Associations of essential trace elements with epigenetic aging indicators and the potential mediating role of inflammation

Xu Cheng; Yue Wei; Ruixin Wang; Chengyong Jia; Zefang Zhang; Jun An; Weiya Li; Jiazhen Zhang; Meian He

doi:10.1016/j.redox.2023.102910

Associations of essential trace elements with epigenetic aging indicators and the potential mediating role of inflammation

Redox Biol. 2023 Nov:67:102910. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102910. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Authors

Xu Cheng¹, Yue Wei¹, Ruixin Wang¹, Chengyong Jia¹, Zefang Zhang¹, Jun An¹, Weiya Li¹, Jiazhen Zhang¹, Meian He²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
² Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. Electronic address: hemeian@hotmail.com.

Abstract

Background: Essential trace elements (ETEs) play essential roles in vital functions, but their effects on epigenetic aging remain poorly understood.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations of ETEs with four epigenetic aging indicators and assess the potential mediating role of inflammation.

Methods: We recruited 93 individuals from hospitals between October 2018 and August 2019. Plasma levels of cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc were measured by ICP-MS, and leukocyte DNA methylation levels were measured using Illumina MethylationEPIC beadchip. Linear regression was used to estimate the association between seven plasma ETEs and epigenetic aging indicators. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to evaluate the effect of ETEs mixtures. Inflammatory status was assessed using four systemic inflammation indices (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII)) and three cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13). Mediation analysis was performed to explore the role of inflammation in the above associations.

Results: Plasma Se levels were significantly negatively associated with DunedinPACE, whereas Cu levels were significantly positively associated with it. Both WQS regression and BKMR models suggested that Se and Cu dominate the effect of the ETEs mixture. MLR and interleukin 6 were significantly and positively associated with DunedinPACE. Further mediation analysis indicated that inflammation partially mediated the association between ETEs and DunedinPACE.

Discussion: Plasma Se and Cu levels are closely associated to epigenetic aging, and inflammation might be a potential mechanism underlying this relationship. These findings contribute to the prevention of health hazards associated with population aging.

Keywords: Copper; Epigenetic aging; Essential trace element; Inflammation; Selenium.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aging / genetics
Bayes Theorem
Copper
Epigenesis, Genetic
Humans
Inflammation / genetics
Trace Elements* / metabolism

Substances

Trace Elements
Copper