Repeated exposure to challenging environmental conditions influences telomere dynamics across adult life as predicted by changes in mortality risk

Marasco, V., Boner, W. , Griffiths, K., Heidinger, B. and Monaghan, P. (2021) Repeated exposure to challenging environmental conditions influences telomere dynamics across adult life as predicted by changes in mortality risk. FASEB Journal, 35(8), e21743. (doi: 10.1096/fj.202100556R) (PMID:34192361)

Abstract

The effects of stress exposure are likely to vary depending on life-stage and stressor. While it has been postulated that mild stress exposure may have beneficial effects, the duration of such effects and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. While the long-term effects of early-life stress are relatively well studied, we know much less about the effects of exposure in adulthood since the early- and adult-life environments are often similar. We previously reported that repeated experimental exposure to a relatively mild stressor in female zebra finches, first experienced in young adulthood, initially had no effect on mortality risk, reduced mortality in middle age, but the apparently beneficial effects disappeared in old age. We show here that this is underpinned by differences between the control and stress-exposed group in the pattern of telomere change, with stress-exposed birds showing reduced telomere loss in middle adulthood. We thereby provide novel experimental evidence that telomere dynamics play a key role linking stress resilience and aging.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Monaghan, Professor Pat and Griffiths, Mrs Kate and Boner, Dr Winnie and Marasco, Dr Valeria
• Authors: Marasco, V., Boner, W., Griffiths, K., Heidinger, B., and Monaghan, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: FASEB Journal
• Publisher: Federation of American Society of Experimental Biology
• ISSN: 0892-6638
• ISSN (Online): 1530-6860
• Published Online: 30 June 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in FASEB Journal 35(8):e21743
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
164901		The ecological significance of telomere dynamics:environments, individuals and inheritance	Patricia Monaghan	European Research Council (ERC)	20100317/FP7-268926	Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine
173866		Effect of circadian disruption on telomere dynamics	Patricia Monaghan	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/P009174/1	Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine