title: Electrophoretic mobility of cell nuclei (EMN index) as a biomarker of the biological aging process: Considering the association between EMN index and age.
abstract: The present study examined whether a specific property of cell microstructures may be useful as a biomarker of aging. Specifically, the association between age and changes of cellular structures reflected in electrophoretic mobility of cell nuclei index (EMN index) values across the adult lifespan was examined. This report considers findings from cross sections of females (n=1273) aged 18-98 years, and males (n=506) aged 19-93 years. A Biotest apparatus was used to perform intracellular microelectrophoresis on buccal epithelial cells collected from each individual. EMN index was calculated on the basis of the number of epithelial cells with mobile nuclei in reference to the cells with immobile nuclei per 100cells. Regression analyses indicated a significant negative association between EMN index value and age for men (r=-0.71, p<0.001) and women (r=-0.60, p<0.001); demonstrating a key requirement that must be met by a biomarker of aging. The strength of association observed between EMN index and age for both men and women was encouraging and supports the potential use of EMN index for determining a biological age of an individual (or a group). In this study, a new attempt of complex explanation of cellular mechanisms contributing to age related changes of the EMN index was made. In this study, a new attempt of complex explanation of cellular mechanisms contributing to age related changes of the EMN index was made. EMN index has demonstrated potential to meet criteria proposed for biomarkers of aging and further investigations are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Developmental Biology, Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland. Electronic address: czapla@amu.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Czapla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Public Health & Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia; Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Cnr of Ipswich Road and Cornwall Street, Buranda, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McPhail
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers