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Reduction of the argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region associated protein synthesis with age in buccal epithelial cells of healthy individuals

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Abstract

Background

Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) consist of the rRNA coding gene family (rDNA) in the cell nucleus. The argyrophilic proteins are selectively stained with silver nitrate and bind these regions. It was reported that NOR (rDNA) activity decreases in human lymphocytes, fibroblasts and bone marrow with age. However, to our knowledge there have not been any studies related to the NORs in oral epithelial cells of healthy individuals.

Aim

Our aim is to detect any correlation between age and Total AgNOR area/Total nucleus area (TAA/TNA) values in buccal epithelial cells of healthy individuals.

Methods

Oral epithelial cells from 50 healthy individuals (age range of 2–80 years old) were spread onto a clean glass slide, air dried and fixed. Then the AgNOR staining protocol was performed on these cells. TAA/TNA ratio and AgNOR dots were calculated using software. From each person 50 oral epithelial cells were evaluated.

Results

Statistically significant correlations were found between mean TAA/TNA values and age (Rsq = 0.534, p < 0.001 for linear and Rsq = 0.728, p < 0.0001 for polynominal regression), and between AgNOR number and age (Rsq = 0.621, p < 0.001 for linear and Rsq = 0.693, p < 0.0001 for polynominal regression).

Conclusion

There is a significant correlation between age and AgNOR amount (ribosome biosynthesis rate) in buccal epithelial cells of healthy individuals. AgNORs in buccal epithelial cells may be used for detection of age.

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Acknowledgments

Erciyes University Research Fund has supported this research; contract Grant Number: TSY-08-559. This study is the essential part of the MS thesis of Burak Selvi. The Medical Research Council of Erciyes University (ERUBAP, Project No. TSY-08-559) supported this work.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Burak Selvi & Halil Demirtas

  2. Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, Duzce University, Duzce, 81820, Turkey

    Recep Eroz

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Basic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Nalan Imamoglu

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  1. Burak Selvi
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Correspondence to Recep Eroz.

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Selvi, B., Demirtas, H., Eroz, R. et al. Reduction of the argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region associated protein synthesis with age in buccal epithelial cells of healthy individuals. Aging Clin Exp Res 27, 201–208 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0263-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0263-6

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