Abstract
Comment on: Boehm AM et al. FoxO is a critical regulator of stem cell maintenance in immortal Hydra. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012; 109:19697-19702.
Highlights
Comment on: Boehm AM et al FoxO is a critical regulator of stem cell maintenance in immortal Hydra
Only a few genetic variants have been consistently reported to be associated with human longevity: the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, a mortality factor [1], and markers in the forkhead box O3A gene (FOXO3A) that show a modest beneficial effect upon survival in nonagenarians and centenarians [2]
FOXO3A is a key transcription factor in the insulin-IGF-1 (IIS) pathway, and in various model organisms FOXO3A homologues have been shown to be activated by caloric restriction or oxidative stress, resulting in increased life span
Summary
As the IIS pathway and its major players have been highly conserved throughout evolution, it is conceivable that the human longevity-enabling FOXO3A variants could function via a similar stress-induced mechanism. Clues to the role of FOXO3A in controlling longevity may be available through the comparative study of organisms which show no sign of aging. Much of Hydras remarkable immortality can be traced back to the asexual mode of reproduction by budding which requires a tissue consisting of stem cells with continuous self-renewal capacity [4].
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