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New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes

Avian models have the potential to elucidate basic cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the slow aging rates and exceptional longevity typical of this group of vertebrates. To date, most studies of avian aging have focused on relatively few of the phenomena now thought to be intrinsic to the...

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Autores principales: Harper, James M., Holmes, Donna J.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8230007/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34200297
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9060649
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author Harper, James M.
Holmes, Donna J.
author_facet Harper, James M.
Holmes, Donna J.
author_sort Harper, James M.
collection PubMed
description Avian models have the potential to elucidate basic cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the slow aging rates and exceptional longevity typical of this group of vertebrates. To date, most studies of avian aging have focused on relatively few of the phenomena now thought to be intrinsic to the aging process, but primarily on responses to oxidative stress and telomere dynamics. But a variety of whole-animal and cell-based approaches to avian aging and stress resistance have been developed—especially the use of primary cell lines and isolated erythrocytes—which permit other processes to be investigated. In this review, we highlight newer studies using these approaches. We also discuss recent research on age-related changes in neural function in birds in the context of sensory changes relevant to homing and navigation, as well as the maintenance of song. More recently, with the advent of “-omic” methodologies, including whole-genome studies, new approaches have gained momentum for investigating the mechanistic basis of aging in birds. Overall, current research suggests that birds exhibit an enhanced resistance to the detrimental effects of oxidative damage and maintain higher than expected levels of cellular function as they age. There is also evidence that genetic signatures associated with cellular defenses, as well as metabolic and immune function, are enhanced in birds but data are still lacking relative to that available from more conventional model organisms. We are optimistic that continued development of avian models in geroscience, especially under controlled laboratory conditions, will provide novel insights into the exceptional longevity of this animal taxon.
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spelling pubmed-82300072021-06-26 New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes Harper, James M. Holmes, Donna J. Biomedicines Review Avian models have the potential to elucidate basic cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the slow aging rates and exceptional longevity typical of this group of vertebrates. To date, most studies of avian aging have focused on relatively few of the phenomena now thought to be intrinsic to the aging process, but primarily on responses to oxidative stress and telomere dynamics. But a variety of whole-animal and cell-based approaches to avian aging and stress resistance have been developed—especially the use of primary cell lines and isolated erythrocytes—which permit other processes to be investigated. In this review, we highlight newer studies using these approaches. We also discuss recent research on age-related changes in neural function in birds in the context of sensory changes relevant to homing and navigation, as well as the maintenance of song. More recently, with the advent of “-omic” methodologies, including whole-genome studies, new approaches have gained momentum for investigating the mechanistic basis of aging in birds. Overall, current research suggests that birds exhibit an enhanced resistance to the detrimental effects of oxidative damage and maintain higher than expected levels of cellular function as they age. There is also evidence that genetic signatures associated with cellular defenses, as well as metabolic and immune function, are enhanced in birds but data are still lacking relative to that available from more conventional model organisms. We are optimistic that continued development of avian models in geroscience, especially under controlled laboratory conditions, will provide novel insights into the exceptional longevity of this animal taxon. MDPI 2021-06-07 /pmc/articles/PMC8230007/ /pubmed/34200297 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9060649 Text en © 2021 by the authors. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Review
Harper, James M.
Holmes, Donna J.
New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes
title New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes
title_full New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes
title_fullStr New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes
title_full_unstemmed New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes
title_short New Perspectives on Avian Models for Studies of Basic Aging Processes
title_sort new perspectives on avian models for studies of basic aging processes
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8230007/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34200297
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9060649
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