Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Immunosenescence implies innate and adaptive immunity dysfunction, which naturally occurs with aging. It is a complex multifactorial process which can be triggered by either genetic changes, immune changes or both. Numerous research studies have shown that t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Biomedicines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/3/721 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850204928125960192 |
|---|---|
| author | Dragomira Nikolova Yana Todorova Zora Hammoudeh Blaga Rukova Radoslava Emilova Milena Aleksova Vesselina Koleva Maria Nikolova |
| author_facet | Dragomira Nikolova Yana Todorova Zora Hammoudeh Blaga Rukova Radoslava Emilova Milena Aleksova Vesselina Koleva Maria Nikolova |
| author_sort | Dragomira Nikolova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Immunosenescence implies innate and adaptive immunity dysfunction, which naturally occurs with aging. It is a complex multifactorial process which can be triggered by either genetic changes, immune changes or both. Numerous research studies have shown that the process of senescence goes alongside chronic immune activation. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in the expression of genes associated with adaptive and innate immune responses in order to identify reliable biomarkers for immune aging. <b>Methods</b>: For that aim, 55 clinically healthy individuals of active age (21–65 years) were distributed based on immunophenotyping in two groups, with and without signs of premature senescence. A gene expression analysis was subsequently made on those two groups, and the differentially expressed genes were presented and interpreted. <b>Results</b>: Altogether, forty-eight (48) genes exhibited differential expression between the two groups, most of which showed up-regulation (45) (fold change more than 2), and only three were down-regulated (fold change less than −2). The highest positive fold change showed IL-1β (10.76), BCL6 (13.25) and CCL4 (15.91), while the highest negative fold changes were documented for IL23R (−3.10), IL5 (−2.66) and PTGS2 (COX-2) (−2.15). <b>Conclusions</b>: Our results reveal that immunosenescence is positively associated with chronic inflammation, which is typical for the aging process. On the other hand, we identified markers of possible protective effects against oxidative stress and tumorigenesis. These findings can aid the early diagnosis of chronic degenerative diseases in subclinical phase, as well as the development of strategies to prevent the processes of premature immune aging. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b078f71c6624c79a56cd05aa3a354af |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b078f71c6624c79a56cd05aa3a354af2025-08-20T02:11:12ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-03-0113372110.3390/biomedicines13030721Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active AgeDragomira Nikolova0Yana Todorova1Zora Hammoudeh2Blaga Rukova3Radoslava Emilova4Milena Aleksova5Vesselina Koleva6Maria Nikolova7Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaNational Reference Laboratory of Immunology, National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Acibadem City Clinic Tokuda Hospital, 1407 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, BulgariaNational Reference Laboratory of Immunology, National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, BulgariaNational Reference Laboratory of Immunology, National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Acibadem City Clinic Tokuda Hospital, 1407 Sofia, BulgariaNational Reference Laboratory of Immunology, National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Immunosenescence implies innate and adaptive immunity dysfunction, which naturally occurs with aging. It is a complex multifactorial process which can be triggered by either genetic changes, immune changes or both. Numerous research studies have shown that the process of senescence goes alongside chronic immune activation. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in the expression of genes associated with adaptive and innate immune responses in order to identify reliable biomarkers for immune aging. <b>Methods</b>: For that aim, 55 clinically healthy individuals of active age (21–65 years) were distributed based on immunophenotyping in two groups, with and without signs of premature senescence. A gene expression analysis was subsequently made on those two groups, and the differentially expressed genes were presented and interpreted. <b>Results</b>: Altogether, forty-eight (48) genes exhibited differential expression between the two groups, most of which showed up-regulation (45) (fold change more than 2), and only three were down-regulated (fold change less than −2). The highest positive fold change showed IL-1β (10.76), BCL6 (13.25) and CCL4 (15.91), while the highest negative fold changes were documented for IL23R (−3.10), IL5 (−2.66) and PTGS2 (COX-2) (−2.15). <b>Conclusions</b>: Our results reveal that immunosenescence is positively associated with chronic inflammation, which is typical for the aging process. On the other hand, we identified markers of possible protective effects against oxidative stress and tumorigenesis. These findings can aid the early diagnosis of chronic degenerative diseases in subclinical phase, as well as the development of strategies to prevent the processes of premature immune aging.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/3/721immunosenescencegenetic markerschronic inflammationadaptive and innate immune response |
| spellingShingle | Dragomira Nikolova Yana Todorova Zora Hammoudeh Blaga Rukova Radoslava Emilova Milena Aleksova Vesselina Koleva Maria Nikolova Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age Biomedicines immunosenescence genetic markers chronic inflammation adaptive and innate immune response |
| title | Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age |
| title_full | Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age |
| title_fullStr | Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age |
| title_short | Gene Expression Changes as Biomarkers of Immunosenescence in Bulgarian Individuals of Active Age |
| title_sort | gene expression changes as biomarkers of immunosenescence in bulgarian individuals of active age |
| topic | immunosenescence genetic markers chronic inflammation adaptive and innate immune response |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/3/721 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dragomiranikolova geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT yanatodorova geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT zorahammoudeh geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT blagarukova geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT radoslavaemilova geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT milenaaleksova geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT vesselinakoleva geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage AT marianikolova geneexpressionchangesasbiomarkersofimmunosenescenceinbulgarianindividualsofactiveage |