DNA methylation aging clocks: challenges and recommendations

Christopher G Bell; Robert Lowe; Peter D Adams; Andrea A Baccarelli; Stephan Beck; Jordana T Bell; Brock C Christensen; Vadim N Gladyshev; Bastiaan T Heijmans; Steve Horvath; Trey Ideker; Jean-Pierre J Issa; Karl T Kelsey; Riccardo E Marioni; Wolf Reik; Caroline L Relton; Leonard C Schalkwyk; Andrew E Teschendorff; Wolfgang Wagner; Kang Zhang; Vardhman K Rakyan

doi:10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y

DNA methylation aging clocks: challenges and recommendations

Christopher G Bell, Robert Lowe, Peter D Adams, Andrea A Baccarelli, Stephan Beck, Jordana T Bell, Brock C Christensen, Vadim N Gladyshev, Bastiaan T Heijmans, Steve Horvath, Trey Ideker, Jean-Pierre J Issa, Karl T Kelsey, Riccardo E Marioni, Wolf Reik, Caroline L Relton, Leonard C Schalkwyk, Andrew E Teschendorff, Wolfgang Wagner, Kang ZhangVardhman K Rakyan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

541 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Epigenetic clocks comprise a set of CpG sites whose DNA methylation levels measure subject age. These clocks are acknowledged as a highly accurate molecular correlate of chronological age in humans and other vertebrates. Also, extensive research is aimed at their potential to quantify biological aging rates and test longevity or rejuvenating interventions. Here, we discuss key challenges to understand clock mechanisms and biomarker utility. This requires dissecting the drivers and regulators of age-related changes in single-cell, tissue- and disease-specific models, as well as exploring other epigenomic marks, longitudinal and diverse population studies, and non-human models. We also highlight important ethical issues in forensic age determination and predicting the trajectory of biological aging in an individual.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	249
Journal	Genome Biology
Volume	20
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y
Publication status	Published - 25 Nov 2019

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10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y

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IEU 2 Relton Programme - Epigenetic Epidemiology
Relton, C. L. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
NIHR BRC Translational Population Health
Davey Smith, G. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/17 → 31/03/22
Project: Research, Parent
(IEU) Epigenetics: Environment, Embodiment & Equality (E4)
Relton, C. L. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/16 → 31/12/19
Project: Research

Cite this

Bell, C. G., Lowe, R., Adams, P. D., Baccarelli, A. A., Beck, S., Bell, J. T., Christensen, B. C., Gladyshev, V. N., Heijmans, B. T., Horvath, S., Ideker, T., Issa, J.-P. J., Kelsey, K. T., Marioni, R. E., Reik, W., Relton, C. L., Schalkwyk, L. C., Teschendorff, A. E., Wagner, W., ... Rakyan, V. K. (2019). DNA methylation aging clocks: challenges and recommendations. Genome Biology, 20(1), 249. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y

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title = "DNA methylation aging clocks: challenges and recommendations",

abstract = "Epigenetic clocks comprise a set of CpG sites whose DNA methylation levels measure subject age. These clocks are acknowledged as a highly accurate molecular correlate of chronological age in humans and other vertebrates. Also, extensive research is aimed at their potential to quantify biological aging rates and test longevity or rejuvenating interventions. Here, we discuss key challenges to understand clock mechanisms and biomarker utility. This requires dissecting the drivers and regulators of age-related changes in single-cell, tissue- and disease-specific models, as well as exploring other epigenomic marks, longitudinal and diverse population studies, and non-human models. We also highlight important ethical issues in forensic age determination and predicting the trajectory of biological aging in an individual.",

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Bell, CG, Lowe, R, Adams, PD, Baccarelli, AA, Beck, S, Bell, JT, Christensen, BC, Gladyshev, VN, Heijmans, BT, Horvath, S, Ideker, T, Issa, J-PJ, Kelsey, KT, Marioni, RE, Reik, W, Relton, CL, Schalkwyk, LC, Teschendorff, AE, Wagner, W, Zhang, K & Rakyan, VK 2019, 'DNA methylation aging clocks: challenges and recommendations', Genome Biology, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 249. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y

TY - JOUR

T1 - DNA methylation aging clocks

T2 - challenges and recommendations

AU - Bell, Christopher G

AU - Lowe, Robert

AU - Adams, Peter D

AU - Baccarelli, Andrea A

AU - Beck, Stephan

AU - Bell, Jordana T

AU - Christensen, Brock C

AU - Gladyshev, Vadim N

AU - Heijmans, Bastiaan T

AU - Horvath, Steve

AU - Ideker, Trey

AU - Issa, Jean-Pierre J

AU - Kelsey, Karl T

AU - Marioni, Riccardo E

AU - Reik, Wolf

AU - Relton, Caroline L

AU - Schalkwyk, Leonard C

AU - Teschendorff, Andrew E

AU - Wagner, Wolfgang

AU - Zhang, Kang

AU - Rakyan, Vardhman K

PY - 2019/11/25

Y1 - 2019/11/25

N2 - Epigenetic clocks comprise a set of CpG sites whose DNA methylation levels measure subject age. These clocks are acknowledged as a highly accurate molecular correlate of chronological age in humans and other vertebrates. Also, extensive research is aimed at their potential to quantify biological aging rates and test longevity or rejuvenating interventions. Here, we discuss key challenges to understand clock mechanisms and biomarker utility. This requires dissecting the drivers and regulators of age-related changes in single-cell, tissue- and disease-specific models, as well as exploring other epigenomic marks, longitudinal and diverse population studies, and non-human models. We also highlight important ethical issues in forensic age determination and predicting the trajectory of biological aging in an individual.

AB - Epigenetic clocks comprise a set of CpG sites whose DNA methylation levels measure subject age. These clocks are acknowledged as a highly accurate molecular correlate of chronological age in humans and other vertebrates. Also, extensive research is aimed at their potential to quantify biological aging rates and test longevity or rejuvenating interventions. Here, we discuss key challenges to understand clock mechanisms and biomarker utility. This requires dissecting the drivers and regulators of age-related changes in single-cell, tissue- and disease-specific models, as well as exploring other epigenomic marks, longitudinal and diverse population studies, and non-human models. We also highlight important ethical issues in forensic age determination and predicting the trajectory of biological aging in an individual.

U2 - 10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y

DO - 10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y

M3 - Review article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 31767039

SN - 1474-7596

VL - 20

SP - 249

JO - Genome Biology

JF - Genome Biology

IS - 1

ER -

DNA methylation aging clocks: challenges and recommendations

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Projects

IEU 2 Relton Programme - Epigenetic Epidemiology

NIHR BRC Translational Population Health

(IEU) Epigenetics: Environment, Embodiment & Equality (E4)

Cite this