The Intrinsic Epigenetic Aging Clock
One of the key advancements in aging research is the discovery of significant differences in epigenetic age among different immune cell subtypes in blood samples. This variability has prompted the creation of measures like the “intrinsic epigenetic age” to focus on more consistent markers. The development of clocks such as the IntrinClock aims to provide accurate aging predictions unaffected by immune cell subtype variations. Such innovations are crucial for standardizing aging clock measurements and understanding age-related changes in cellular composition.
Epigenetic clocks utilize machine learning models trained on DNA methylation data to predict age-related changes. However, the cellular composition of tissues changes with age, affecting the accuracy of epigenetic age predictions. Research has shown that naive CD8+ T cells exhibit an epigenetic age younger than effector memory CD8+ T cells, highlighting the impact of immune cell composition on epigenetic age measurement. The development of the IntrinClock addresses this issue by focusing on age-associated intrinsic changes, providing a reliable predictive model for age-related studies.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06609-4
