Quantitative lipidomics reveals Lipid perturbation of plasma apoptotic extracellular vesicles during physiological aging

INTRODUCTION: Aging is closely implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, degenerative conditions, and mortality, making it a core research focus in geroscience. As direct secretory products of apoptotic cells, apoptotic bodies can directly reflect the intensity of apoptotic activity and the degree of systemic and cellular aging. Given their close correlation with senescence progression, apoptotic bodies hold great potential as reliable and sensitive biomarkers for evaluating aging status. However, apoptotic bodies as effective indicators of aging remain to be explored. METHODS: We characterized the lipid profile of apoptotic bodies (ApoEVs) and explored the changes in lipid species related to aging. Total lipids, multiple lipid subclasses, and fatty acid saturation within plasma apoptotic bodies were analyzed to identify aging-associated lipid alterations. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A comprehensive reduction in total lipids, multiple lipid subclasses, and fatty acid saturation within plasma apoptotic bodies highlights systemic lipid reprogramming in aging. Decreased total levels of Hex2Cer, LPC, LPE, TG, ChE, SM, and SPH are the features of aging. This study not only deepens the understanding of aging-related lipid dysfunction, but also offers circulating lipid biomarkers for assessing biological aging and age-related pathologies.