Increased ectodysplasin-A2-receptor EDA2R is a ubiquitous hallmark of aging and mediates parainflammatory responses

Abstract Intensive efforts have been made to identify features that could serve as biomarkers of aging. Yet, drug-based interventions aimed at lessening the detrimental effects of getting older are lacking. This is largely attributable to tissue-specificity, sex-related differences, and to the diffi...

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Main Authors: Maria Chiara Barbera, Luca Guarrera, Andrea David Re Cecconi, Giada Andrea Cassanmagnago, Arianna Vallerga, Martina Lunardi, Francesca Checchi, Laura Di Rito, Margherita Romeo, Sarah Natalia Mapelli, Benedikt Schoser, Edward V. Generozov, Molecular Genetics Group, Rick Jansen, Eco J. C. de Geus, Brenda Penninx, Jenny van Dongen, Ilaria Craparotta, Rosanna Piccirillo, Ildus I. Ahmetov, Marco Bolis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56918-3
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Summary:Abstract Intensive efforts have been made to identify features that could serve as biomarkers of aging. Yet, drug-based interventions aimed at lessening the detrimental effects of getting older are lacking. This is largely attributable to tissue-specificity, sex-related differences, and to the difficulty of identifying actionable targets, which continues to pose a significant challenge. Here, we implement a bioinformatics approach revealing that aging-associated increase of the transmembrane Ectodysplasin-A2-Receptor is a prominent tissue-independent alteration occurring in humans and other species, and is particularly pronounced in models of accelerated aging. We show that strengthening of the Ectodysplasin-A2-Receptor signalling axis in myogenic precursors and differentiated myotubes suffices to trigger potent parainflammatory responses, mirroring aspects of aging-driven sarcopenia. Intriguingly, obesity, insulin-resistance, and aging-related comorbidities, such as type-2-diabetes, result in heightened levels of the Ectodysplasin-A2 ligand. Our findings suggest that targeting the Ectodysplasin-A2 surface receptor represents a promising pharmacological strategy to mitigate the development of aging-associated phenotypes.
ISSN:2041-1723