Navigating the Landscape of Translational Geroscience in Canada: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Current Progress and Future Directions.

The inaugural Canadian Conferences on Translational Geroscience were held as 2 complementary sessions in October and November 2023. The conferences explored the profound interplay between the biology of aging, social determinants of health, the potential societal impact of geroscience, and the maintenance of health in aging individuals. Although topics such as cellular senescence, molecular and genetic determinants of aging, and prevention of chronic disease were addressed, the conferences went on to emphasize practical applications for enhancing older people's quality of life. This article summarizes the proceeding and underscores the synergy between clinical and fundamental studies. Future directions highlight national and global collaborations and the crucial integration of early-career investigators. This work charts a course for a national framework for continued innovation and advancement in translational geroscience in Canada.

Attenuation of Oxidative Stress in HEK 293 Cells by the TCM Constituents Schisanhenol, Baicalein, Resveratrol or Crocetin and Two Defined Mixtures.

PURPOSE: Our working hypothesis is that single bioactive phytochemicals with antioxidant properties that are important constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and their defined mixtures have potential as chemoprotective agents for chronic conditions characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, including Alzheimer's. Here we evaluate the ability of baicalein, crocetin, trans-resveratrol or schisanhenol and two defined mixtures of these TCM phytochemicals to attenuate the toxicity resulting from exposure to cell permeant t-butyl hydroperoxide (tBPH) in wild-type and bioengineered (to express choline acetyltransferase) HEK 293 cells. METHODS: Endpoints of tBHP-initiated oxidative and nitrosative stress in both types of HEK 293 cells and its attenuation by TCM constituents and mixtures included cytotoxicity (LDH release); depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH); formation of S-glutathionylated proteins; oxidative changes to the disulfide proteome; and real-time changes in intracellular redox status. RESULTS: At low µM concentrations, each of the TCM constituents and mixtures effectively attenuated intracellular toxicity due to exposure of HEK 293 cells to 50 or 250 µM tBHP for 30 min to 3 h. Confocal microscopy of HEK 293 cells transfected with mutated green fluorescent protein (roGFP2) showed effective attenuation of tBHP oxidation by baicalein in real time. Three redox-regulated proteins prominent in the disulfide proteome of HEK 293 cells were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that single TCM chemicals and their simple mixtures have potential for use in adjunct chemoprotective therapy. Advantages of mixtures compared to single TCM constituents include the ability to combine compounds with varying molecular mechanisms of cytoprotection for enhanced biological activity; and to combine chemicals with complementary pharmacokinetic properties to increase half-life and prolong activity in vivo. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page.

Differential regulation of the high-affinity choline transporter by wild-type and Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein.

The high-affinity choline transporter (CHT) is responsible for choline uptake into cholinergic neurons, with this being the rate-limiting step for acetylcholine production. Altering CHT protein disposition directly impacts choline uptake activity and cholinergic neurotransmission. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) interacts with CHT proteins and increases their endocytosis from the cell surface. The goal of this study was to examine regulation of CHT trafficking and activity by wild-type APP (APPwt) and determine if this differs with Swedish mutant APP (APPSwe) in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. APPSwe differs from APPwt in its trafficking from the cell surface through endosomes. We report for the first time that CHT interacts significantly less with APPSwe than with APPwt. Surprisingly, however, CHT cell surface levels and choline uptake activity are decreased to the same extent and CHT co-localization to early endosomes increased similarly in cells expressing either APPwt or APPSwe. A critical observation is that CHT co-immunoprecipitates with ßCTF from APPSwe-expressing cells. We propose that decreased CHT function is mediated differently by APPwt and APPSwe; APPwt interaction with CHT facilitates its endocytosis from the cell surface, whereas the effect of APPSwe on CHT is mediated indirectly potentially by binding to the ßCTF fragment or by Aß released from cells. High-affinity choline transporter (CHT) takes choline into cholinergic neurons for acetylcholine synthesis. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) interacts with CHT proteins, but this is decreased for Swedish mutant APP (APPSwe). CHT cell surface levels and localization to early endosomes, and choline uptake activity are changed similarly by APPwt or APPSwe. APPSwe mediates effects indirectly potentially by ßCTF or Aß.

Regulation of the high-affinity choline transporter activity and trafficking by its association with cholesterol-rich lipid rafts.

The sodium-coupled, hemicholinium-3-sensitive, high-affinity choline transporter (CHT) is responsible for transport of choline into cholinergic nerve terminals from the synaptic cleft following acetylcholine release and hydrolysis. In this study, we address regulation of CHT function by plasma membrane cholesterol. We show for the first time that CHT is concentrated in cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in both SH-SY5Y cells and nerve terminals from mouse forebrain. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells expressing rat CHT with filipin, methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MßC) or cholesterol oxidase significantly decreased choline uptake. In contrast, CHT activity was increased by addition of cholesterol to membranes using cholesterol-saturated MßC. Kinetic analysis of binding of [(3)H]hemicholinium-3 to CHT revealed that reducing membrane cholesterol with MßC decreased both the apparent binding affinity (KD) and maximum number of binding sites (Bmax ); this was confirmed by decreased plasma membrane CHT protein in lipid rafts in cell surface protein biotinylation assays. Finally, the loss of cell surface CHT associated with lipid raft disruption was not because of changes in CHT internalization. In summary, we provide evidence that CHT association with cholesterol-rich rafts is critical for transporter function and localization. Alterations in plasma membrane cholesterol cholinergic nerve terminals could diminish cholinergic transmission by reducing choline availability for acetylcholine synthesis. The sodium-coupled choline transporter CHT moves choline into cholinergic nerve terminals to serve as substrate for acetylcholine synthesis. We show for the first time that CHT is concentrated in cholesterol-rich lipid rafts, and decreasing membrane cholesterol significantly reduces both choline uptake activity and cell surface CHT protein levels. CHT association with cholesterol-rich rafts is critical for its function, and alterations in plasma membrane cholesterol could diminish cholinergic transmission by reducing choline availability for acetylcholine synthesis.