ATRX-DAXX Complex Expression Levels and Telomere Length in Normal Young and Elder Autopsy Human Brains

The chromatin-remodeling complex ATRX/DAXX is one of the major epigenetic factors that controls heterochromatin maintenance due to its role in histone deposition. ATRX is involved in nucleosome configuration and maintenance of higher order chromatin structure, and DAXX is a specific histone chaperone for H3.3 deposition. Dysfunctions in this complex have been associated with telomere shortening, which influences cell senescence. However, data about this complex in brain tissue related to aging are still scarce. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed ATRX and DAXX expressions in autopsied human brain specimens and the telomere length. A significant decrease in gene and protein expressions was observed in the brain tissues from the elderly compared with those from the young, which were related to short telomeres. These findings may motivate further functional analysis to confirm the ATRX-DAXX complex involvement in telomere maintenance and brain aging.