Change in N-Glycosylation of Plasma Proteins in Japanese Semisupercentenarians

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 11;10(11):e0142645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142645. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

An N-glycomic analysis of plasma proteins was performed in Japanese semisupercentenarians (SSCs) (mean 106.7 years), aged controls (mean 71.6 years), and young controls (mean 30.2 years) by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) using a graphitized carbon column. Characteristic N-glycans in SSCs were discriminated using a multivariate analysis; orthogonal projections to latent structures (O-PLS). The results obtained showed that multi-branched and highly sialylated N-glycans as well as agalacto- and/or bisecting N-glycans were increased in SSCs, while biantennary N-glycans were decreased. Since multi-branched and highly sialylated N-glycans have been implicated in anti-inflammatory activities, these changes may play a role in the enhanced chronic inflammation observed in SSCs. The levels of inflammatory proteins, such as CRP, adiponectin, IL-6, and TNF-α, were elevated in SSCs. These results suggested that responses to inflammation may play an important role in extreme longevity and healthy aging in humans. This is the first study to show that the N-glycans of plasma proteins were associated with extreme longevity and healthy aging in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asian People
  • Blood Proteins / analysis
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Glycomics*
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Longevity
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Blood Proteins

Grants and funding

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. 24659141 to TE) (http://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/index.html), and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation (No. 18 to YM)(http://www.ms-ins.com/welfare/): The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.