Linking mitochondrial and telomere dysfunction in newborn tissues: TP53, SIRT1 and PPARGC1 alpha as a central hub? (R-9401)

Ageing processes are universal, inevitable, and start at the very beginning of life with an acceleration at middle-age. In later life, ageing is associated with cancer, metabolic outcomes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Exposures to external factors can influence the process of ageing in a positive (i.e. physical activity, healthy diet) or negative manner (i.e. smoking, lack of exercise, stress, etc.). Therefore, it is of great public health importance to investigate external factors that accelerate underlying ageing processes. In the last decade, air pollution has been pinpointed as one of the major global health problems affecting adults, children and newborns worldwide. Growing evidence shows that exposure to ambient air pollution during the most vulnerable stage in life, the in utero period, affects the development of age-related diseases as well. This grant will allow me to conduct fundamental research to identify key players that link prenatal air pollution exposure with mitochondria and telomeres - two hallmarks that define the "core axis of ageing".

Keywords:Ageing, Air pollution, Environage, Mitochondria, Telomeres

Disciplines:Epidemiology