LINE-1 transposable element renaissance in aging and age-related diseases

• Published in: Ageing research reviews Vol. 100; p. 102440
• Main Authors: Li, Xiang, Yu, Huaxin, Li, Dong, Liu, Na
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Aging; Aging - genetics; Animals; DNA Transposable Elements - genetics; Epigenetics; Humans; LINE-1; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements - genetics; Neoplasms - genetics; Transposable elements; Aging; Epigenetics; LINE-1; Transposable elements
• ISSN: 1568-1637; 1872-9649; 1872-9649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102440

Transposable elements (TEs) are essential components of eukaryotic genomes and subject to stringent regulatory mechanisms to avoid their potentially deleterious effects. However, numerous studies have verified the resurrection of TEs, particularly long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1), during preimplantation development, aging, cancer, and other age-related diseases. The LINE-1 family has also been implicated in several aging-related processes, including genomic instability, loss of heterochromatin, DNA methylation, and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Additionally, the role of the LINE-1 family in cancer development has also been substantiated. Research in this field has offered valuable insights into the functional mechanisms underlying LINE-1 activity, enhancing our understanding of aging regulation. This review provides a comprehensive summary of current findings on LINE-1 and their roles in aging and age-related diseases. •Cell senescence is characterized by epigenetic remodeling.•LINE-1 trigger heterochromatin erosion in senescent cells.•LINE-1 derepression impairs genome stability.•TE activation contributes to the age-related epigenetic clock.