The 2014 Ageing Summit

The 2014 Ageing Summit is comprised of 3 days of conferences 

 Day 1: The Immunology of Ageing

Talk times include 5 – 10 minutes for questions 
9:00 – 9:45              Registration 
9:45 – 10:00            Introduction by the Chairs: Dr Neil A Mabbott, The Roslin Institute& Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 
Dr Milica Vukmanovic-Stejic, Senior Research Fellow, UCL Medical School, London, UK 
10:00 – 10:30          Old B cells, what are the chances they will help us? 
Dr Deborah Dunn-Walters, Reader in Immunology, Department of Immunobiology, King's College London School of Medicine, UK 
A diverse B cell repertoire is essential in order to increase the chances of being able to recognise foreign antigen. At the same time the repertoire has to avoid carrying specificities for self antigens.  Older people are more prone to infection, less able to respond well to vaccine and generally have more autoantibodies in their blood.  We will discuss this in the context of our findings on B cell repertoire changes with age, and different types of B cells that respond to different types of antigen challenge. 
10:30 – 11:00          Effects of ageing on antigen sampling in the mucosal immune system 
Dr Neil A Mabbott, The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK 
The gastrointestinal tract is continuously exposed to large amounts of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms. As well as mounting an effective immune response against food-borne pathogens, the mucosal immune system must also recognise the harmless antigens (Ag) associated with food and commensals and generate immunological tolerance against them.  The transcytosis of Ag across the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of Peyer’s patches by M cells is important for the induction of efficient immune responses to mucosal antigens.  The mucosal immune response is compromised by ageing, but effects on M cells were unknown. We show that M-cell density in the FAE of aged mice was dramatically reduced.  As a consequence, aged Peyer’s patches were significantly deficient in their ability to transcytose particulate lumenal antigen across the FAE.  Ageing specifically impaired the expression of Spi-B and the down-stream functional maturation of M cells.  Ageing also dramatically impaired CCL20 expression by the FAE.  As a consequence, fewer B cells were attracted towards the FAE, potentially reducing their ability to promote M-cell maturation.  These data show that ageing dramatically impedes the functional maturation of M cells, revealing an important ageing-related defect in the mucosal immune system’s ability to sample lumenal antigens. 
11:00 – 11:30         Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and poster exhibition and trade show 
11:30 – 12:00         Para-inflammation and Age-related Macular Degeneration 
Dr Heping Xu, Centre for Vision and Vascular Science (CVVS) Queen's University Belfast Institute of Clinical Science, Ireland 
Para-inflammation is an immune response to chronic noxious stimuli at a low magnitude that lies between the basal homeostatic state and overt inflammation. The physiological role is to maintain tissue homeostasis and functionality. Dysregulation in the para-inflammatory response underlies many chronic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and various age-related degenerative disorders. The nature of retinal para-inflammation under normal ageing conditions and the role of dysregulated or maladapted para-inflammatory response in age-related macular degeneration will be discussed. 
12:00 – 12:30        Lymphocyte proliferation, ageing and the regulatory proteolysis of key proteins. 
Professor Jacek Witkowski, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland 
Cells control the activities of their proteins by limited regulatory proteolysis (LRP). The ‘calpain-calpastatin system’ (CCS) regulates the activities of signal transduction molecules, receptors, transcription factors and elements of cell division ‘machinery’ known to be modified by ageing, and thus is an important object in the study of immunosenescence and longevity. We have recently launched an international project (CALPACENT®) aiming at defining the role of CCS in the wellbeing of the immune systems in centenarians. We will discuss the results obtained so far in the context of dwindling performance of ageing immune system and of current understanding of cellular LRP. 
12:30 – 13:00       Effects Of Melatonin On The Age-Dependent Dysregulation Of The Nf-Kb/Nlrp3 Activation During Sepsis 
Mr. Huayqui Volt Valdivia, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Spain 
The age-related changes of the immune system involve a persistent proinflammatory state. This subclinical and chronic inflammation contributes further to enhance the susceptibility of the elderly patients to several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, including sepsis and ageing itself. The recent discovery of the NF-kB/NLRP3 connection during the innate immune response to inflammatory signals leads to explore the activation of this pathway during ageing in a mouse model of sepsis. The lack of an effective treatment of this disease supports the look for new molecular targets and/or drug therapy. We explored whether the anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin can protects against NF-kB/NLRP3 activation. Our results support NLRP3 inflammasome as a novel molecular signaling pathway during sepsis and indentify it as a main target for the anti-inflammatory action of melatonin. Due to the age-dependent reduction in the endogenous melatonin production, the relation between melatonin reduction and increased inflammatory response with age is discussed. 
13:00  – 14:00         Lunch, poster exhibition and trade show 
14:00 – 15:00          Discussion session 
This discussion session is an informal question and answer session.  This is an ideal opportunity to get advice and opinion from experts in this area.  This session is not for questions about specific talks, which can be asked after the speakers session, but for discussing either general topics or specific issues. There are three ways you can ask questions: 
1.    Before the session you can submit your question to Euroscicon staff at the registration desk, 
2.    Before and during the session you can submit a question or comments, by email, which will be provided on the day 
3.    During the session you can put your hand up and join in 
15:00 – 15:30         Ageing of the immune system – Role of CMV for Coronary Heart Disease 
Professor Ioakim Spyridopoulos, Chair of Cardiovascular Gerontology, Hon. Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Newcastle University and Freeman Hospital, UK 
While human cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that is never cleared from individuals following primary infection, is deemed harmless in immunocompetent people, there is mounting evidence that it adversely affects human lifespan linked to a higher incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in seropositive individuals. This talk will look into the potential link between an ageing immune system, cytomegalovirus infection and progression of atherosclerosis. It will attempt to link cellular changes in the CD8 T cell compartment secondary to CMV, telomere biology and inflammation with the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease. 
15:30 – 16:00         Afternoon Tea, last poster session and trade show     
16:00 – 16:30         Old before our time? Cytomegalovirus establishes the rudimentary signs of an ageing immune system even in young and healthy adults. 
Dr James Turner, Lecturer, Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK. Ageing is associated with a decline in immune competence termed immunosenescence. In the elderly, this process has been associated with increased susceptibility to infection, accelerated cognitive decline, frailty and increased mortality. It has become clear that many features of an ageing immune system are determined by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Until recently, it remained largely unexplored whether CMV drives immunity towards a senescent profile in young and healthy adults. In this talk I will present the results of a recent investigation, whereby several hallmarks of immunosenescence were assessed in a chronologically young population of healthy university students. 
16:30 – 17:00         Insights into maintaining Immunsurveillance in Advanced Age: Killer Inhibitory Receptors (KIR) haplogroups A and B track with NaturalKiller Cells and Cytokine Profile in Oct/Nonagenarians in  Belfast ElderlyLongitudinal Free-living Aging Study (BELFAST) 
Dr Irene Maeve Rea, Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician Geriatric Medicine , Queens University Belfast and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland 
Natural Killer cell (NK) populations,  Killer Cell receptor complexes (KIRs) and associated cytokine profiles are highly effective collaborators in controlling, patrolling and protecting our immune landscape.The intrinsic and extrinsic factors that shape human NK cell diversity remain incompletely understood. In dissecting out elements of this immune landscape we have reported relationships between NK cells and NK-related subsets, KIR A and B haplogroups and cytokines as in subjects from the BELFAST study. The findings across the 3 interacting domains are exploratory but may serve to stimulate debate and encourage replication studies to improve our understanding about the immune signatures of those who live successfully into their 90s. 

17:00                     Chairman’s Summing Up and Close of Meeting 

 

 Day 2: Biomarkers and Ageing

Biomarkers of ageing could help to characterise biological age and be used, not only to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated diseases or disabilities, but also could lead to anti-ageing therapies. This event will discuss the current research to identify and characterise biomarkers for ageing in an informal atmosphere.  Abstract submissions are encouraged for both oral and poster presentations and there will be plenty of opportunity of networking with experts in the field.

9:00 – 9:45           Registration
9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chairs: Professor David Melzer,Epidemiology & Public Health Group, Medical School, University of Exeter, UK andDr Lorna Harries,  RNA-mediated disease mechanisms, Medical School, University of Exeter, UK
10:00 – 10:30        Bone turnover markers and ageing-related loss of bone mass and strength
Dr Pawel Szulc, INSERM UMR 1033, University of Lyon, France
In postmenopausal women and in older men, elevated BTM levels (which reflect higher bone turnover) are associated with lower BMD, poor bone microarchitecture (e.g. thinner cortex) and faster bone loss. Bone turnover rate is a major determinant of bone loss in older people. However, BTM measurement cannot be used for prediction of accelerated bone loss, because their correlation is not strong enough, especially in men. Higher BTM levels are associated with higher risk of fracture (i.e. lower bone strength). This association was found in postmenopausal and elderly women, but not older men. It was found mainly for major osteoporotic fractures (e.g. hip fracture), especially in short-term follow-ups (<5 years). This association was significant only for bone-specific BTM, mainly for bone resorption markers. The association between BTM levels and fracture risk remains significant after adjustment for BMD, which indicates that accelerated bone turnover is an independent determinant of bone fragility. However, currently, there are no official guidelines concerning the use of BTM for the fracture risk assessment in the clinical practice. In conclusion, measurement of BTM can improve our understanding of the mechanisms leading to the ageing-related loss of bone mass and strength.
10:30 – 11:00        Maldi imaging mass spectrometry of ageing cartilage
Dr. Mandy Peffers, Wellcome Veterinary Integrated Research fellow, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) enables examination of proteins in-situ at a high spatial resolution. This study utilised this methodology to investigate the location and abundance of different cartilage proteins in ageing and osteoarthritic equine cartilage in order to determine changing molecular events distinct between aging and disease. 
11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and poster exhibition and trade show
11:30 – 12:00       Healthy ageing: are we there yet?
Dr Suzanne Wait, Director, SHW Health Ltd, UK
'Healthy ageing' has become a ubiquitous goal in all countries facing the challenges of an ageing population. This talk will provide an overview of the current epidemiology of ageing -- looking at time trends, changing patterns of morbidity and co-morbidity, quality of life and independence, and the implications of these trends on health and social policies. Changes that are needed within health and social care systems will be explored with a view to define ways in which we can best foster the healthy ageing of our populations in the future.
12:00  – 12:30    Interpretation and usefulness of current reference intervals for biochemical markers in frail elderly
Mrs Maria Edvardsson, Reg Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, Laboratory, Finspång Health Care Centre, County Council ofÖstergötland, Sweden
Reference intervals provided by the laboratory are commonly established by measurements of samples from apparently healthysubjects in the ages 18-65 years. The aim was to compare values used to develop reference intervals for IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, C4alanine aminotransferase, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, gamma-glutamyltransferase, lactate dehydrogenas,phosphate, sodium and urea, with values from nursing home residents (NHR), 80 years and older. Comparing laboratory resultsfrom elderly people with reference values for younger adults can be misleading or even dangerous, since normal conditions mayappear pathological, or the contrary, and thus lead to unnecessary or even harmful treatment.
12:30  – 13:30      Lunch, poster exhibition and trade show
13:30 – 14:30       Discussion Panel
This discussion session is an informal question and answer session.  This is an ideal opportunity to get advice and opinion from experts in this area.  This session is not for questions about specific talks, which can be asked after the speakers session, but for discussing either general topics or specific issues. There are three ways you can ask questions:
1.   Before the session you can submit your question to Euroscicon staff at the registration desk,
2.   Before and during the session you can submit a question or comments, by email, which will be provided on the day of the event
3.    During the session you can put your hand up and join in
14:30 – 15:00      Disrupted expression of splicing factors in human ageing
Dr Lorna Harries, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Genetics, RNA-mediated disease mechanisms, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
Changes in splicing with age have been reported in man, potentially arising from age-related alterations in splicing factor (SF) expression. We examined differential expression of SFs with age, in blood from two human populations and in senescent primary cells in culture.  38% of SFs demonstrated age/senescence-related transcript expression changes both in vivo and in vitro. Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) emerged as a potential negative regulator of splicing factor expression, which was confirmed by siRNA against ATM in primary fibroblasts. These findings suggest that ATM, a core DNA damage protein, is a key regulator of the splicing machinery in man.
15:00 – 15:30       Afternoon Tea, last poster session and trade show  
  
15:30 – 16:00       Genomic biomarkers of human ageing 
Professor David Melzer, Epidemiology & Public Health Group, Medical School, University of Exeter, UK
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is an intermediate between DNA and proteins. Clinical tests based on gene expression / mRNA signatures are already in use, notably for sub-typing and prognosis in cancer.  In the last five years there have been several key findings of gene expression and methylation biomarkers linked to ageing or related traits in humans.  Larger scale human studies of in-vivo genome wide expression in blood (notably from our InCHIANTI aging genomics study) have identified age related changes in the ratio of splice variants (isoforms) with advancing age for several genes, perhaps explaining loss of function in specialized cells. Gene expression associations with age itself yielded a biomarker sets that is a powerful classifier of biological age. Gene expression markers associated with muscle strength and cognition showed striking concordance with certain mice models of muscle repair and beta-amyloid phagocytosis respectively. Several studies of methylation with age have confirmed associations with large numbers of markers, with marker sets having strong correlations with chronological age. The functional significance of these patterns is currently being explored. Major challenges for the future include accounting for cell and tissue heterogeneity and establishing the longer term predictive value of expression and methylation markers.
16:00 – 16:30        Photoageing and the elastic fibre network
Dr Rachel Watson, Senior Non-Clinical Lecturer, The University of Manchester, UK
In humans, ageing is a composite, combining intrinsic processes with those induced by interactions with our environment. Skin, more than any other organ, is subject to extreme environmental pressure, the major force being long term, chronic exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Skin is a specialised organ, composed of a cell-rich epidermis and a relatively cell-poor but extracellular matrix-rich dermis; this matrix has a complex composition, made up of many interacting proteins, which imbues skin with strength and elasticity. The effects of chronic UVR exposure to the dermal matrix will be discussed and we will explore why we see variation in the effects of UVR on specific dermal matrix components. Finally, we will look at strategies to partially repair the damage observed following long term sun exposure.

16:30 - 17:00        Chairman’s summing up

 

 Day 3: Establishing Anti-Ageing Medicines

The last three decades have shown us how plastic the ageing process can be. It is becoming apparent that, with increased knowledge, more and more of the negative consequences of ageing can now be tackled, postponed or avoided. This meeting aims to review the most up to date science about how we can positively modulate ageing and the implementation of such results to human ageing.

9:00 – 9:45          Registration 
9:45 – 10:00        Introduction by the Chair: Dr Nadège Minois, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, Scotland 
10:00 – 10:30       The effects and mechanisms of action of spermidine on ageing 
Dr Nadège Minois, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK 
Spermidine is a natural polyamine with important functions such as DNA stability, cell survival, growth and proliferation. Its level decreases with age and we have shown that supplementing spermidine in food or water increases life span in several model organisms and human cells in culture. It also increases stress resistance and delays age-related oxidative damage and locomotor activity decline. The main mechanisms of action of spermidine are general hypoacetylation and autophagy induction. The talk will review the findings on the role of spermidine on ageing and discuss the potential outcome for human ageing of spermidine supplementation. 
10:30 – 11:00         Stem cell ageing and chemical intervention 
Dr Ilaria Bellantuono, Reader in Stem Cell and Skeletal Ageing, The University of Sheffield, UK 
Stem cells are responsible for tissue repair and maintenance and evidence suggest that changes in stem cells with age contribute to the decline in tissue function. The ability to intervene and increase even modestly the number of stem cells, delaying tissue dysfunction may have great impact in areas of degenerative diseases. Indeed limited rejuvenation of stem cells has been shown to rescue tissue function. Small molecules are attractive to amplify the endogenous stem cell pool, preserve it from ageing and direct its differentiation by targeting specific signaling pathways. Here we will present data showing how mesenchymal stem cell ageing can be delayed using chemical interventions. 
11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and poster exhibition and trade show

11:30 – 12:00       Use of Kinetic Isotope Effect to Mitigate Age-related Oxidative Stress Diseases

Dr Mikhail Shchepinov, CSO, Retrotope, Inc, USA 

Key oxidation prone positions within biomolecules can be reinforced with deuterium to make them more resistant to oxidative stress courtesy of the isotope effect. Use of this approach in mitigation of age-related diseases will be discussed. 

 

12:00 - 12:30    Tenocyte metabolism in ageing and estrogen deficiency 

Dr. Francesca Veronesi, Biotechnologist researcher, Laboratory of Preclinical and Surgical Studies, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy 

The study evaluated in vitro proliferation, metabolism and micro-wound healing of tenocytes isolated from the Achilles tendons of ovariectomised (OVX), middle-aged (OLD) and young (YOUNG) rats. OLD and OVX showed a lower proliferation, collagen I, aggrecan, elastin and nitric oxide production than YOUNG and fibronectin and elastin were lower in OVX than YOUNG and OLD. Vascular endothelial growth factor, collagen III and metalloproteinases-13 increased in OVX than in YOUNG and OLD. A lower healing rate was observed in OVX than OLD and YOUNG. Results highlighted how aging and more estrogen deficiency negatively affect tendon metabolism and healing. 

 

12:30  – 13:30      Lunch, poster exhibition and trade show

 

13:30 – 14:30       Discussion Panel 

 

DAY 1- The Immunology of Ageing

Meeting Chairs:

- Dr Neil A Mabbott, The Roslin Institute& Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 

- Dr Milica Vukmanovic-Stejic, Senior Research Fellow, UCL Medical School, London, UK 

Speakers:

- I Maeve Rea, Senior Lecturer/Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine at Queens University Belfast, was educated at Queens University and did postgraduate research in immune-genetics at Stanford University with Prof Rose Payne. She teaches widely in the Undergraduate Medical curriculum and within her Health Service remit, she provides a clinical service to Elderly people, with a special interest in patients over 90 years of age.  Dr I Maeve Rea has a long-time research interest is in healthy ageing and set up and co-ordinates a longitudinal study of octo/nonagenarians, Belfast Elderly Longitudinal Free-living Ageing STudy (BELFAST) and is a Prinicpal Investigator in the Genetics of Healthy Ageing Study (GeHA), which is contributing to understanding the genetic, immunological, cardiovascular and nutritional factors contributing to good quality ageing. 

Day 2: Biomarkers and Ageing

Meeting Chairs:

- Professor David Melzer, Epidemiology & Public Health Group, Medical School, University of Exeter, UK

- Dr Lorna Harries, RNA-mediated disease mechanisms, Medical School, University of Exeter, UK 

Speakers:

- Pawel Szulc, M.D., Ph.D., graduated from the Medical Faculty in Warsaw, 1986. Researcher in the INSERM UMR 1033, Lyon, France. Member of the Committee of Scientific Advisors of the International Osteoporosis Foundation. Member of the Editorial Board of Osteoporosis International. Member of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, International Bone and Mineral Society, International Society for Men’s Health. Member of the Thematic Network on the Osteoporosis in Male (2001-06). Scientific interests: osteoporosis, sarcopenia, relationship between osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Author of 60 papers and chapters concerning osteoporosis, mainly osteoporosis in men, bone turnover markers and vertebral fracture. Fellowships: French Government (1991) and European Community (1993).

- Rachel Watson (BSc (hons), PhD) is a non-clinical senior lecturer in Aesthetic Dermatology within the Faculty of Medical & Human Sciences, University of Manchester. She received her BSc (Anatomy & Cell Biology) and PhD degrees from the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on understanding human ageing, with particular reference to skin. This tissue ages by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms; the major environmental factor which impacts upon skin is long-term sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation, UVR), although other stimuli also exert effects (sun-bed use, smoking, atmospheric pollutants etc). 

Day 3: Establishing Anti-Ageing Medicines

Meeting Chair:

- Nadège Minois has been studying ageing since her PhD in Experimental Gerontology. She has worked at the University of Minnesota (USA), the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (Germany), the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (Austria) and the University of St Andrews. She has tackled projects such as the effects of stress on ageing using the fly Drosophila melanogaster, the shape of mortality rates in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a large-scale genetic screen to identify genes modulating life span in Drosophila. Her latest project is to study how spermidine, a natural polyamine, is involved in ageing using Drosophila.  

Speakers:

- Ilaria Bellantuonois Reader in Stem cell and Skeletal Ageing at the Mellanby Centre for Bone Research (MCBR),  University of Sheffield and her research interests is in understanding what changes mesenchymal stem cells undergo with age and how these impact on bone loss. Central to her research programme is the identification of molecules which target stem cells in vivo to delay their ageing. Ilaria is Head of the Bone Analysis Laboratory at the MCBR, a facility which provides access to contemporary approaches for the analysis of bone. She heads the Shared Ageing Research Models (ShARM) funded by Wellcome Trust, which combines web-based information systems with a physical tissue bank of ageing mouse models and is the Director of training of the MRC- Arthritis Research UK Centre of Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA). 

- David Weinkove is a Lecturer in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Durham University. Throughout his career, his research has always involved using model organisms to address key questions in biology, combining genetic and biochemical techniques. Having discovered that an enzyme involved in cell signalling regulated growth in the fruitfly Drosophila during his PhD, he moved to the nematode C. elegans, training in the Netherlands, USA and UK. Using C. elegans he has made a number of contributions to ageing research and now works on how the microbe:animal interaction influences ageing, applying his work to mammals through collaborations. 

Day 1: www.regonline.co.uk/AgeingImm2014

Day 2: www.regonline.co.uk/biomarkage2014

Day 3: www.regonline.co.uk/AgeMed2014

Contact: 

Email: enquiries@euroscicon.com