Publications by authors named "Joao Passos"

Senescent cells drive tissue dysfunction through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). We uncovered a central role for mitochondria in the epigenetic regulation of the SASP, where mitochondrial-derived metabolites, specifically citrate and acetyl-CoA, fuel histone acetylation at SASP gene loci, promoting their expression. We identified the mitochondrial citrate carrier (SLC25A1) and ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) as critical for this process.

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Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic disorder of phenotypic variability with age-dependent penetrance. This study describes the diagnosis, clinical characterization, management, and outcomes of a large patient cohort with plexiform neurofibroma (PN) treated with selumetinib in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods: This single-center observational study consecutively enrolled patients with NF1-PN treated with selumetinib from April 2018 to 2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • Recent advancements in aging research and drug discovery connect basic research with clinical applications, aiming to promote healthy longevity in humans.* -
  • The Aging Research and Drug Discovery Meeting in 2023 highlighted key areas such as AI, biomarkers, geroscience, and clinical trials focused on enhancing healthspan.* -
  • The meeting emphasized the importance of combining generative AI with innovative biological technologies to tackle age-related diseases and extend healthy lifespans.*
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  • Scientists studied how old skin cells, called senescent cells, can make other parts of the body age faster too!
  • They found that adding these old skin cells to young mice made them weaker and affected how well they could move around, as well as their thinking skills.
  • This suggests that old skin cells might be spreading aging effects to other organs, like the brain, which could explain why aging can be linked to problems in both the skin and brain.
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Background: Selumetinib is the first approved treatment for pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN) in the EU and US, as well as in multiple other countries. Evidence for the management of selumetinib-associated adverse events (AEs) is mostly limited to clinical trials and expanded-access programs. We gathered a panel of European healthcare practitioners with clinical experience prescribing selumetinib and/or managing pediatric patients with NF1-PN to provide recommendations on the prevention and management of AEs.

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  • - Senescent cells release inflammatory signals known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which are linked to aging and tissue dysfunction.
  • - Mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) accumulates in these cells and activates RNA sensors, triggering the aggregation of MAVS and enhancing SASP production.
  • - Targeting the RNA sensors and understanding the role of proteins like BAX and BAK can potentially reduce SASP factors and age-related inflammation, suggesting new treatment approaches for conditions like Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).
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  • * New research tools are helping scientists study senescence more effectively, but identifying senescent cells remains challenging because of a lack of clear markers.
  • * The "minimum information for cellular senescence experimentation in vivo" (MICSE) guidelines offer a comprehensive resource on senescence markers in different organisms and types of tissues to enhance the study of senescent cells.
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Classic galactosemia is an inborn error of metabolism caused by mutations in the GALT gene resulting in the diminished activity of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase enzyme. This reduced GALT activity leads to the buildup of the toxic intermediate galactose-1-phosphate and a decrease in ATP levels upon exposure to galactose. In this work, we focused our attention on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the context of this metabolic disorder.

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  • Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a rare genetic disorder that often leads to brain and skin tumors, with dermatological symptoms affecting most patients, but these symptoms are often overlooked in diagnosis.
  • A study examined skin lesions in NF2 patients, finding that a significant number had skin issues years before their NF2 diagnosis, with various types of lesions identified.
  • Most patients reported that these skin lesions minimally impacted their quality of life, highlighting the need for better awareness and potential earlier diagnosis to improve patient outcomes.
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  • Cellular senescence, once thought to only occur in tissue cultures, is now recognized as playing complex roles in various biological processes across multiple species, including humans.
  • Traditional understanding of senescent cells primarily comes from lab studies, but these cells are rare in actual tissues, and fully developed cells can also show signs of senescence.
  • The SenNet Biomarkers Working Group has created recommendations for identifying senescent cells in tissues, analyzing literature on markers in mice and humans, and discussing new methods for detection that will assist researchers in the field.
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Genomic profiling and other new technologies have increased the volume and complexity of information available for guiding clinical decision-making in precision oncology. Consequently, there is a need for multidisciplinary expert teams, in the form of molecular tumor boards (MTBs), who can translate this information into a therapeutic plan, including matching patients to suitable clinical trials. Virtual MTBs (vMTBs) can help to overcome many of the challenges associated with in-person MTBs, such as limited time availability, access to appropriate experts or datasets, or interactions between institutions.

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Cells expressing features of senescence, including upregulation of p21 and p16, appear transiently following tissue injury, yet the properties of these cells or how they contrast with age-induced senescent cells remains unclear. Here, we used skeletal injury as a model and identified the rapid appearance following fracture of p21+ cells expressing senescence markers, mainly as osteochondroprogenitors (OCHs) and neutrophils. Targeted genetic clearance of p21+ cells suppressed senescence-associated signatures within the fracture callus and accelerated fracture healing.

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Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally prevalent pathogen, with outbreaks occurring in tropical regions. Chronic pain is the main symptom reported and is associated with decreased mobility and disability. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as a new therapeutic tool for chronic arthralgia.

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Cells expressing features of senescence, including upregulation of p21 and p16, appear transiently following tissue injury, yet the properties of these cells or how they contrast with age-induced senescent cells remains unclear. Here, we used skeletal injury as a model and identified the rapid appearance following fracture of p21+ cells expressing senescence markers, mainly as osteochondroprogenitors (OCHs) and neutrophils. Targeted genetic clearance of p21+ cells suppressed senescence-associated signatures within the fracture callus and accelerated fracture healing.

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Over half a century has passed since Alexey Olovnikov's groundbreaking proposal of the end-replication problem in 1971, laying the foundation for our understanding of telomeres and their pivotal role in cellular senescence. This review paper delves into the intricate and multifaceted relationship between cellular senescence, the influence of telomeres in this process, and the far-reaching consequences of telomeres in the context of aging and age-related diseases. Additionally, the paper investigates the various factors that can influence telomere shortening beyond the confines of the end-replication problem and how telomeres can exert their impact on aging, even in the absence of significant shortening.

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Senescent cells drive age-related tissue dysfunction via the induction of a chronic senescenceassociated secretory phenotype (SASP). The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p16 have long served as markers of cellular senescence. However, their individual roles remain incompletely elucidated.

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Genomic instability and inflammation are distinct hallmarks of aging, but the connection between them is poorly understood. Understanding their interrelationship will help unravel new mechanisms and therapeutic targets of aging and age-associated diseases. Here we report a novel mechanism directly linking genomic instability and inflammation in senescent cells through a mitochondria-regulated molecular circuit driven by p53 and cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCF).

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Senescent cells drive age-related tissue dysfunction partially through the induction of a chronic senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Mitochondria are major regulators of the SASP; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Mitochondria are often essential for apoptosis, a cell fate distinct from cellular senescence.

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Cellular senescence and circadian dysregulation are biological hallmarks of aging. Whether they are coordinately regulated has not been thoroughly studied. We hypothesize that BMAL1, a pioneer transcription factor and master regulator of the molecular circadian clock, plays a role in the senescence program.

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Human lifespan continues to extend as an unprecedented number of people reach their seventh and eighth decades of life, unveiling chronic conditions that affect the older adult. Age-related skin conditions include senile purpura, seborrheic keratoses, pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, diabetic foot wounds and skin cancer. Current methods of drug testing prior to clinical trials require the use of pre-clinical animal models, which are often unable to adequately replicate human skin response.

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Cellular senescence has emerged as a fundamental biological mechanism underpinning the ageing process and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of an increasing number of age-related conditions. Cellular senescence is a cell fate originally defined as an irreversible loss of replicative potential although it is now clear that it can be induced by a variety of mechanisms independent of replication and telomere attrition. The drivers include a persistent DNA damage response causing multiple alterations in cellular function.

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Cellular senescence may be associated with morphological changes in skeletal muscle and changes in physical function with age although there have been few human studies. We aimed to determine the feasibility of characterising cellular senescence in skeletal muscle and explored sex-specific associations between markers of cellular senescence, muscle morphology, and physical function in participants from the MASS_Lifecourse Study. Senescence markers (p16, TAF (Telomere-Associated DNA Damage Foci), HMGB1 (High Mobility Group Box 1), and Lamin B1) and morphological characteristics (fibre size, number, fibrosis, and centrally nucleated fibres) were assessed in muscle biopsies from 40 men and women (age range 47-84) using spatially-resolved methods (immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and RNA and fluorescence in situ hybridisation).

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Cellular senescence is a well-established driver of aging and age-related diseases. There are many challenges to mapping senescent cells in tissues such as the absence of specific markers and their relatively low abundance and vast heterogeneity. Single-cell technologies have allowed unprecedented characterization of senescence; however, many methodologies fail to provide spatial insights.

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