Melatonin and sirtuins in buccal epithelium: Potential biomarkers of aging and age-related pathologies

Annalucia Carbone, Natalia Linkova, Victoria Polyakova, Ekaterina Mironova, Ulduz Hashimova, Ahmed Gadzhiev, Khatira Safikhanova, Tatiana Kvetnaia, Julia Krylova, Roberto Tarquini, Gianluigi Mazzoccoli, Igor Kvetnoy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Melatonin (MT) and sirtuins (SIRT) are geroprotective molecules that hold back the aging process and the development of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular pathologies. Buccal epithelium (BE) sampling is a non-invasive procedure, yielding highly informative material for evaluating the expression of genes and proteins as well as the synthesis of molecules. Among these, MT and SIRTs are valuable markers of the aging process and age-related pathologies. The purpose of this study was to examine age-related expression patterns of these signaling molecules, in particular MT, SIRT1, SIRT3, and SIRT6 in BE of subjects of different ages with and without arterial hypertension (AH). We used real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence analysis by confocal microscopy. We found that MT immunofluorescence intensity in BE decreases with aging, more evidently in AH patients. SIRT3 and SIRT6 genes expression and immunofluorescence intensity in BE was decreased in aging controls. In AH patients, SIRT1, SIRT3, and SIRT6 gene expression and immunofluorescence intensity in BE was decreased in relation to age and in comparison with age-matched controls. In conclusion, the evaluation of MT and sirtuins in BE could provide a non-invasive method for appraising the aging process, also when accompanied by AH.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8134
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume21
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 1 2020

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Arterial hypertension
  • Buccal epithelium
  • Melatonin
  • Sirtuins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Molecular Biology
  • Spectroscopy
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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