Publications by authors named "Willcox B"

Objective: To test whether genetic variants of the growth hormone receptor gene (GHR) modulate the effect of lifestyle variables on lung cancer (LC) risk.

Materials And Methods: This population-based cohort study involved 6,439 men from the Japan-Hawaii Cancer study drawn from the Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program who were cancer-free at baseline examination (1965-1968; age 45-68 years) and followed-up until December 1999. We determined the association of GHR SNP rs4130113 genotypes GHR-AA (common allele A homozygotes) and GHR-G (minor allele G carriage) with alcohol drinking, BMI, physical activity and cigarette smoking in relation to LC and non-small cell LC (NSCLC).

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Background: This study tested whether the carriage of the longevity-associated G-allele of FOXO3 SNP rs2802292 (TG/GG) protects against incident coronary artery disease (CAD) in men with hypertension.

Methods: Subjects were American men residing on Oahu having Japanese (n = 5415) or Okinawan (n = 897) ancestry and free of CAD at baseline (1965-1968) when aged 45-68 years.

Results: During the follow-up, there were 1 629 incident CAD cases.

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Aims: Continued low mortality from coronary heart disease in Japan, despite deleterious changes in traditional risk factors, remains unexplained. Since aortic calcification (AC) was an early predictor of cardiovascular mortality, we compared the progression and incidence of AC between Japanese in Japan, white Americans, and third-generation Japanese Americans in the ERA JUMP cohort. We examined whether higher blood levels of marine-derived n-3 fatty acids (FAs) in Japanese than in Americans accounted for the difference.

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Over the course of the twentieth century, human life expectancy at birth rose in high-income nations by approximately 30 years, largely driven by advances in public health and medicine. Mortality reduction was observed initially at an early age and continued into middle and older ages. However, it was unclear whether this phenomenon and the resulting accelerated rise in life expectancy would continue into the twenty-first century.

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Article Synopsis
  • Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) cases are rising, especially HPV-related ones, which generally have a better prognosis; however, the detection methods currently in use do not effectively differentiate between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases, potentially leading to inappropriate treatment decisions.
  • Researchers utilized GeoMx digital spatial profiling to analyze gene expression in three OPC subtypes (p16+/HPV+, p16+/HPV-, and p16-/HPV-) from tumor samples to uncover these discrepancies.
  • The study found that certain genes associated with survival and proliferation were more active in p16-/HPV- tumors, while genes linked to immune response were elevated in p16+/HPV+ tumors, highlighting the need to further explore the implications of
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Systemic immunity plays an important role in cancer immune surveillance and response to therapy, but little is known about the immune status of children with solid cancers. We performed a high-dimensional single-cell analysis of systemic immunity in 50 treatment-naive pediatric cancer patients, comparing them to age-matched healthy children. Children with cancer had a lower frequency of peripheral NK cells, which was not due to tumor sequestration, had lower surface levels of activating receptors and increased levels of the inhibitory NKG2A receptor.

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The phosphoantigen ()-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP) is an established activator of Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells and stimulates downstream effector functions including cytotoxicity and cytokine production. In order to improve its drug-like properties, we herein report the design, synthesis, serum stability, metabolism, and biological evaluation of a new class of symmetrical phosphonodiamidate prodrugs of methylene and difluoromethylene monophosphonate derivatives of HMBPP. These prodrugs, termed phosphonodiamidate ProPAgens, were synthesized in good yields, exhibited excellent serum stability (>7 h), and their metabolism was shown to be initiated by carboxypeptidase Y.

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Objective: To examine depressed affect, somatic complaints, and positive affect as longitudinal predictors of fluid, crystallized and global cognitive performance in the Kuakini Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS), a large prospective cohort study of Japanese-American men.

Methods: We assessed 3,088 dementia-free Kuakini-HAAS participants aged 71-93 (77.1 ± 4.

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Article Synopsis
  • Nonagenarians and centenarians illustrate successful aging and effective biological regulation, highlighting a complex area of study focused on longevity.
  • The research explores microRNAs, which regulate gene expression, across different age groups, particularly examining those in Okinawa based on genetic variations.
  • The study identifies five microRNAs that are upregulated in nonagenarians with a longevity-associated genotype, suggesting they may play a role in extending lifespan and health span, indicating the need for further research in this area.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates how the FOXO3 longevity variant rs2802292 relates to factors like telomere length, telomerase activity, FOXO3 expression, and inflammation in older adults.
  • - Carriers of the FOXO3 G-allele showed protection against telomere shortening and higher telomerase activity, suggesting a link between this genetic variant and longevity.
  • - The findings indicate that FOXO3's influence on aging may vary between men and women, with older females showing reduced inflammatory cytokines and older males showing increased anti-inflammatory cytokines.
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Decreased adult neurogenesis, or the gradual depletion of neural stem cells in adult neurogenic niches, is considered a hallmark of brain aging. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the intricate relationship between aging, adult neurogenesis, and the potential neuroregenerative properties of astaxanthin, a carotenoid principally extracted from the microalga The unique chemical structure of astaxanthin enables it to cross the blood-brain barrier and easily reach the brain, where it may positively influence adult neurogenesis. Astaxanthin can affect molecular pathways involved in the homeostasis, through the activation of FOXO3-related genetic pathways, growth, and regeneration of adult brain neurons, enhancing cell proliferation and the potency of stem cells in neural progenitor cells.

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In genetically heterogeneous (UM-HET3) mice produced by the CByB6F1 × C3D2F1 cross, the Nrf2 activator astaxanthin (Asta) extended the median male lifespan by 12% (p = 0.003, log-rank test), while meclizine (Mec), an mTORC1 inhibitor, extended the male lifespan by 8% (p = 0.03).

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Objective: The G -allele of FOXO3 SNP rs2802292 , which is associated with human resilience and longevity, has been shown to attenuate the impact of hypertension on the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We sought to determine whether the FOXO3 G -allele similarly attenuates the impact of hypertension on the risk of cerebral microinfarcts (CMI).

Methods: From a prospective population-based cohort of American men of Japanese ancestry from the Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program (KHHP) and Kuakini Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (KHAAS) that had brain autopsy data, age-adjusted prevalence of any CMI on brain autopsy was assessed.

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Butyrophilin (BTN)-3A and BTN2A1 molecules control the activation of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells during T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated sensing of phosphoantigens (PAg) derived from microbes and tumors. However, the molecular rules governing PAg sensing remain largely unknown. Here, we establish three mechanistic principles of PAg-mediated γδ T cell activation.

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Managed bee species provide essential pollination services that contribute to food security worldwide. However, managed bees face a diverse array of threats and anticipating these, and potential opportunities to reduce risks, is essential for the sustainable management of pollination services. We conducted a horizon scanning exercise with 20 experts from across Europe to identify emerging threats and opportunities for managed bees in European agricultural systems.

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Background: It is well established that mid-life hypertension increases risk of dementia, whereas the association of late-life hypertension with dementia is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether FOXO3 longevity-associated genotype influences the association between late-life hypertension and incident dementia.

Methods: Subjects were 2,688 American men of Japanese ancestry (baseline age: 77.

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Introduction: Characterization of the tumour immune infiltrate (notably CD8+ T-cells) has strong predictive survival value for cancer patients. Quantification of CD8 T-cells alone cannot determine antigenic experience, as not all infiltrating T-cells recognize tumour antigens. Activated tumour-specific tissue resident memory CD8 T-cells (T) can be defined by the co-express of CD103, CD39 and CD8.

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Longevity is written into the genes. While many so-called "longevity genes" have been identified, the reason why particular genetic variants are associated with longer lifespan has proven to be elusive. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the strongest of 3 adjacent longevity-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms - - of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 gene, , may confer greater lifespan by protecting against mortality risk from one or more adverse medical conditions of aging - namely, hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and diabetes.

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T cell receptor (TCR) gene modified T cells are a promising form of adoptive cellular therapy against human malignancies and viral infections. Since the first human clinical trial was carried out in 2006, several strategies have been developed to improve the efficacy and safety of TCR engineered T cells by enhancing the surface expression of the introduced therapeutic TCRs whilst reducing the mis-pairing with endogenous TCR chains. In this study, we explored how modifications of framework residues in the TCR variable domains affect TCR expression and function.

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Forthcoming advances in geroscience will influence the health span of current and future generations and generate both challenges and opportunities for those approaching or reaching retirement ages. The resulting changes in the life course will influence those reaching stages in life that are commonly associated with retirement. How people plan for that later phase of life is critical-especially given that current approaches to planning are either nonexistent or outdated.

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Vγ9Vδ2 T cells play critical roles in microbial immunity by detecting target cells exposed to pathogen-derived phosphoantigens (P-Ags). Target cell expression of BTN3A1, the "P-Ag sensor," and BTN2A1, a direct ligand for T cell receptor (TCR) Vγ9, is essential for this process; however, the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. Here, we characterize BTN2A1 interactions with Vγ9Vδ2 TCR and BTN3A1.

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FOXO3 is a ubiquitous transcription factor expressed in response to cellular stress caused by nutrient deprivation, inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, radiation, hypoxia, and other factors. We showed previously that the association of inherited FOXO3 variants with longevity was the result of partial protection against mortality risk posed by aging-related life-long stressors, particularly cardiometabolic disease. We then referred to the longevity-associated genotypes as conferring "mortality resilience.

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Butyrophilin (BTN)-3A and BTN2A1 molecules control TCR-mediated activation of human Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells triggered by phosphoantigens (PAg) from microbes and tumors, but the molecular rules governing antigen sensing are unknown. Here we establish three mechanistic principles of PAg-action. Firstly, in humans, following PAg binding to the BTN3A1-B30.

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Background: Accurate assessment of fat intake is essential to examine relationships between diet and disease risk. However, estimating individual intakes of fat quantity by dietary assessment is difficult.

Objective: We assessed the association of plasma phospholipid fatty acid levels with dietary intake of fatty acids in the INTERMAP/INTERLIPID study, conducted with a standardized protocol.

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