Effects of iron homeostasis on epigenetic age acceleration: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Zhihao Wang; Yi Liu; Shuxin Zhang; Yunbo Yuan; Siliang Chen; Wenhao Li; Mingrong Zuo; Yufan Xiang; Tengfei Li; Wanchun Yang; Yuan Yang; Yanhui Liu

doi:10.1186/s13148-023-01575-w

Effects of iron homeostasis on epigenetic age acceleration: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Clin Epigenetics. 2023 Oct 7;15(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s13148-023-01575-w.

Authors

Zhihao Wang^#¹, Yi Liu^#², Shuxin Zhang³, Yunbo Yuan¹, Siliang Chen¹, Wenhao Li¹, Mingrong Zuo¹, Yufan Xiang¹, Tengfei Li¹, Wanchun Yang¹, Yuan Yang¹, Yanhui Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. liuyh@scu.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Epigenetic clocks constructed from DNA methylation patterns have emerged as excellent predictors of aging and aging-related health outcomes. Iron, a crucial element, is meticulously regulated within organisms, a phenomenon referred as iron homeostasis. Previous researches have demonstrated the sophisticated connection between aging and iron homeostasis. However, their causal relationship remains relatively unexplored.

Results: Through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) utilizing the random effect inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, each standard deviation (SD) increase in serum iron was associated with increased GrimAge acceleration (GrimAA, Beta_IVW = 0.27, P = 8.54E-03 in 2014 datasets; Beta_IVW = 0.31, P = 1.25E-02 in 2021 datasets), HannumAge acceleration (HannumAA, Beta_IVW = 0.32, P = 4.50E-03 in 2014 datasets; Beta_IVW = 0.32, P = 8.03E-03 in 2021 datasets) and Intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA, Beta_IVW = 0.34, P = 5.33E-04 in 2014 datasets; Beta_IVW = 0.49, P = 9.94E-04 in 2021 datasets). Similar results were also observed in transferrin saturation. While transferrin manifested a negative association with epigenetic age accelerations (EAAs) sensitivity analyses. Besides, lack of solid evidence to support a causal relationship from EAAs to iron-related biomarkers.

Conclusions: The results of present investigation unveiled the causality of iron overload on acceleration of epigenetic clocks. Researches are warranted to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and formulate strategies for potential interventions.

Keywords: Aging; Epigenetic age acceleration; Iron homeostasis; Iron metabolism; Mendelian randomization; Senescence.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Acceleration
DNA Methylation*
Epigenesis, Genetic
Genome-Wide Association Study
Homeostasis
Humans
Iron
Mendelian Randomization Analysis*
Transferrins

Substances

Iron
Transferrins