Open AccessExpression of p16 INK4a in peripheral blood T‐cells is a biomarker of human aging
Author(s) -
Liu Yan,
Sanoff Hanna K.,
Cho Hyunsoon,
Burd Christin E.,
Torrice Chad,
Ibrahim Joseph G.,
Thomas Nancy E.,
Sharpless Norman E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
aging cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1474-9726
pISSN - 1474-9718
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2009.00489.x
Subject(s) - biomarker , biology , peripheral blood , suppressor , gene expression , senescence , immunology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , cancer research , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , in vitro
Summary Expression of the p16 INK4a tumor suppressor sharply increases with age in most mammalian tissues, and contributes to an age‐induced functional decline of certain self‐renewing compartments. These observations have suggested that p16 INK4a expression could be a biomarker of mammalian aging. To translate this notion to human use, we determined p16 INK4a expression in cellular fractions of human whole blood, and found highest expression in peripheral blood T‐lymphocytes (PBTL). We then measured INK4/ARF transcript expression in PBTL from two independent cohorts of healthy humans (170 donors total), and analyzed their relationship with donor characteristics. Expression of p16 INK4a , but not other INK4/ARF transcripts, appeared to exponentially increase with donor chronologic age. Importantly, p16 INK4a expression did not independently correlate with gender or body‐mass index, but was significantly associated with tobacco use and physical inactivity. In addition, p16 INK4a expression was associated with plasma interleukin‐6 concentration, a marker of human frailty. These data suggest that p16 INK4a expression in PBTL is an easily measured, peripheral blood biomarker of molecular age.