Age-related gene expression and DNA methylation changes in rhesus macaque

Abstract

Aging is a very complicated biological process that can change gene expressions. The Chinese rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta lasiota; CR) is closely related to humans. We explored gene expression with increasing age and DNA methylation changes in young and old CRs. Results showed blood transcriptome and DNA methylome significantly changed from young to old CRs. The age-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were associated with age-related biological features, such as immunity, blood coagulation, and biosynthetic process. The measurements of coagulation indicators confirmed old CRs had shorter coagulation time than young CRs, and the activities of coagulation factor II (FII) and factor VIII (FVIII) were enhanced in old CRs. Humans and CRs exhibited the same enhanced blood coagulation with age phenotype. Our study found aging is a critical factor affecting gene expression in CRs, and also provided new insights into the blood coagulation changes in non-human primates.

Keywords: Aging; Blood coagulation; DNA methylation; Gene expression; Rhesus macaque.