Oxytocin-mediated social enrichment promotes longer telomeres and novelty seeking

Faraji, Jamshid; Karimi, Mitra; Soltanpour, Nabiollah; Moharrerie, Alireza; Rouhzadeh, Zahra; Lotfi, Hamid; Hosseini, S Abedin; Jafari, S Yaghoob; Roudaki, Shabnam; Moeeini, Reza; Metz, Gerlinde A. S.

doi:10.7554/elife.40262

Cited by 35 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…This research has also shown that females are generally more responsive to social aspects of EE than males (Faraji et al, 2018a;Faraji et al, 2018b;Faraji et al, 2017b). These benefits are associated with oxytocin-mediated telomere elongation, a biological marker of longevity, indicating improved ageing trajectories (Faraji et al, 2018a). This work has helped elucidate the biological underpinnings of social isolation and support the critical role of social enrichment as a treatment option to reverse adverse consequences of stress and enhance stress resiliency.…”

Section: Mitigation Strategies and Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Major aspects of sex differences in social interaction may be explained by the response to oxytocin (OT), an evolutionarily conserved neuropeptide which is critically involved in social bonding, cognition and improved coping with stress (Caldwell, 2018;Grewen and Light, 2011). For instance, females appear more vulnerable than males to genetic and behavioural changes when the secretion of endogenous oxytocin in response to social life is interrupted (Faraji et al, 2018a). Also, oxytocin may facilitate various forms of prosocial behaviours, building trust and enhancing sociality in humans and non-human animals (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015;Kreuder et al, 2020;Ma et al, 2016;Mottolese et al, 2014;Olff et al, 2013;Rimmele et al, 2009;Theodoridou et al, 2009), an effect that would presumably enhance social engagement (Figure 2).…”

Section: Social Interaction: the Precursor Of Psychobiological Integritymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, environmental enrichment (EE) by housing laboratory rodents in social groups has become a widely used paradigm that effectively reduces the chronic burden of stress and promotes long-term health and ageing (McCreary et al, 2019). This research has also shown that females are generally more responsive to social aspects of EE than males (Faraji et al, 2018a;Faraji et al, 2018b;Faraji et al, 2017b). These benefits are associated with oxytocin-mediated telomere elongation, a biological marker of longevity, indicating improved ageing trajectories (Faraji et al, 2018a).…”

Section: Mitigation Strategies and Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ageing, Social Distancing, and COVID-19 Risk: Who is more Vulnerable?

Faraji¹,

Ga²

2021

Preprint

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Perceived social support represents an important predictor of healthy ageing. The global COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the face of social relationships and exposed elderly as a particularly vulnerable population. Social distancing may represent a double-edged sword for older adults, protecting them against COVID-19 infection while also sacrificing personal interaction and attention at a critical time. Here, we consider the moderating role of social relationships as a potential influence on stress resilience, allostatic load, and vulnerability to infection and adverse health outcomes in the elderly population. Understanding the mechanisms how social support enhances resilience to stress and promotes mental and physical health into old age will enable new preventive strategies. Targeted social interventions may provide effective relief from the impact of COVID-19-related isolation and loneliness. In this regard, a pandemic may also offer a window of opportunity for raising awareness and mobilizing resources for new strategies that help build resilience for our ageing population and future generations.

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Section: Mitigation Strategies and Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Social Interaction: the Precursor Of Psychobiological Integritymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mitigation Strategies and Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ageing, Social Distancing, and COVID-19 Risk: Who is more Vulnerable?

Faraji¹,

Ga²

2021

Preprint

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“…We validated 76 genes showing consistent increased accessibility in their enhancers and promoters (p-adj<0.01, Figure S1E). Additionally, SONO-seq showed differential accessibility on pathways that are important in neuronal function such as MAPK and JNK (Coffey, 2014), neural maturation BMP (Bond et al, 2012), synaptic plasticity PI3K-Akt (Tan et al, 2017), cellular aging prevention and telomere protective role of oxytocin (Faraji et al, 2018;Stevenson et al, 2019), and neurotransmission function by GPCR (Betke et al, 2012) (Table S2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental enrichment induces epigenomic and genome organization changes relevant for cognitive function

Espeso-Gil

Holik

Bonnin

et al. 2021

Preprint

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SummaryIn early development, the environment triggers mnemonic epigenomic programs resulting in memory and learning experiences to confer cognitive phenotypes into adulthood. To uncover how environmental stimulation impacts the epigenome and genome organization, we used the paradigm of environmental enrichment (EE) in young mice constantly receiving novel stimulation. We profiled epigenome and chromatin architecture in whole cortex and sorted neurons by deep-sequencing techniques. Specifically, we studied chromatin accessibility, gene and protein regulation, and 3D genome conformation, combined with predicted enhancer and chromatin interactions. We identified increased chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding including CTCF-mediated insulation, differential occupancy of H3K36me3 and H3K79me2, and changes in transcriptional programs required for neuronal development. EE stimuli led to local genome re-organization by inducing increased contacts between chromosomes 7 and 17 (inter-chromosomal). Our findings support the notion that EE-induced learning and memory processes are directly associated with the epigenome and genome organization.Highlights-Environmental enrichment (EE) alters chromatin conformation, CTCF binding, and spatially 3D genome changes, thereby regulating cognitive function during the first steps of life after birth.-Transcription-associated gene body marks H3K79me2 and H3K36me3 are differently influenced by EE in cortical brain cells and binding is exacerbated upon stimulation in an age-dependent manner.-EE-induced changes of 3D genome organization increase inter-chromosomal interactions of genes associated with synaptic transmission and AMPA receptor genes on chromosomes 7 and 17.

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“…Rats are social animals, and previous studies have shown that their physical and mental abilities are better when they live in socially enriched housing ( Leggio et al, 2005 ; van Praag et al, 2000 ). Now, in eLife, Reza Moeeini of the Avicenna Institute of Neuroscience, Gerlinde Metz of the University of Lethbridge and co-workers – including Jamshid Faraji, who is also at Golestan University of Medical Sciences – report a molecular mechanism that enables social interactions to have beneficial effects on the cells of rats ( Faraji et al, 2018 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%