title: An epigenetic aging clock for dogs and wolves.
abstract: Several articles describe highly accurate age estimation methods based on human DNA-methylation data. It is not yet known whether similar epigenetic aging clocks can be developed based on blood methylation data from canids. Using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing, we assessed blood DNA-methylation data from 46 domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris) and 62 wild gray wolves (C. lupus). By regressing chronological dog age on the resulting CpGs, we defined highly accurate multivariate age estimators for dogs (based on 41 CpGs), wolves (67 CpGs), and both combined (115 CpGs). Age related DNA methylation changes in canids implicate similar gene ontology categories as those observed in humans suggesting an evolutionarily conserved mechanism underlying age-related DNA methylation in mammals.
authors.affiliation: Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Bridgett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: vonHoldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics and Biomathematics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.affiliation: Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004285:Dogs / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019596:Wolves / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: DNA methylation; biological age; canine; dog; epigenetic clock; wolf