Hibernation in hominins from Atapuerca, Spain half a million years ago

Bartsiokas, Antonis; Arsuaga, Juan Luís

doi:10.1016/j.anthro.2020.102797

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 140 publications

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“…Likewise, a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the DIO2 gene of Neanderthals [ 53 ] that resulted in a decreased capacity for conversion of T4 to T3 could have affected key developmental programmes and could potentially explain the significant phenotypical differences between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens despite their closeness in terms of genetic ancestry [ 53 , 54 ]. Most importantly, this variant may have enabled Neanderthals to hibernate and survive long and cold winters [ 55 ] (if this evidence is further confirmed), but when archaic humans switched to a high-carbohydrate diet, the variant became disadvantageous, as it is associated with an increased risk of diabetes [ 56 , 57 ]. These findings strongly indicate that even small changes in TH signalling might have an enormous effect on development, growth, and metabolism, and should be of utmost significance for the adaptive responses of Homo sapiens to environmental changes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thyroid Hormone Signalling in Human Evolution and Disease: A Novel Hypothesis

Mantzouratou

Lavecchia

Xinaris

2021

JCM

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Thyroid hormone (TH) signalling is a universally conserved pathway with pleiotropic actions that is able to control the development, metabolism, and homeostasis of organisms. Using evidence from paleoecology/palaeoanthropology and data from the physiology of modern humans, we try to assess the natural history of TH signalling and its role in human evolution. Our net thesis is that TH signalling has likely played a critical role in human evolution by facilitating the adaptive responses of early hominids to unprecedently challenging and continuously changing environments. These ancient roles have been conserved in modern humans, in whom TH signalling still responds to and regulates adaptations to present-day environmental and pathophysiological stresses, thus making it a promising therapeutic target.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thyroid Hormone Signalling in Human Evolution and Disease: A Novel Hypothesis

Mantzouratou

Lavecchia

Xinaris

2021

JCM

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“…The induction of an induced torporlike state in humans, which has been suggested as a countermeasure for space travel as far back as the 1960s [18] would therefore effectively address both of the challenges outlined above, by minimising nutrient, O 2 and H 2 O consumption for long-term space travel and protecting against radiation damage [3,19]. Interestingly, a recent study of the bones of early humans shows evidence of seasonal variation in bone growth and patterns of lesions that are consistent with those found in hibernating mammals indicating that our ancestors may have adapted to hibernating during extreme cold periods [20]. While modern humans have ceased to employ hibernation as a survival mechanism, controlled therapeutic hypothermia has been used in medicine to successfully lower mortality rates and improve the neurological function of patients that have suffered from acute trauma, cardiac arrest or stroke [21].…”

Section: Torpormentioning

confidence: 99%

Induced Torpor as a Countermeasure for Low Dose Radiation Exposure in a Zebrafish Model

Cahill

Silveira

Renaud

et al. 2021

Cells

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The development of the Artemis programme with the goal of returning to the moon is spurring technology advances that will eventually take humans to Mars and herald a new era of interplanetary space travel. However, long-term space travel poses unique challenges including exposure to ionising radiation from galactic cosmic rays and potential solar particle events, exposure to microgravity and specific nutritional challenges arising from earth independent exploration. Ionising radiation is one of the major obstacles facing future space travel as it can generate oxidative stress and directly damage cellular structures such as DNA, in turn causing genomic instability, telomere shortening, extracellular-matrix remodelling and persistent inflammation. In the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) this can lead to leaky gut syndrome, perforations and motility issues, which impact GIT functionality and affect nutritional status. While current countermeasures such as shielding from the spacecraft can attenuate harmful biological effects, they produce harmful secondary particles that contribute to radiation exposure. We hypothesised that induction of a torpor-like state would confer a radioprotective effect given the evidence that hibernation extends survival times in irradiated squirrels compared to active controls. To test this hypothesis, a torpor-like state was induced in zebrafish using melatonin treatment and reduced temperature, and radiation exposure was administered twice over the course of 10 days. The protective effects of induced-torpor were assessed via RNA sequencing and qPCR of mRNA extracted from the GIT. Pathway and network analysis were performed on the transcriptomic data to characterise the genomic signatures in radiation, torpor and torpor + radiation groups. Phenotypic analyses revealed that melatonin and reduced temperature successfully induced a torpor-like state in zebrafish as shown by decreased metabolism and activity levels. Genomic analyses indicated that low dose radiation caused DNA damage and oxidative stress triggering a stress response, including steroidal signalling and changes to metabolism, and cell cycle arrest. Torpor attenuated the stress response through an increase in pro-survival signals, reduced oxidative stress via the oxygen effect and detection and removal of misfolded proteins. This proof-of-concept model provides compelling initial evidence for utilizing an induced torpor-like state as a potential countermeasure for radiation exposure.

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“…Currently, datasets are limited to mostly male and cold climate samples. Until we are able to more broadly understand the current variation of BAT across a range of climates and PALs, we will not be able to infer the potential thermoregulatory role this heat‐producing tissue may have played among Neanderthals and potentially enabled Neanderthal hibernation 135 . Furthermore, determining the genetic underpinnings of BAT and other physiological cold climate adaptations (such as the hunting response) could prove highly valuable for identifying similar markers in Neanderthal ancient DNA.…”

Section: Neanderthal Cold Adaptation: a Biocultural Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

Between a rock and a cold place: Neanderthal biocultural cold adaptations

Ocobock

Lacy

Niclou

2021

Evolutionary Anthropology

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A large body of work focuses on the unique aspects of Neanderthal anatomy, inferred physiology, and behavior to test the assumption that Neanderthals were hyper‐adapted to living in cold environments. This research has expanded over the years to include previously unexplored and potentially adaptive features such as brown adipose tissue and fire‐usage. Here we review the current state of knowledge of Neanderthal cold adaptations along morphological, physiological, and behavioral lines. While highlighting foundational as well as recent work, we also emphasize key areas for future research. Despite thriving in a variety of climates, it is well‐accepted that Neanderthals appear to be the most cold‐adapted of known fossil hominin groups; however, there are still many unknowns. There is a great deal yet to be uncovered about the nature and manifestation of Neanderthal adaptation and how the synergy of biology and culture helped buffer them against extreme and variable environments.

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Hibernation in hominins from Atapuerca, Spain half a million years ago

Cited by 13 publications

References 140 publications

Thyroid Hormone Signalling in Human Evolution and Disease: A Novel Hypothesis

Thyroid Hormone Signalling in Human Evolution and Disease: A Novel Hypothesis

Induced Torpor as a Countermeasure for Low Dose Radiation Exposure in a Zebrafish Model

Between a rock and a cold place: Neanderthal biocultural cold adaptations

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