some neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) diseases. The dog also exhibited widespread neuroinflammation. Based on these findings, the dog was deemed likely to have suffered from a form of NCL. A whole genome sequence analysis of the proband's DNA revealed a homozygous C to T substitution that altered the intron 3–exon 4 splice site of CLN6. Other mutations in CLN6 cause NCL diseases in humans and animals, including dogs. The CLN6 protein was undetectable with immunolabeling in the tissues of the proband. Based on the clinical history, fluorescence and electron-microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular genetic findings, the disorder in this dog was classified as an NCL resulting from the absence of the CLN6 protein. Screening the dog's genome for a panel of breed-specific polymorphisms indicated that its ancestry included numerous breeds, with no single breed predominating. This suggests that the CLN6 disease variant is likely to be present in other mixed-breed dogs and at least some ancestral breeds, although it is likely to be rare since other cases have not been reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lipofuscin-like cytoplasmic inclusions have been reported in human blood neutrophils and monocytes but have not been described in dogs. In people, these “green granules of death” have been associated with moderate to severe hepatocellular injury and high mortality. Objectives: To describe clinicopathologic abnormalities, diagnoses, and outcomes of dogs with greenish inclusions in blood neutrophils or monocytes, and to determine if the inclusions have features of lipofuscin. Methods: Clinical cases were identified prospectively through routine evaluation of CBC samples. Leukocyte inclusions were characterized with routine staining and assessed for iron and autofluorescence. Additional cases were identified by examination of archived blood smears from dogs meeting search criteria for hepatocellular injury, and clinicopathologic findings were recorded. Results: All 7 prospectively identified dogs with inclusions had inflammation and moderate to marked increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, as did the 4 dogs identified from the 97 meeting retrospective search criteria. The inclusions were Prussian blue–negative (5/5) with broad-spectrum autofluorescence (5/5) and the appearance of lipofuscin with and without Wright staining. Most clinical diagnoses involved hepatic disorders (5/7 prospective and 3/4 retrospective cases) or pancreatitis (3/7 prospective and 2/4 retrospective cases), and some involved both; 8 of 11 dogs died within 7 days of admission. Conclusions: Blue-green cytoplasmic inclusions uncommonly found in blood neutrophils ± monocytes of routine canine blood smears have stained and unstained properties of lipofuscin and suggest the presence of hepatocellular injury, often severe. Reporting these inclusions is recommended to guide clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aims of the study were to describe baseline quantitative (short-wavelength) autofluorescence (qAF) findings in a large pseudophakic cohort at age-related macular degeneration (AMD)'s beginnings and to assess qAF8 as an outcome measure and evaluate Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and Beckman grading systems. Methods: In the ALSTAR2 baseline cohort (NCT04112667), 346 pseudophakic eyes of 188 persons (74.0 ± 5.5 years) were classified as normal (N = 160 by AREDS, 158 by Beckman), early AMD (eAMD) (N = 104, 66), and intermediate AMD (iAMD) (N = 82, 122). Groups were compared via mean qAF intensities in a 6°–8° annulus (qAF8) and maps of differences between observations and the overall mean, divided by standard deviation (Z-score). Results: qAF8 did not differ significantly among diagnostic groups by either stratification (p = 0.0869 AREDS; p = 0.0569 by Beckman). Notably, 45 eyes considered eAMD by AREDS became iAMD by Beckman. For AREDS-stratified eyes, Z-score maps showed higher centrally located qAF for normal, near the mean in eAMD, and lower values for iAMD. Maps deviated from this pattern for Beckman-stratified eyes. Conclusions: In a large sample of pseudophakic eyes, qAF8 does not differ overall from normal aging to iAMD but also does not capture the earliest AMD activity in the macula lutea. AREDS classification gives results more consistent with a slow decline in histologic autofluorescence than Beckman classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prostate undergoes normal or pathological morphological changes throughout life. An understanding of these changes is fundamental for the comprehension of aging‐related pathological processes such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer. In the present study, we show some of these morphological changes, as well as histochemical techniques like Weigert's resorcin‐fuchsin method, Picrosirius Red, and Gömöri's reticulin for use as tools in the study of prostate tissue under light microscopy. For this purpose, prostates of the Mongolian gerbil (n = 9), an experimental model that develops BPH spontaneously, were analyzed at three life stages: young (1 month old), adult (3 months old), and old (15 months old). The results showed that fibrillar components such as collagen, and reticular and elastic fibers, change throughout life. In young animals, the prostate has cuboidal epithelium surrounded by thin layers of smooth muscle, continuous collagen fibers, winding reticular fibers, and sporadic elastic fibers. With adulthood, the epithelium becomes columnar, encircled by compacted muscle cells among slender collagen fibers, elongated reticular fibers, and linear elastic fibers. In aging individuals, the prostate's epithelium stratifies, surrounded by thick muscle layers among dense collagen fibers, disordered reticular fibers, and elastic fibers in different planes. We also identified a few accumulations of lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules in adult animals and high accumulation in old animals evidenced by Oil red O and Gömöri‐Halmi techniques, respectively. The histochemical techniques presented here have been demonstrated to be useful and accessible tools in prostate studies. Research Highlights: Cytochemical techniques to study prostate morphology.The prostate changes with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which ensures the normal functioning of the neural retina, is a pigmented single-cell layer that separates the retina from the Bruch's membrane and the choroid. There are three main types of pigment granules in the RPE cells of the human eye: lipofuscin granules (LG) containing the fluorescent "age pigment" lipofuscin, melanoprotein granules (melanosomes, melanolysosomes) containing the screening pigment melanin and complex melanolipofuscin granules (MLG) containing both types of pigments simultaneously—melanin and lipofuscin. This review examines the functional role of pigment granules in the aging process and in the development of oxidative stress and associated pathologies in RPE cells. The focus is on the process of light-induced oxidative degradation of pigment granules caused by reactive oxygen species. The reasons leading to increased oxidative stress in RPE cells as a result of the oxidative degradation of pigment granules are considered. A mechanism is proposed to explain the phenomenon of age-related decline in melanin content in RPE cells. The essence of the mechanism is that when the lipofuscin part of the melanolipofuscin granule is exposed to light, reactive oxygen species are formed, which destroy the melanin part. As more melanolipofuscin granules are formed with age and the development of degenerative diseases, the melanin in pigmented epithelial cells ultimately disappears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the eye diseases that can affect a person’s central vision. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are damaged in this medical condition and some pigments are presented in these cells. Here, we aimed to investigate melanin and lipofuscin granules of RPE cells as a precursor of AMD. Materials and Methods: Hooded rats (n=18) were divided into two groups and received 100 μl of sodium iodate (SI) into the retro-orbital sinus of their eyes at 40 and 60 mg/kg doses. The total number of melanin and lipofuscin granules, different types of granules, cytoplasmic dispersion of granules as well as morphological changes in the shape and number of nuclei of RPE cells were evaluated over the course of 1-30 days.Results: The total number of melanin pigments increases over time at a dose of 40 mg/kg and decreases at a dose of 60 mg/kg. Also, the total number of lipofuscin granules in 40 mg/kg increases over time and decreases in 60 mg/kg. Autofluorescent intensity (AF) is also increased at 40 mg/kg, but at 60 mg/kg, the highest intensity is on day 7. Also, the highest number of multinucleated giant cells was on day 7 at 60 mg/kg and the most changes in cell appearance due to sodium iodate injection were seen on the first day after injection. Conclusion: We demonstrated that granules and autofluorescent intensity appear to decrease at high doses of sodium iodate, which is similar to the advanced stage of the AMD disease, where the number of granules and AF intensity increase in the middle and even early stages of the disease.

Objective(s): Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the eye diseases that can affect a person's central vision. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are damaged in this medical condition and some pigments are presented in these cells. Here, we aimed to investigate melanin and lipofuscin granules of RPE cells as a precursor of AMD. Materials and Methods: Hooded rats (n=18) were divided into two groups and received 100 µl of sodium iodate (SI) into the retro-orbital sinus of their eyes at 40 and 60 mg/kg doses. The total number of melanin and lipofuscin granules, different types of granules, cytoplasmic dispersion of granules as well as morphological changes in the shape and number of nuclei of RPE cells were evaluated over the course of 1-30 days. Results: The total number of melanin pigments increases over time at a dose of 40 mg/kg and decreases at a dose of 60 mg/kg. Also, the total number of lipofuscin granules in 40 mg/kg increases over time and decreases in 60 mg/kg. Autofluorescent intensity (AF) is also increased at 40 mg/kg, but at 60 mg/kg, the highest intensity is on day 7. Also, the highest number of multinucleated giant cells was on day 7 at 60 mg/kg and the most changes in cell appearance due to sodium iodate injection were seen on the first day after injection. Conclusion: We demonstrated that granules and autofluorescent intensity appear to decrease at high doses of sodium iodate, which is similar to the advanced stage of the AMD disease, where the number of granules and AF intensity increase in the middle and even early stages of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipofuscin (LF) is an intracellular aggregate associated with proteostatic impairments, especially prevalent in nondividing skeletal muscle fibers. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) drive LF‐formation. Resistance training (RT) improves muscle performance but also increases ROS production, potentially promoting LF‐formation. Thus, we aimed to investigate if RT of a mesocycle duration increases LF‐formation in type‐I and II muscle fibers and whether RT increases the antioxidant capacity (AOC) in terms of SOD1 and SOD2 content. An intervention group (IG) performed 14 eccentrically accented RT‐sessions within 7 weeks. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before and after the intervention from IG as well as from a control group (CG) which refrained from RT for the same duration. LF was predominantly found near nuclei, followed by membrane‐near and a minor amount in the fiber core, with corresponding spot sizes. Overall, LF‐content was higher in type‐I than type‐II fibers (p < 0.05). There was no increase in LF‐content in type‐I or IIA fibers, neither for the IG following RT nor for the CG. The same is valid for SOD1/2. We conclude that, in healthy subjects, RT can be safely performed, without adverse effects on increased LF‐formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanosis of the urinary bladder, so-called melanosis vesicae, is a rare condition characterized by dark, velvety bladder mucosa observed by cystoscopy examination. Up to 20 examples have been reported in the English literature, and the etiology of this disease still needs to be discovered. We present an 82-year-old woman with a history of pelvic organ prolapse-associated urinary symptoms. The patient was found to have pigmented urinary bladder mucosa on cystoscopy and underwent a total hysterectomy and bladder mucosal biopsy. Histologically, pigmented granules were evident in the bladder stroma and epithelium, highlighted by Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stain, suggestive of lipofuscin in nature. We outline the diagnostic features of bladder melanosis, discuss the diagnostic mimickers, and thoroughly review the literature on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A progressive neurological disorder was observed in a male neutered Weimaraner. Clinical signs included fecal incontinence, lethargy, moderate paraparesis, proprioceptive pelvic limb ataxia, falling, cognitive decline, incoordination, decreased interest in food, changes in posture, and episodes of trance-like behavior. Neurologic signs were first observed at approximately 4 years, 10 months of age and progressed slowly. Magnetic resonance imaging showed generalized brain atrophy with areas of white matter pathology. Humane euthanasia was elected at 6 years, 7 months of age due to increasing severity of the neurological signs. Autofluorescent intracellular granules were observed in the cerebral and cerebellar cortexes, optic nerve, and cardiac muscle of the affected dog. These abnormal inclusions in the cerebral cortex and cardiac muscle immunolabeled with antibodies to mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit c protein, like that observed in the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis group of lysosomal storage diseases. Immunolabeling also demonstrated pronounced neuroinflammation in brain tissues. The ultrastructural appearances of the disease-related inclusion bodies in the brain and optic nerve were quite variable. The ultrastructure and locations of many of the inclusions in the nervous tissues suggested that they were derived, at least in part, from the myelin surrounding axons. The storage bodies in the cardiac muscle were located in mitochondria-rich regions and consisted of parallel arrays of membrane-like components interspersed with electron-dense flocculent material. The disease was characterized by pronounced abnormalities in the myelin of the brain and optic nerve consisting of distinctive areas of ballooning between the layers of myelin. The whole genome sequence generated from the affected dog contained a homozygous G-to-A missense mutation in CNP, which encodes proteins with CNPase enzyme activity and a structural role in myelin. The mutation predicts a Thr42Met amino acid sequence substitution. Genotyping of archived Weimaraner DNA samples identified an additional G > A variant homozygote with a clinical history and brain lesions similar to those of the proband. Of 304 Weimaraners and over 4000 other dogs of various breeds, the proband and the other Weimaraner that exhibited similar signs were the only two that were homozygous for the CNP missense variant. CNPase immunolabeling was widespread in brain tissues from normal dogs but was undetectable in the same tissues from the proband. Based on the clinical history, fluorescence and electron-microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular genetic findings, the late-onset Weimaraner disorder likely results from the missense mutation that results in CNPase deficiency, leading to myelin abnormalities, accumulation of lysosomal storage bodies, and brain atrophy. Similar disorders have been associated with different CNP variants in Dalmatians and in human subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) plays a critical role in the developmental programming of liver dysfunction that is characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Circadian and aging processes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. We hypothesized that the prenatal BPA-induced fatty-liver phenotype of female sheep is associated with premature hepatic senescence and disruption in circadian clock genes. The expression of circadian rhythm and aging-associated genes, along with other markers of senescence such as telomere length, mitochondrial DNA copy number, and lipofuscin accumulation, were evaluated in the liver tissue of control and prenatal BPA groups. Prenatal BPA exposure significantly elevated the expression of aging-associated genes GLB1 and CISD2 and induced large magnitude differences in the expression of other aging genes—APOE, HGF, KLOTHO, and the clock genes PER2 and CLOCK—in the liver; the other senescence markers remained unaffected. Prenatal BPA-programmed aging-related transcriptional changes in the liver may contribute to pathological changes in liver function, elucidating the involvement of aging genes in the pathogenesis of liver steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipofuscin accumulates with age as intracellular fluorescent granules originating from incomplete lysosomal digestion of phagocytosed and autophagocytosed material. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current understanding of the role of oxidative stress and/or lysosomal dysfunction in lipofuscin accumulation and its consequences, particularly for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Next, the fluorescence of lipofuscin, spectral changes induced by oxidation, and its contribution to retinal fluorescence are discussed. This is followed by reviewing recent developments in fluorescence imaging of the retina and the current evidence on the prognostic value of retinal fluorescence for the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the major blinding disease affecting elderly people in developed countries. The evidence of lipofuscin oxidation in vivo and the evidence of increased oxidative damage in AMD retina ex vivo lead to the conclusion that imaging of spectral characteristics of lipofuscin fluorescence may serve as a useful biomarker of oxidative damage, which can be helpful in assessing the efficacy of potential antioxidant therapies in retinal degenerations associated with accumulation of lipofuscin and increased oxidative stress. Finally, amendments to currently used fluorescence imaging instruments are suggested to be more sensitive and specific for imaging spectral characteristics of lipofuscin fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hallmark of normative brain aging is vast heterogeneity in whether older people succumb to or resist cognitive decline. Resilience describes a brain's capacity to maintain cognition in the face of aging and disease. One factor influencing resilience is brain reserve—the status of neurobiological resources available to support neuronal circuits as dysfunction accumulates. This study uses a cohort of behaviorally characterized adult, middle-aged, and aged rats to test whether neurobiological factors that protect inhibitory neurotransmission and synapse function represent key components of brain reserve. Histochemical analysis of extracellular matrix proteoglycans, which play critical roles in stabilizing synapses and modulating inhibitory neuron excitability, was conducted alongside analyses of lipofuscin-associated autofluorescence. The findings indicate that aging results in lower proteoglycan density and more lipofuscin in CA3. Aged rats with higher proteoglycan density exhibited better performance on the Morris watermaze, whereas lipofuscin abundance was not related to spatial memory. These data suggest that the local environment around neurons may protect against synapse dysfunction or hyperexcitability and could contribute to brain reserve mechanisms. ● Significant heterogeneity exists in trajectories of cognitive function in aging. ● Synapse function has been proposed to account for these individual differences. ● The extracellular matrix regulates numerous aspects of synapse function. ● Aged rats with more extracellular matrix in CA3 exhibit better spatial memory. ● The findings suggest that extracellular matrix status contributes to brain reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipofuscin accumulation has been observed in human coronary arteries but whether or not myocardial tissue can release lipofuscin generated within cardiomyocytes must be clarified, as this may provide indicators for future anti-ageing research. The hearts of Sprague Dawley rats, aged 6–24 months, were embedded in resin and ultrathin sections cut for electron microscopy. Lipofuscin granules were abundant in cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes were seen to release lipofuscin granules into the myocardial interstitium as cytoplasmic fragments with irregular protrusions on the sarcolemma surface. The cytoplasmic fragments entering the stroma fused directly with the endothelial cells of adjacent capillaries, delivering lipofuscin to the vessel wall. These fragments were also seen to be engulfed by stromal macrophages or fused with fibroblasts, which then combined with capillary endothelial cells to deliver lipofuscin to the vessel wall. Some cytoplasmic fragments disaggregated and formed membrane-like waste, which travelled to the vessel wall from the myocardial stroma as soluble fine particles via diffusion or pinocytosis of capillary endothelial cells. Lipofuscin entered the vascular wall and endothelial cells, forming large and small protrusions or folds that transported the lipofuscin to the vascular lumen and bloodstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Phagocytosis is a fundamental immunobiological process responsible for the removal of harmful particulates. While the number of phagocytic events achieved by a single phagocyte can be remarkable, exceeding hundreds per day, the same phagocytic cells are relatively long‐lived. It should therefore be obvious that phagocytic meals must be resolved in order to maintain the responsiveness of the phagocyte and to avoid storage defects. In this article, we discuss the mechanisms involved in the resolution process, including solute transport pathways and membrane traffic. We describe how products liberated in phagolysosomes support phagocyte metabolism and the immune response. We also speculate on mechanisms involved in the redistribution of phagosomal metabolites back to circulation. Finally, we highlight the pathologies owed to impaired phagosome resolution, which range from storage disorders to neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Skin brightness and spot have a significant impact on youthful and beautiful appearance. One important factor influencing skin brightness is the amount of internal reflected light from the skin. Observers recognize the total surface‐reflected light and internal reflected light as skin brightness. The more internal reflected light from the skin, the more attractive and brighter the skin appears. This study aims to identify a new natural cosmetic ingredient that increases the skin's internal reflected light, decreases spot and provides a youthful and beautiful skin appearance. Methods: Lipofuscin in epidermal keratinocytes, the aggregating complex of denatured proteins and peroxidized lipids, is one factor that decreases skin brightness and causes of spot. Aggregates block light transmission, and peroxidized lipids lead to skin yellowness, dullness and age spot. Lipofuscin is known to accumulate intracellularly with ageing. Rapid removal of intracellular denatured proteins prevents lipofuscin formation and accumulation in cells. We focused a proteasome system that efficiently removes intracellular denatured proteins. To identify natural ingredients that increase proteasome activity, we screened 380 extracts derived from natural products. The extract with the desired activity was fractionated and purified to identify active compounds that lead to proteasome activation. Finally, the efficacy of the proteasome‐activating extract was evaluated in a human clinical study. Results: We discovered that Juniperus communis fruits (Juniper berry) extract (JBE) increases proteasome activity and suppresses lipofuscin accumulation in human epidermal keratinocytes. We found Anthricin and Yatein, which belong to the lignan family, to be major active compounds responsible for the proteasome‐activating effect of JBE. In a human clinical study, an emulsion containing 1% JBE was applied to half of the face twice daily for 4 weeks, resulting in increased internal reflected light, brightness improvement (L‐value) and reduction in yellowness (b‐value) and spot in the cheek area. Conclusion: This is the first report demonstrating that JBE containing Anthricin and Yatein decreases lipofuscin accumulation in human epidermal keratinocytes through proteasome activation, increases brightness and decreases surface spots in human skin. JBE would be an ideal natural cosmetic ingredient for creating a more youthful and beautiful skin appearance with greater brightness and less spot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in high concentrations is a toxic pollutant. Due to the risk of its impact on the organism of people living in the areas of its production as part of natural gas, it is necessary to expand the pathogenetically substantiated profile of diagnosing the consequences of its impact. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (its sulfide ions H–HS) on the processes of senescence and peroxidation in the kidneys of old rats. Materials and methods: With the help of an H2S (Na2S) donor, intraperitoneal toxic effects of sulfide ions were simulated in 18-20-months-old rats. Sections and homogenates of renal tissue were examined for the presence of lipofuscincontaining senescent cells (SC), the level of interleukin-6, catalase, and oxidative modification of proteins in the presence of metals of variable valence. Results. SCs located diffusely between the renal bodies of the juxtamedullary and subcapsular nephrons of the kidney were identified. An increase in the level of interleukin-6, catalase and aldehyde dinitrophenylhydrazones was recorded. Conclusions. The applied experimental approach using Na2S as a donor promotes the formation of a senescent morphotype in a functioning kidney in old rats. The functional features of the kidneys determine the predominant toxic load on the renal corpuscles of the nephrons. Accumulation of lipofuscin by cells and an increase in the level of pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 are promoted by active processes of prooxidation of the protein components of cells. Distribution of the secretion of SA contributes to increased metabolic inconsistency and forms a vicious circle that increases the activity of the antioxidant catalase.

Indirect immunofluorescence is usually restricted to 3-5 markers per preparation, limiting analysis of coexistence. A solution containing 2-mercaptoethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate (2-ME/SDS) can elute indirect immunofluorescence labelling (i.e. primary antisera followed by fluorophore-conjugated secondary antisera) and has been used for sequential staining of sections. The aim of this study was to test whether 2-ME/SDS is effective for eluting indirect immunofluorescent staining (with primary antisera visualised by fluorophore-coupled secondary antisera) in wholemount preparations. We also analysed how 2-ME/SDS may work and used this understanding to devise additional uses for immunofluorescence in the nervous system. 2-ME/SDS appears to denature unfixed proteins (including antisera used as reagents) but has much less effect on antigenicity of formaldehyde-fixed epitopes. Moieties linked by strong biotin-streptavidin bonds are highly resistant to elution by 2-ME/SDS. Two primary antisera raised in the same species can be applied without spurious cross-reactivity, if a specific order of labelling is followed. The first primary antiserum is followed by a biotinylated secondary, then a tertiary of fluorophore-conjugated streptavidin. The preparation is then exposed to 2-ME/SDS, which has minimal impact on labelling by the first primary/secondary/tertiary combination. However, when this is followed by a second primary antiserum (raised in the same species), followed by a fluorophore-conjugated secondary antiserum, the intervening 2-ME/SDS exposure prevents cross-reactivity between primary and secondary antisera of the two layers. A third property of 2-ME/SDS is that it reduces lipofuscin autofluorescence, although it also raises background fluorescence and strongly enhances autofluorescence of erythrocytes. In summary, 2-ME/SDS is easy to use, cost-effective and does not require modified primary antisera. It can be used as the basis of a multi-layer immunohistochemistry protocol and allows 2 primary antisera raised in the same species to be used together.

Abstract Lipofuscin (LF) is an intracellular aggregate associated with proteostatic impairments, especially prevalent in nondividing skeletal muscle fibers. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) drive LF‐formation. Resistance training (RT) improves muscle performance but also increases ROS production, potentially promoting LF‐formation. Thus, we aimed to investigate if RT of a mesocycle duration increases LF‐formation in type‐I and II muscle fibers and whether RT increases the antioxidant capacity (AOC) in terms of SOD1 and SOD2 content. An intervention group (IG) performed 14 eccentrically accented RT‐sessions within 7 weeks. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before and after the intervention from IG as well as from a control group (CG) which refrained from RT for the same duration. LF was predominantly found near nuclei, followed by membrane‐near and a minor amount in the fiber core, with corresponding spot sizes. Overall, LF‐content was higher in type‐I than type‐II fibers (p

This is a case report of a young adult who died of COVID-19 twelve days after admission, with coronavirus nucleocapsid protein and lipofuscin found in the heart and kidney tissues, providing further evidence of the role of SARS-CoV-2 in cellular senescence.

Ependymomas have rarely been described to contain pigment other than melanin, neuromelanin, lipofuscin or a combination. In this case report, we present a pigmented ependymoma in the fourth ventricle of an adult patient and review 16 additional cases of pigmented ependymoma from the literature. A 46-year-old female showed up with hearing loss, headaches, and nausea. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 2.5 cm contrast-enhancing cystic mass in the fourth ventricle, which was resected. Intraoperatively, the tumor appeared grey-brown, cystic, and was adherent to the brainstem. Routine histology revealed a tumor with true rosettes, perivascular pseudorosettes and ependymal canals consistent with ependymoma, but also showed chronic inflammation and abundant distended pigmented tumor cells that mimicked macrophages in frozen and permanent sections. The pigmented cells were positive for GFAP and negative for CD163 consonant with glial tumor cells. The pigment was negative for Fontana-Masson, positive for Periodic-acid Schiff and autofluorescent, which coincide with characteristics of lipofuscin. Proliferation indices were low and H3K27me3 showed partial loss. H3K27me 3 is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein Histone H3 that indicates the tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 protein. This methylation classification was compatible with a posterior fossa group B ependymoma (EPN_PFB). The patient was clinically well without recurrence at three-month post-operative follow-up appointment. Our analysis of all 17 cases, including the one presented, shows that pigmented ependymomas are most common in the middle-aged with a median age of 42 years and most have a favorable outcome. However, one patient that also developed secondary leptomeningeal melanin accumulations died. Most (58.8%) arise in the 4th ventricle, while spinal cord (17.6%) and supratentorial locations (17.6%) were less common. The age of presentation and generally good prognosis raise the question of whether most other posterior fossa pigmented ependymomas may also fall into the EPN_PFB group, but additional study is required to address that question.

Lipofuscin granules enclose mixtures of cross-linked proteins and lipids in proportions that depend on the tissue analyzed. Retinal lipofuscin is unique in that it contains mostly lipids with very little proteins. However, retinal lipofuscin also presents biological and physicochemical characteristics indistinguishable from conventional granules, including indigestibility, tendency to cause lysosome swelling that results in rupture or defective functions, and ability to trigger NLRP3 inflammation, a symptom of low-level disruption of lysosomes. In addition, like conventional lipofuscins, it appears as an autofluorescent pigment, considered toxic waste, and a biomarker of aging. Ocular lipofuscin accumulates in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), whereby it interferes with the support of the neuroretina. RPE cell death is the primary cause of blindness in the most prevalent incurable genetic and age-related human disorders, Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), respectively. Although retinal lipofuscin is directly linked to the cell death of the RPE in Stargardt, the extent to which it contributes to AMD is a matter of debate. Nonetheless, the number of AMD clinical trials that target lipofuscin formation speaks for the potential relevance for AMD as well. Here, we show that retinal lipofuscin triggers an atypical necroptotic cascade, amenable to pharmacological intervention. This pathway is distinct from canonic necroptosis and is instead dependent on the destabilization of lysosomes. We also provide evidence that necroptosis is activated in aged human retinas with AMD. Overall, this cytotoxicity mechanism may offer therapeutic targets and markers for genetic and age-related diseases associated with lipofuscin buildups.

Lipid peroxidation plays an important role in various pathologies and aging, at least partially mediated by ferroptosis. The role of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation during ferroptosis remains poorly understood. We show that supplementation of exogenous iron in the form of ferric ammonium citrate at submillimolar doses induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in mitochondria that precede ferroptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 and the redox mediator methylene blue, which inhibits the production of ROS in complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, prevent both mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. SkQ1 and methylene blue also prevented accumulation of lipofuscin observed after 24 h incubation of cardiomyocytes with ferric ammonium citrate. Using isolated cardiac mitochondria as an in vitro ferroptosis model, it was shown that rotenone (complex I inhibitor) in the presence of ferrous iron stimulates lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin accumulation. Our data indicate that ROS generated in complex I stimulate mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, lipofuscin accumulation, and ferroptosis induced by exogenous iron.

A 23-month-old neutered male dog of unknown ancestry presented with a history of progressive neurological signs that included anxiety, cognitive impairment, tremors, seizure activity, ataxia, and pronounced visual impairment. The clinical signs were accompanied by global brain atrophy. Due to progression in the severity of disease signs, the dog was euthanized at 26 months of age. An examination of the tissues collected at necropsy revealed dramatic intracellular accumulations of autofluorescent inclusions in the brain, retina, and cardiac muscle. The inclusions were immunopositive for subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase, and their ultrastructural appearances were similar to those of lysosomal storage bodies that accumulate in some neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) diseases. The dog also exhibited widespread neuroinflammation. Based on these findings, the dog was deemed likely to have suffered from a form of NCL. A whole genome sequence analysis of the proband’s DNA revealed a homozygous C to T substitution that altered the intron 3–exon 4 splice site of CLN6. Other mutations in CLN6 cause NCL diseases in humans and animals, including dogs. The CLN6 protein was undetectable with immunolabeling in the tissues of the proband. Based on the clinical history, fluorescence and electron-microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular genetic findings, the disorder in this dog was classified as an NCL resulting from the absence of the CLN6 protein. Screening the dog’s genome for a panel of breed-specific polymorphisms indicated that its ancestry included numerous breeds, with no single breed predominating. This suggests that the CLN6 disease variant is likely to be present in other mixed-breed dogs and at least some ancestral breeds, although it is likely to be rare since other cases have not been reported to date.

GRN mutations cause frontotemporal dementia (GRN-FTD) due to deficiency in progranulin (PGRN), a lysosomal and secreted protein with unclear function. Here, we found that Grn-/- mice exhibit a global deficiency in bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), an endolysosomal phospholipid we identified as a pH-dependent PGRN interactor as well as a redox-sensitive enhancer of lysosomal proteolysis and lipolysis. Grn-/- brains also showed an age-dependent, secondary storage of glucocerebrosidase substrate glucosylsphingosine. We investigated a protein replacement strategy by engineering protein transport vehicle (PTV):PGRN-a recombinant protein linking PGRN to a modified Fc domain that binds human transferrin receptor for enhanced CNS biodistribution. PTV:PGRN rescued various Grn-/- phenotypes in primary murine macrophages and human iPSC-derived microglia, including oxidative stress, lysosomal dysfunction, and endomembrane damage. Peripherally delivered PTV:PGRN corrected levels of BMP, glucosylsphingosine, and disease pathology in Grn-/- CNS, including microgliosis, lipofuscinosis, and neuronal damage. PTV:PGRN thus represents a potential biotherapeutic for GRN-FTD.

Introduction: As a traditional medicine, the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Lamiaceae), aka motherwort, have been extensively used to treat gynecological diseases. The current study was designed to investigate the longevity properties of the methanolic extract of L. japonicus (MLJ) using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Methods: The longevity effect of MLJ was determined by lifespan assay. Lipofuscin accumulation, thermotolerance, and body movement were measured to test the effects on the healthspan. The antioxidant capacity of MLJ was investigated by analyzing antioxidant enzyme activities, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the survival rate against oxidative stress conditions. Pharyngeal pumping rate and body length were observed to determine the effect of MLJ on aging-related factors. Transcriptional activity of daf-16 was observed under fluorescence microscopy using a transgenic mutant carrying DAF-16::GFP transgene. Results: MLJ could significantly prolong the median and maximum lifespan of worms. In addition, MLJ reduced the accumulation of lipofuscin in aged worms and delayed the age-dependent decrease in locomotion and thermotolerance suggesting its beneficial role in the healthspan. Also, MLJ increased the stress resistance of worms against oxidative stress and decreased intracellular ROS generation by up-regulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Additional genetic studies showed that MLJ failed to prolong the lifespan of worms lacking daf-2, age-1, daf-16, and sir-2.1 genes. Moreover, in the presence of MLJ, the nuclear translocation of daf-16 was significantly increased. Conclusion: Collectively, our results demonstrate that the anti-aging properties of MLJ might be attributed to sir-2.1 and insulin/IGF signaling-dependent daf-16/FOXO activation.

In order to explore the anti-aging effect and mechanism of recombinant recombinant human-derived collagen (RHC), the aging mouse model was constructed through 300 mg/kg D-galactose intraperitoneal injection, and different doses of RHC were used to study the changes of hyaluronic acid, collagen, lipofuscin, hydroxyproline content, antioxidant enzyme activity, key genes and protein expression related to epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation and collagen synthesis. The results showed that compared with the aging model group (SLM), the intervention groups that was gavaged RHC had significantly less skin folds, higher collagen content (P

Skin cells present many endogenous photosensitizers (ePS) that interact with light, generating oxidizing species, causing molecular damage in proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, and consequently triggering cellular and organelle malfunction. Several cell lines with terminal differentiation are susceptible to accumulating non-digestible pigments, such as lipofuscin or melanin-lipofuscin. Besides being hallmarks of aging, both pigments can work as photosensitizers, increasing and expanding the toxicity of sunlight to the range of visible light (VL, 400–700 nm). In here we review the literature to describe the mechanisms by which the photosensitized oxidation reactions induced by VL cause DNA damage. We aim to provide the mechanistic background needed to improve the current strategies of photoprotection.

Dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is associated with several diseases characterized by retinal degeneration, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, it has recently been proposed that outer retinal neurons also participate in the damage triggering. Therefore, we have evaluated the possible crosstalk between RPE and photoreceptors in priming and maintaining oxidative damage of the RPE. For this purpose, we used ARPE-19 cells as a model of human RPE, grown in normal (NG, 5.6 mM) or high glucose (HG, 25 mM) and unoxidized (UOx) or oxidized (Ox) mammalian retinal rod outer segments (OSs). ARPE-19 cells were efficient at phagocytizing rod OSs in both NG and HG settings. However, in HG, ARPE-19 cells treated with Ox-rod OSs accumulated MDA and lipofuscins and displayed altered LC3, GRP78, and caspase 8 expression compared to untreated and UOx-rod-OS-treated cells. Data suggest that early oxidative damage may originate from the photoreceptors and subsequently extend to the RPE, providing a new perspective to the idea that retinal degeneration depends solely on a redox alteration of the RPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenol, a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with various commercial uses, is a major pollutant in industrial wastewater. Euglena gracilis is a unicellular freshwater flagellate possessing secondary chloroplasts of green algal origin. This protist has been widely used for monitoring the biological effect of various inorganic and organic environmental pollutants, including aromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, we evaluate the influence of different phenol concentrations (3.39 mM, 3.81 mM, 4.23 mM, 4.65 mM, 5.07 mM, 5.49 mM and 5.91 mM) on the growth, morphology and cell division of E. gracilis. The cell count continually decreases (p < 0.05–0.001) over time with increasing phenol concentration. While phenol treatment does not induce bleaching (permanent loss of photosynthesis), the morphological changes caused by phenol include the formation of spherical (p < 0.01–0.001), hypertrophied (p < 0.05) and monster cells (p < 0.01) and lipofuscin bodies. Phenol also induces an atypical form of cell division of E. gracilis, simultaneously producing more than 2 (3–12) viable cells from a single cell. Such atypically dividing cells have a symmetric "star"-like shape. The percentage of atypically dividing cells increases (p < 0.05) with increasing phenol concentration. Our findings suggest that E. gracilis can be used as bioindicator of phenol contamination in freshwater habitats and wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of autofluorescent waste products, amyloids, and products of lipid peroxidation (LPO) are important hallmarks of aging. Until now, these processes have not been documented in Daphnia, a convenient model organism for longevity and senescence studies. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of autofluorescence and Congo Red (CR) fluorescent staining for amyloids in four clones of D. magna. Additionally, we used a single time point cross-sectional common garden experiment within a single clone in which autofluorescence and BODIPY C11 fluorescence were measured. We observed a robust increase in autofluorescent spots that show diagnostic co-staining by Sudan Black indicating lipofuscin aggregates, particularly in the upper body region. There was also a significant clone-by-age interaction indicating that some genotypes accumulated lipofuscins faster than others. Contrary to predictions, CR fluorescence and lipid peroxidation did not consistently increase with age. CR fluorescence demonstrated a slight non-monotonous relationship with age, achieving the highest values at intermediate ages, possibly due to elimination of physiological heterogeneity in our genetically uniform cohorts. LPO demonstrated a significant ovary status-by-age interaction, decreasing with age when measured in Daphnia with full ovaries (late phase ovarian cycle) and showing no significant trend or slight increase with age when measured during the early phase in the ovarian cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipofuscins are oxidized lipid and protein complexes that accumulate during cellular senescence and tissue aging, regarded as markers for cellular oxidative damage, tissue aging, and certain aging-associated diseases. Therefore, understanding their cellular biological properties is crucial for effective treatment development. Through traditional microscopy, lipofuscins are readily observed as fluorescent granules thought to accumulate in lysosomes. However, lipofuscin granule formation and accumulation in senescent cells are poorly understood. Thus, this study examined lipofuscin accumulation in human fibroblasts exposed to various stressors. Our results substantiate that in glucosestarved or replicative senescence cells, where elevated oxidative stress levels activate autophagy, lipofuscins predominately appear as granules that co-localize with autolysosomes due to lysosomal acidity or impairment. Meanwhile, autophagosome formation is attenuated in cells experiencing oxidative stress induced by a doxorubicin pulse and chase, and lipofuscin fluorescence granules seldom manifest in the cytoplasm. As Torin-1 treatment activates autophagy, granular lipofuscins intensify and dominate, indicating that autophagy activation triggers their accumulation. Our results suggest that high oxidative stress activates autophagy but fails in lipofuscin removal, leaving an abundance of lipofuscin-filled impaired autolysosomes, referred to as residual bodies. Therefore, future endeavors in treating lipofuscin pathology-associated diseases and dysfunctions through autophagy activation demand meticulous consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary restriction (DR) interventions have demonstrated their efficacy in extending lifespan; however, the association between lifespan extension and health span remains unclear. This article aims to analyze the relationship between DR-induced lifespan and health span in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a widely used animal model in lifespan studies. By examining various parameters such as lipofuscin accumulation (an aging marker) and locomotor and feeding capacities (indicators of muscle degradation rate), we have compiled papers that investigate and report on these DR-induced effects.The majority of the papers reviewed consistently demonstrate that DR improves both lifespan and health span in C. elegans. Worms subjected to DR exhibit slower lipofuscin accumulation compared to those fed ad libitum, indicating a reduction in age-related cellular damage. Additionally, DR-treated worms display a higher locomotion capacity, suggesting a slower rate of muscle degradation. However, it is worth noting that there are some discrepancies among the papers regarding feeding capacity. These contradictions can be attributed to the different methods employed to initiate DR. While many approaches slow muscle degeneration and enhance pumping rates through adaptation to limited food sources, other methods, such as using eat-2 mutant worms or interventions that mimic the effects of eat-2, reduce feeding capacity and consequently restrict food intake. In conclusion, the findings suggest a strong correlation between DR-induced longevity and the extension of health span in C. elegans, as evidenced by improvements in various health span parameters. DR interventions not only extend lifespan but also mitigate age-related markers and preserve locomotor capacity. Although conflicting results are observed regarding feeding capacity, the overall evidence supports the notion that DR promotes healthier aging in this animal model.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be associated with ABCA4 variants and is characterized by the accumulation of visual cycle-byproduct lipofuscin. Reducing retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), a retinol transporter protein, may reduce lipofuscin production. This study aims to assess the associations between plasma RBP4, the ABCA4 variation, and AMD severity. Sixty-seven participants were grouped into healthy/mild AMD (n = 32) and severe AMD (n = 35) groups. The latter group was older than the former group and had higher levels of RBP4 (36.8 ± 8.3 vs. 30.4 ± 7.0 μg/mL, p = 0.0012). The ten participants with six ABCA4 linked-variants had higher RBP4 than those without (37.8 ± 7.7 vs. 32.4 ± 7.9 μg/mL; p = 0.026), and eight of them had severe AMD. Univariate analyses showed that severe AMD was related to older age (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.13–1.40; p < 0.0001) and to higher RBP4 levels (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04–1.20; p = 0.003), whereas the linked ABCA4 variants had no associations. After adjustment, however, only age remained significantly associated with severe AMD. This pilot study shows a trend of higher plasma RBP4 levels in severe AMD or the ABCA4-linked variants, and further age-matched studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation are closely associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, or neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation disorders. Mitochondrial dysfunction, lipofuscin accumulation, autophagy disruption, and ferroptosis have been implicated as the critical pathomechanisms of lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation in these disorders. Currently, the connection between lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation and the initial cause or consequence in neurodegeneration processes is unclear. In this review, we have compiled the known mechanisms by which lipid peroxidation triggers iron accumulation and lipofuscin formation, and the effect of iron overload on lipid peroxidation and cellular function. The vicious cycle established between both pathological alterations may lead to the development of neurodegeneration. Therefore, the investigation of these mechanisms is essential for exploring therapeutic strategies to restrict neurodegeneration. In addition, we discuss the interplay between lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation in neurodegeneration, particularly in PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration, a rare neurodegenerative disease with autosomal recessive inheritance, which belongs to the group of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation disorders.

PurposeTo investigate the major organelles of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in wild-type (WT, control) mice and their changes in pigmented Abca4 knockout (Abca4-/-) mice with in situ morphologic, spatial, and spectral characterization of live ex vivo flat-mounted RPE using multicolor confocal fluorescence microscopy (MCFM).MethodsIn situ imaging of RPE flat-mounts of agouti Abca4-/- (129S4), agouti WT (129S1/SvlmJ) controls, and B6 albino mice (C57BL/6J-Tyrc-Brd) was performed with a Nikon A1 confocal microscope. High-resolution confocal image z-stacks of the RPE cell mosaic were acquired with four different excitation wavelengths (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm). The autofluorescence images of RPE, including voxel-by-voxel emission spectra, were acquired and processed with Nikon NIS-AR Elements software.ResultsThe 3-dimensional multicolor confocal images provided a detailed visualization of the RPE cell mosaic, including its melanosomes and lipofuscin granules, and their varying characteristics in the different mice strains. The autofluorescence spectra, spatial distribution, and morphologic features of melanosomes and lipofuscin granules were measured. Increased numbers of lipofuscin and reduced numbers of melanosomes were observed in the RPE of Abca4-/- mice relative to controls.ConclusionsA detailed assessment of the RPE autofluorescent granules and their changes ex vivo was possible with MCFM. For all excitation wavelengths, autofluorescence from the RPE cells was predominantly contributed by lipofuscin granules, while melanosomes were found to be essentially nonfluorescent. The red shift of the emission peak confirmed the presence of multiple chromophores within lipofuscin granules. The elevated autofluorescence levels in Abca4-/- mice correlated well with the increased number of lipofuscin granules.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which ensures the normal functioning of the neural retina, is a pigmented single-cell layer that separates the retina from the Bruch’s membrane and the choroid. There are three main types of pigment granules in the RPE cells of the human eye: lipofuscin granules (LG) containing the fluorescent “age pigment” lipofuscin, melanoprotein granules (melanosomes, melanolysosomes) containing the screening pigment melanin and complex melanolipofuscin granules (MLG) containing both types of pigments simultaneously—melanin and lipofuscin. This review examines the functional role of pigment granules in the aging process and in the development of oxidative stress and associated pathologies in RPE cells. The focus is on the process of light-induced oxidative degradation of pigment granules caused by reactive oxygen species. The reasons leading to increased oxidative stress in RPE cells as a result of the oxidative degradation of pigment granules are considered. A mechanism is proposed to explain the phenomenon of age-related decline in melanin content in RPE cells. The essence of the mechanism is that when the lipofuscin part of the melanolipofuscin granule is exposed to light, reactive oxygen species are formed, which destroy the melanin part. As more melanolipofuscin granules are formed with age and the development of degenerative diseases, the melanin in pigmented epithelial cells ultimately disappears.

Cellular senescence, a cell state characterized by a generally irreversible cell cycle arrest, is implicated in various physiological processes and a wide range of age-related pathologies. Oxidative stress, a condition caused by an imbalance between the production and the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues, is a common driver of cellular senescence. ROS encompass free radicals and other molecules formed as byproducts of oxygen metabolism, which exhibit varying chemical reactivity. A prerequisite for the generation of strong oxidizing ROS that can damage macromolecules and impair cellular function is the availability of labile (redox-active) iron, which catalyzes the formation of highly reactive free radicals. Targeting labile iron has been proven an effective strategy to counteract the adverse effects of ROS, but evidence concerning cellular senescence is sparse. In the present review article, we discuss aspects of oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence, with special attention to the potential implication of labile iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the primary chemicals produced by volume worldwide. Extensive literature has raised many concerns about its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases, but its contribution has not been extensively studied. During cellular senescence, the interference of lipofuscin with cellular functions promotes further senescence, causing cellular malfunction. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important protective role in the setting of kidney injury. The goal of the present work was to evaluate the effects of short-term treatment with low doses of BPA on cellular senescence in adult rat kidneys. Male Wistar rats were injected with vehicle (CONTROL group) or 50 or 500 μg/kg/day of BPA for 1 week (BPA50 and BPA500 groups, respectively). The kidneys were fixed in 4% buffered formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed, and an immunoreactive score (IRS) was calculated. Lipofuscin autofluorescence was used for the study of cellular senescence. The renal cortex showed diffuse autofluorescent lipofuscin signal in the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs) of males in the BPA50-treated (weak intensity) and BPA500-treated (strong intensity) groups, but not in CONTROL males. Labeling of cortical PCTs with anti-IGF-1 antibodies showed an IRS of 0 in the CONTROL group, but IRSs of 4 and 6 in the BPA50- and BPA500-treated groups, respectively. The present results suggest that low, "safe" doses of BPA induce renal injury, as measured by histological signs of renal changes, increased cellular senescence, and activation of cellular repair systems in PCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]