Biomedical subjects

Eugenio Mocchegiani

Publications and source records attributed to Eugenio Mocchegiani.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Health status, blood and anthropometrical indices from Greek old and nonagenarian subjects.

As the elderly population is increasing rapidly, there is a lot of scientific interest in clarifying the differential life-style, genetic, biochemical and molecular factors contributing to mortality or exceptional longevity. Within the framework of the ZINCAGE project, 249 old (60-85 years) and nonagenarian Greek subjects (>/=85 years old) were recruited and anthropometrical, blood and biochemical indices as well as blood pressure measurements were obtained. Based upon the inclusion criteria, 214 of them were characterized as healthy (136 female, 78 male), while those characterized as non-healthy were excluded from the statistical analysis. The findings indicated an 88.4% prevalence of overweight and obesity in elderly (91.2% in women, 83.3% in men), while a significant decrease in body mass index with age was recorded. Hypercholesterolemia was observed in 75.3% of elderly women and in 69.2% of men. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate value was increased in 27.6% of all healthy elderly, while zinc deficiency was observed in 18.7% of elderly. Over 85.0% of all healthy elderly were within normal range for all other hematological analysis. Blood analysis confirmed the good health status of the elderly recruited as healthy, except for the high prevalence of obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

Age Distribution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Zinc status, psychological and nutritional assessment in old people recruited in five European countries: Zincage study.

The paper shows the results on the relationship between zinc status, psychological dimensions (cognitive functions, mood, perceived stress) and nutritional aspects in European healthy old subjects recruited for ZINCAGE Project (supported by the European Commission in the Sixth Framework Programme). The old healthy subjects were recruited in Italy, Greece, Germany, France, Poland taking into account the different dietary habits between Northern and Southern European Countries and the pivotal role played by zinc for psychological functions. Measures of the cognitive status, mood and perceived stress level were obtained at baseline, using the "Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)"; the "Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS - 15 items)" and the "Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)", respectively. Nutritional status was assessed using "Frequency Food Questionnaire". The sample included 853 old subjects, classified in 4 groups of age: 60-69-years-old (n = 359); 70-74-years-old (n = 225); 75-79-years-old (n = 153); 80-84-years-old (n = 116). Subjects were studied on the basis of plasma zinc, in which zinc </=11 microM means marginal zinc deficiency. The total samples showed that the 82% had no cognitive decline, whereas 76% presented a low GDS value indicating no depression. However, all psychological variables were related to plasma zinc values and nutritional assessment. In particular, a relationship between marginal zinc deficiency and impaired psychological dimensions occurred in Greece than in other European countries due to low intake and less variety of foods rich of zinc. This phenomenon was independent by the age, suggesting that a correct zinc intake from a wide range of foods may be useful to maintain a satisfactory plasma zinc levels as well as psychological status in elderly with subsequent achievement of healthy ageing.

Affect↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Involvement of -308 TNF-alpha and 1267 Hsp70-2 polymorphisms and zinc status in the susceptibility of coronary artery disease (CAD) in old patients.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is characterized by an inflammatory status and it represents the major cause of death in elderly. Zinc deficiency and inflammatory genes within major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region are implicated in ischaemic heart diseases. TNF-alpha is present in coronary artery plaques and may provoke plaque instability. Hsp70 plays instead a pro-atherogenic role, via proinflammatory cytokine production, in atherosclerotic lesions contributing to plaque rupture. Contradictory data report the association between -308 TNF-alpha polymorphism and CAD, while no investigations exist on Hsp70-2 gene in CAD. In the current study, we analysed -308 TNF-alpha and 1267 Hsp70-2 polymorphisms and zinc status in 190 healthy old controls and 216 old patients with carotid stenosis subdivided in two groups: the first one 105 patients with CAD (C group), and the second one 111 patients without cardiovascular events (D group). We found a lack of association between -308 TNF-alpha polymorphism and CAD. Conversely, 1267 Hsp70-2 polymorphism was associated with CAD. In particular, significant higher frequency of AB + BB genotypes (B + genotype) was observed in C patients than controls (71.4 vs.56.9%, P = 0.017, odds ratio = 1.898). However, when C patients were subdivided into four subgroups on the basis of presence/absence of 1267B Hsp70-2 and -308A TNF-alpha alleles, B + A + patients showed higher prothrombin activity as well as Hsp70-2, TNF-alpha, IL-6 gene expressions in carotid atheroma when compared to B - A - genotypes. The zinc status (plasma and Zn/Fe ratio in erythrocytes) is not affected by these polymorphisms. However, zinc deficiency is present in CAD condition. In conclusion, 1267 HSP70-2 polymorphism and zinc deficiency, rather than -308 TNF-alpha, are independently associated with CAD. B + A+ and B + A- carriers seem more predisposed to ischaemic events; conversely, B - A- genotype may be considered a protective marker against CAD.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Polymorphisms in MT1a gene coding region are associated with longevity in Italian Central female population.

Metallothioneins (MTs) play a pivotal role in zinc-related cell homeostasis because of their high affinity for zinc, which is in turn fundamental for immune response and antioxidant activity. MTs regulate zinc homeostasis by binding zinc and releasing zinc at the occurrence for immune response. The zinc release by MT is very limited in chronic inflammation and ageing. Some polymorphisms of MTs gene, in particular MT1a sub-isoform, may affect this release that is a problem still unresolved in ageing. The screening in the present paper of two polymorphisms in MT1a gene has revealed for the first time that the polymorphism corresponding to a A/C (Asp/Thr) transition at 647 nt position in the Mt1a coding region is the more involved in the longevity, at least in old women, rather than the other corresponding to A/G (Lys/Arg) transition at 1,245 nt position. Concomitantly, for the +647 MT1a polymorphism, old and very old female with Asp/Asp genotype (called C-carriers) display higher zinc release by MT (detected by Zinpyr-1 fluorescent probe in presence of NO donor), low MT levels and reduced IL-6 plasma concentrations, suggesting its involvement in longevity and in lower inflammatory status. This fact is confirmed by the analysis of haplotypes in which the allele Asp is more involved in longevity. Therefore the +647 MT1a polymorphism more affects MTs induction and zinc release, which are indispensable to undertake the inflammatory status under control and subsequently to reach healthy longevity.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between zinc status and immune function in the elderly.

Zinc is essential for the immune system and elderly people have an increased probability for zinc deficiency, documented by a decline of serum or plasma zinc levels with age. Although most healthy elderly are not classified as clinically zinc deficient, even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function. Several striking similarities in the immunological changes during aging and zinc deficiency, including a reduction in the activity of the thymus and thymic hormones, a shift of the T helper cell balance towards TH2, decreased response to vaccination, and impaired functions of innae immune cells indicate that a wide prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency in elderly people may contribute to immunosenescence. Studies with oral zinc supplementation show the potential to improve the immune response of elderly people by restoration of the zinc levels, showing that balancing the zinc status may be a way to healthy aging. This review summarizes the current literature about zinc supplementation in the elderly and thereby defines the rationale for the immunological part of the ZINCAGE project.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of improved zinc status on T helper cell activation and TH1/TH2 ratio in healthy elderly individuals.

Mild zinc deficiency is a common condition in healthy elderly individuals leading to impaired cell-mediated immune response. Here we report the effect of improved zinc status on TH1/TH2 balance and on the activation status of T helper cells in 19 healthy elderly subjects aged 69.8 +/- 5.1 years. Our investigations revealed a mild zinc deficiency which was adjusted by oral zinc supplementation for seven weeks. Improved serum zinc levels significantly reduced levels of activated T helper cells whereas changes in TH1/TH2 ratio (determined by CCR4 and CCR5 expression) were not observed. These findings suggest that elderly individuals may benefit from moderate zinc supplementation due to improved immune response leading to reduced incidences of autoimmune diseases and infections.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneous evaluation of circulating chemokine and cytokine profiles in elderly subjects by multiplex technology: relationship with zinc status.

Cellular components of both adaptive and innate immune systems produce different chemokines and cytokines, involved in different signalling pathways among cells, and modulate effector function during immune response, playing a key role in the regulation of the type and extent of the immune response in the elderly. We evaluated the circulating concentration of selected chemokines: MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, IL-8, RANTES together with IL-6 and TNF-alpha in plasma obtained from a group of healthy old subjects, in order to highlight possible differences in the synthesis of these factors, assuming that both the cytokine and the chemokine networks are remodelled with ageing. The simultaneous evaluation was performed by a multiplex analysis system. In addition, since micronutrient deficiency may underlie an inflammatory response, the association between chemokine levels and a nutritional element such as zinc was also evaluated, since the immune system is the first system to be affected by changing zinc levels, due to its high cell turnover. A progressive age-related increase of plasma concentrations of all soluble factors was observed. The increment was particularly evident for IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-alpha in the over 85-year-old group in concomitance with increasing percentages of subjects with low circulating levels of zinc. In conclusion, the remodelling of chemokine profiles, skewed to Th2 response by both advanced ages and circulating levels of zinc, might reflect different states of activation and/or responsiveness of the human immune cell/mediator network, thus influencing the ability to develop rapid innate and long-lasting adaptive immune responses with advancing age.

Age Distribution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological biomarkers of ageing in man: changes in both innate and adaptive immunity are associated with health and longevity.

Scientific and clinical advances in the last century have led to increased numbers of individuals living to older ages. Thus a major concern is how to live these years with a high quality of life. The ageing immune system is less well able to cope with infectious diseases than the youthful immune system probably as a consequence of altered immune response to pathogens. Thus, both innate and adaptive immune responses show age-related changes that could be decisive for healthy ageing and survival. Longitudinal studies in healthy elderly have allowed the definition of the ''immune risk phenotype" (IRP) a predictor of mortality in elderly individuals that is based on several parameters of the adaptive immune response. Here, we hypothesize that failures in innate immunity observed in frail elderly are related to those alterations described in adaptive immunity defined as the IRP. It will be important to include assays of NK cell markers and functions in future longitudinal studies in order to investigate this point in detail as well as to consider the trace element zinc as an essential co-factor for optimal NK cell activity.

Aged, 80 and over↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metallothionein (I+II) confers, via c-myc, immune plasticity in oldest mice: model of partial hepatectomy/liver regeneration.

Because of its similarity to ageing in impaired immune efficiency 48 h after surgical procedures on young partially hepatectomised mice, partial hepatectomy/liver regeneration (pHx) provides a good model for the study of inflammation in ageing. In old age, high metallothionein (I+II) (MT) sequesters a substantial number of intracellular zinc ions consequently leading to low zinc ion bioavailability for an adequate immune response. Corticosterone and IL-6 affect MTmRNA induction in inflammation and after pHx against oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the role played by MT in conferring immune plasticity in ageing and in very old age using the pHx model. 48 h after their partial hepatectomy, the crude zinc balance was negative in young, old and very old mice coupled with increased MT, corticosterone, sIL-6R and IL-6. Concomitantly, Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and IL-2 production decreased. Complete restoration of the nutritional-endocrine-immune parameters occurred 15 days from the surgical procedures in young and very old mice, but not in old or transgenic mice overexpressing MT. A significant positive or inverse correlation among nutritional-endocrine-immune parameters exists in young and very old mice, but not in old mice during liver regeneration. Since MT also affects c-myc, the gene expression of c-myc declines from 48 h to days 7 and 15 after pHx in young and very old mice, but remains constantly high in old pHx mice for the same days. This circumstance leads to the appearance of tumours in the long run in old pHx mice and survival times that are shorter than old sham controls. Because complete remodelling also occurs in IL-6 and in sIL-6R in very old mice during liver regeneration, the pre-existing inflammation is not detrimental in very old age. As such, very old mice are still responsive to large inflammation, such as pHx, thanks to correct MT homeostasis. Correct MT homeostasis, via c-myc, is therefore pivotal in both suitable liver regeneration and in conferring immune plasticity with subsequent successful ageing. High MT plays an extremely harmful role in ageing: on one hand it lowers zinc ion bioavailability levels required for immune efficiency and on the other hand it increases c-myc expression. The combination of immune depression and enhanced c-myc, via high MT, may trigger the appearance of age-related degenerative diseases.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MtmRNA gene expression, via IL-6 and glucocorticoids, as potential genetic marker of immunosenescence: lessons from very old mice and humans.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in metal-related cell homeostasis because of their high affinity for metals forming clusters. The main functional role of MTs is to sequester and/or dispense zinc participating in zinc homeostasis, which is relevant in normal immune response. Consistent with this role, MTs gene expression (MTmRNA) is transcriptionally induced by a variety of stressing agents to protect cells from reactive oxygen species. In order to accomplish this task, MTs gene expression is affected by glucocorticoids and IL-6 for a prompt immune response. This protection is peculiar in young-adult age during transient stress and inflammatory condition, but not in ageing because stress-like condition and inflammation are constant for the whole circadian cycle. This may lead MTs to turn-off from role of protection in young age to deleterious one in ageing. The aim is to suggest MTmRNA as potential genetic marker of immunosenescence. Liver MTmRNA, IL-6 and glucocorticoids levels are high, whereas the bioavailability of zinc ions is low and natural killer cells activity is depressed in old and very old mice during the light period as compared to young in the same period. An inversion of nutritional-endocrine-immune profile exclusively occurs in young mice during the night showing the existence of immune plasticity. No inversion occurs in old mice during the night. As a consequence, no immune plasticity in old mice ensues. By contrast, very old mice remodel the altered MTmRNA and immune-endocrine profile during the night up to values of young ones observed during the light period. Therefore, the remodelling of MTmRNA may be involved in the maintenance of immune plasticity with subsequent successful ageing. Thus, MTmRNA, via IL-6 and glucocorticoids, may be potential genetic marker of immunosenescence. This assumption is reinforced by low MTmRNA in lymphocytes of nonagenarians and young-adult people in comparison with elderly and Down's syndrome subjects.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

New trends in biomedical aging research.

BACKGROUND: The increasing demand for health care services, the extraordinary results obtained by applying innovative biotechnology, and the intense debate aroused by the possibility that postponement of aging may be in sight should promote public enthusiasm and funding for biomedical aging research aimed at enhancing a healthy life span by healthy productive life. OBJECTIVE: New trends in biomedical aging research arise from the advancement of knowledge on the basic molecular mechanisms of aging and the availability of advanced biotechnology. RESULTS: The emerging scenario is that, in opposition to the highly publicized, yet unwarranted claims of existing so-called anti-aging treatments, innovative and promising therapies for the treatment and prevention of age-related diseases and intriguing strategies aimed at the postponement of aging are currently in the process of development. CONCLUSIONS: Although many problems will remain unsolved for long, it seems that a common consensus has been raised towards the possible serious impact of these strategies on the development of knowledge around the mechanisms of aging.

Aging↗