Mechanisms Of Lifespan Extension Research Articles

Impact papers on aging in 2009

The Editorial Board of Aging reviews research papers published in 2009, which they believe have or will have significant impact on aging research. Among many others, the topics include genes that accelerate aging or in contrast promote longevity in model organisms, DNA damage responses and telomeres, molecular mechanisms of life span extension by calorie restriction and pharmacological interventions into aging. The emerging message in 2009 is that aging is not random but determined by a genetically-regulated longevity network and can be decelerated both genetically and pharmacologically.

Mechanisms of Life Span Extension by Rapamycin in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster

SummaryThe target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway is a major nutrient-sensing pathway that, when genetically downregulated, increases life span in evolutionarily diverse organisms including mammals. The central component of this pathway, TOR kinase, is the target of the inhibitory drug rapamycin, a highly specific and well-described drug approved for human use. We show here that feeding rapamycin to adult Drosophila produces the life span extension seen in some TOR mutants. Increase in life span by rapamycin was associated with increased resistance to both starvation and paraquat. Analysis of the underlying mechanisms revealed that rapamycin increased longevity specifically through the TORC1 branch of the TOR pathway, through alterations to both autophagy and translation. Rapamycin could increase life span of weak insulin/Igf signaling (IIS) pathway mutants and of flies with life span maximized by dietary restriction, indicating additional mechanisms.

4E-BP Extends Lifespan upon Dietary Restriction by Enhancing Mitochondrial Activity in Drosophila

Dietary restriction (DR) extends lifespan in multiple species. To examine the mechanisms of lifespan extension upon DR, we assayed genome-wide translational changes in Drosophila. A number of nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes, including those in Complex I and IV of the electron transport chain, showed increased ribosomal loading and enhanced overall activity upon DR. We found that various mitochondrial genes possessed shorter and less structured 5'UTRs, which were important for their enhanced mRNA translation. The translational repressor 4E-BP, the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein, was upregulated upon DR and mediated DR dependent changes in mitochondrial activity and lifespan extension. Inhibition of individual mitochondrial subunits from Complex I and IV diminished the lifespan extension obtained upon DR, reflecting the importance of enhanced mitochondrial function during DR. Our results imply that translational regulation of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial gene expression by 4E-BP plays an important role in lifespan extension upon DR. For a video summary of this article, see the PaperFlick file with the Supplemental Data available online.

Hungry for life: How the arcuate nucleus and neuropeptide Y may play a critical role in mediating the benefits of calorie restriction.

Laboratory studies consistently demonstrate extended lifespan in animals on calorie restriction (CR), where total caloric intake is reduced by 10-40% but adequate nutrition is otherwise maintained. CR has been further shown to delay the onset and severity of chronic diseases associated with aging such as cancer, and to extend the functional health span of important faculties like cognition. Less understood are the underlying mechanisms through which CR might act to induce such alterations. One theory postulates that CR's beneficial effects are intimately tied to the neuroendocrine response to low energy availability, of which the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus plays a pivotal role. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a neurotransmitter in the front line of the arcuate response to low energy availability, is the primary hunger signal affected by CR and therefore may be a critical mechanism for lifespan extension.

Age- and calorie-independent life span extension from dietary restriction by bacterial deprivation in Caenorhabditis elegans.

BackgroundDietary restriction (DR) increases life span and delays age-associated disease in many organisms. The mechanism by which DR enhances longevity is not well understood.ResultsUsing bacterial food deprivation as a means of DR in C. elegans, we show that transient DR confers long-term benefits including stress resistance and increased longevity. Consistent with studies in the fruit fly and in mice, we demonstrate that DR also enhances survival when initiated late in life. DR by bacterial food deprivation significantly increases life span in worms when initiated as late as 24 days of adulthood, an age at which greater than 50% of the cohort have died. These survival benefits are, at least partially, independent of food consumption, as control fed animals are no longer consuming bacterial food at this advanced age. Animals separated from the bacterial lawn by a barrier of solid agar have a life span intermediate between control fed and food restricted animals. Thus, we find that life span extension from bacterial deprivation can be partially suppressed by a diffusible component of the bacterial food source, suggesting a calorie-independent mechanism for life span extension by dietary restriction.ConclusionBased on these findings, we propose that dietary restriction by bacterial deprivation increases longevity in C. elegans by a combination of reduced food consumption and decreased food sensing.

Activation of FKHRL1 Plays an Important Role in Protecting Erythroid Cells from Erythropoietin Deprivation—Induced Apoptosis in a Human Erythropoietin-Dependent Leukemia Cell Line, UT-7/EPO

FKHRL1 is one of the human homologues of DAF-16, which is concerned with longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Previously, we demonstrated that FKHRL1 functions downstream of Akt in erythropoietin (EPO) signaling and that it is directly phosphorylated by activated Akt. Because phosphorylated FKHRL1 loses its transcriptional activity and translocates into the cytoplasm, FKHRL1 appears to be nonfunctional in the presence of EPO. Conversely, EPO deprivation leads to FKHRL1 dephosphorylation and its translocation into the nucleus, suggesting that FKHRL1 becomes active as a transcription factor in the absence of EPO. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesized, by analogy with C elegans, that erythroid cells possess self-defense machinery against life-threatening surroundings. We prepared a dominant-negative mutant of FKHRL1 (FKHRL1-DN) lacking the transactivation domain and prepared FKHRL1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), and we used constructs to transfect a human EPO-dependent cell line, UT-7/EPO. In the parental cells, 24-hour EPO deprivation induced transient cell cycle arrest without apoptosis. On the other hand, stable transfectants expressing FKHRL1-DN or FKHRL1 siRNA underwent rapid apoptosis after EPO deprivation in the UT-7/EPO cells. In conclusion, FKHRL1 activation plays an important role in the extension of survival of erythroid cells after EPO deprivation. This phenomenon appears to correspond to dauer formation in C elegans. Thus, the mechanism of lifespan extension may be broadly conserved from C elegans to humans.

Longevity determined by developmental arrest genes in Caenorhabditis elegans

The antagonistic pleiotropy theory of aging proposes that aging takes place because natural selection favors genes that confer benefit early on life at the cost of deterioration later in life. This theory predicts that genes that impact development would play a key role in shaping adult lifespan. To better understand the link between development and adult lifespan, we examined the genes previously known to be essential for development. From a pool of 57 genes that cause developmental arrest after inhibition using RNA interference, we have identified 24 genes that extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans when inactivated during adulthood. Many of these genes are involved in regulation of mRNA translation and mitochondrial functions. Genetic epistasis experiments indicate that the mechanisms of lifespan extension by inactivating the identified genes may be different from those of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and dietary restriction pathways. Inhibition of many of these genes also results in increased stress resistance and decreased fecundity, suggesting that they may mediate the trade-offs between somatic maintenance and reproduction. We have isolated novel lifespan-extension genes, which may help understand the intrinsic link between organism development and adult lifespan.

Modifications of plasma proteome in long-lived rats fed on a coenzyme Q 10-supplemented diet

Dietary coenzyme Q 10 prolongs life span of rats fed on a PUFA n-6-enriched diet. Our aim was to analyze changes in the levels of plasma proteins of rats fed on a PUFA n-6 plus coenzyme Q 10-based diet. This approach could give novel insights into the mechanisms of life span extension by dietary coenzyme Q 10 in the rat. Serum albumin, which decreases with aging in the rat, was significantly increased by coenzyme Q 10 supplementation both at 6 and 24 months. After depletion of the most abundant proteins by affinity chromatography, levels of less abundant plasma proteins were also studied by using 2D-electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass fingerprinting analysis. Our results have shown that lifelong dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q 10 induced significant decreases of plasma hemopexin, apolipoprotein H and inter-α-inhibitor H4P heavy chain (at both 6 and 24 months), preprohaptoglobin, fibrinogen γ-chain precursor, and fetuin-like protein (at 6 months), and α-1-antitrypsin precursor and type II peroxiredoxin (at 24 months). On the other hand, coenzyme Q 10 supplementation resulted in significant increases of serine protease inhibitor 3, vitamin D-binding protein (at 6 months), and Apo A–I (at 24 months). Our results support a beneficial role of dietary coenzyme Q 10 decreasing oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk, and modulating inflammation during aging.

Reduced TOR Signaling Extends Chronological Life Span via Increased Respiration and Upregulation of Mitochondrial Gene Expression

The relationships between mitochondrial respiration, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and life span are complex and remain controversial. Inhibition of the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway extends life span in several model organisms. We show here that deletion of the TOR1 gene extends chronological life span in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, primarily by increasing mitochondrial respiration via enhanced translation of mtDNA-encoded oxidative phosphorylation complex subunits. Unlike previously reported pathways regulating chronological life span, we demonstrate that deletion of TOR1 delays aging independently of the antioxidant gene SOD2. Furthermore, wild-type and tor1 null strains differ in life span only when respiration competent and grown in normoxia in the presence of glucose. We propose that inhibition of TOR signaling causes derepression of respiration during growth in glucose and that the subsequent increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption limits intracellular oxygen and ROS-mediated damage during glycolytic growth, leading to lower cellular ROS and extension of chronological life span.

The search for DAF-16/FOXO transcriptional targets: Approaches and discoveries

The insulin/IGF-1 receptor (IIR)/FOXO pathway is remarkably conserved in worms, flies, and mammals, and downregulation of signaling in this pathway has been shown to extend lifespan in all of these animals. FOXO-mediated transcription is required for the long lifespan of IIR mutants; thus, there is great interest in identifying FOXO target genes, as they may carry out the biochemical activities that extend longevity. A number of approaches have been used to identify the transcriptional targets of FOXO. Thus far, the best data available on the components downstream of this pathway are from experiments involving the Caenorhabditis elegans FOXO transcription factor, DAF-16; some of these targets have been tested for their contributions to longevity, dauer formation, and fat storage. Here, I examine and compare the approaches used to identify DAF-16/FOXO targets, review the genes regulated by DAF-16, and discuss the processes that may be at work to extend lifespan in IIR mutants. Rather than upregulating every possible beneficial gene, DAF-16 appears to selectively upregulate genes that contribute to specific protective mechanisms, while simultaneously downregulating potentially deleterious genes. In addition to genes that carry out expected roles in stress protection, many previously unknown targets have been identified in these studies, suggesting that some mechanisms of lifespan extension still await discovery. These mechanisms may act cooperatively or cumulatively to increase longevity, and are likely to be at least partially conserved in higher organisms.

Evolutionary and mechanistic theories of aging.

Senescence (aging) is defined as a decline in performance and fitness with advancing age. Senescence is a nearly universal feature of multicellular organisms, and understanding why it occurs is a long-standing problem in biology. Here we present a concise review of both evolutionary and mechanistic theories of aging. We describe the development of the general evolutionary theory, along with the mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy, and disposable soma versions of the evolutionary model. The review of the mechanistic theories focuses on the oxidative stress resistance, cellular signaling, and dietary control mechanisms of life span extension. We close with a discussion of how an approach that makes use of both evolutionary and molecular analyses can address a critical question: Which of the mechanisms that can cause variation in aging actually do cause variation in natural populations?

Long-term calorie restriction reduces proton leak and hydrogen peroxide production in liver mitochondria

Calorie restriction (CR) without malnutrition increases maximal life span in diverse species. It has been proposed that reduction in energy expenditure and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production could be a mechanism for life span extension with CR. As a step toward testing this theory, mitochondrial proton leak, H2O2 production, and markers of oxidative stress were measured in liver from FBNF1 rats fed control or 40% CR diets for 12 or 18 mo. CR was initiated at 6 mo of age. Proton leak kinetics curves, generated from simultaneous measures of oxygen consumption and membrane potential, indicated a decrease in proton leak after 18 mo of CR, while only a trend toward a proton leak decrease was observed after 12 mo. Significant shifts in phosphorylation and substrate oxidation curves also occurred with CR; however, these changes occurred in concert with the proton leak changes. Metabolic control analysis indicated no difference in the overall pattern of control of the oxidative phosphorylation system between control and CR animals. At 12 mo, no significant differences were observed between groups for H2O2 production or markers of oxidative stress. However, at 18 mo, protein carbonyl content was lower in CR animals, as was H2O2 production when mitochondria were respiring on either succinate alone or pyruvate plus malate in the presence of rotenone. These results indicate that long-term CR lowers mitochondrial proton leak and H2O2 production, and this is consistent with the idea that CR may act by decreasing energy expenditure and ROS production.

Quinones in long-lived clk-1 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans

Ubiquinone (UQ) (coenzyme Q) is a lipophilic redox-active molecule that functions as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Electron transfer via UQ involves the formation of semiubiquinone radicals, which causes the generation of superoxide radicals upon reaction with oxygen. In the reduced form, UQ functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant, and protects cells from lipid peroxidation. Thus, UQ is also important as a lipophilic regulator of oxidative stress. Recently, a study on long-lived clk-1 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated that biosynthesis of UQ is dramatically altered in mutant mitochondria. Demethoxy ubiquinone (DMQ), that accumulates in clk-1 mutants in place of UQ, may contribute to the extension of life span. Here we elucidate the possible mechanisms of life span extension in clk-1 mutants, with particular emphasis on the electrochemical property of DMQ. Recent findings on the biochemical function of CLK-1 are also discussed.

Caloric restriction alters the feeding response of key metabolic enzyme genes

Differential ‘fuel usage’ has been proposed as a mechanism for life-span extension by caloric restriction (CR). Here, we report the effects of CR, initiated after weaning, on metabolic enzyme gene expression 0, 1.5, 5, and 12 h after feeding of 24-month-old mice. Plasma glucose and insulin were reduced by ∼20 and 80%. Therefore, apparent insulin sensitivity, as judged by the glucose to insulin ratio, increased 3.3-fold in CR mice. Phospho enolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA and activity were transiently reduced 1.5 h after feeding, but were 20–100% higher in CR mice at other times. Glucose-6-phosphatase mRNA was induced in CR mice and repressed in control mice before, and for 5 h following feeding. Feeding transiently induced glucokinase mRNA fourfold in control mice, but only slightly in CR mice. Pyruvate kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase activities were reduced ∼50% in CR mice at most times. Feeding induced glutaminase mRNA, and carbamyl phosphate synthetase I and glutamine synthase activity (and mRNA). They were each ∼twofold or higher in CR mice. These results indicate that in mice, CR maintains higher rates of gluconeogenesis and protein catabolism, even in the hours after feeding. The data are consistent with the idea that CR continuously promotes the turnover and replacement of extrahepatic proteins.

Stress response and aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Mutants of C. elegans that exhibit extraordinarily long life-spans are proving a rich source of information on the molecular determinates of aging rate. Such long-lived genetic variants have been subject to a range of biological, biochemical, and molecular analysis, making them an invaluable resource in the current drive to understand aging mechanisms. The mutations conferring extended life-span also confer many other phenotypes including resistance to a variety of extrinsic environmental stresses. This may provide a clue as to why these mutants display extended longevity. Perhaps the long-lived mutants are also resistant to intrinsic metabolic stresses and longevity is a consequence of an increased capacity to deal with the macromolecular damage normally caused by these stresses. However, at the time of writing there is little direct evidence for any particular mechanism for life-span extension and it is likely that different mutations extend life-span in different ways.

The genetics of caloric restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Low caloric intake (caloric restriction) can lengthen the life span of a wide range of animals and possibly even of humans. To understand better how caloric restriction lengthens life span, we used genetic methods and criteria to investigate its mechanism of action in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations in many genes (eat genes) result in partial starvation of the worm by disrupting the function of the pharynx, the feeding organ. We found that most eat mutations significantly lengthen life span (by up to 50%). In C. elegans, mutations in a number of other genes that can extend life span have been found. Two genetically distinct mechanisms of life span extension are known: a mechanism involving genes that regulate dauer formation (age-1, daf-2, daf-16, and daf-28) and a mechanism involving genes that affect the rate of development and behavior (clk-1, clk-2, clk-3, and gro-1). We find that the long life of eat-2 mutants does not require the activity of DAF-16 and that eat-2; daf-2 double mutants live even longer than extremely long-lived daf-2 mutants. These findings demonstrate that food restriction lengthens life span by a mechanism distinct from that of dauer-formation mutants. In contrast, we find that food restriction does not further increase the life span of long-lived clk-1 mutants, suggesting that clk-1 and caloric restriction affect similar processes.

Invertebrate gerontology: the age mutations of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Ageing is a complex phenomenon which remains a major challenge to modern biology. Although the evolutionary biology of ageing is well understood, the mechanisms that limit lifespan are unknown. The isolation and analysis of single-gene mutations which extend lifespan (Age mutations) is likely to reveal processes which influence ageing. Caenorhabditis elegans is the only metazoan in which Age mutations have been identified. The Age mutations not only prolong life, but also confer a complex array of other phenotypes. Some of these phenotypes provide clues to the evolutionary origins of these genes while others allude to mechanisms of lifespan-extension. Many of the Age genes interact and share a second common phenotype, that of stress resistance. Rather than invertebrate ageing being determined by a 'clock mechanism', a picture is emerging of ageing as a non-adaptive process determined, in part, by resistance to intrinsic stress mediated by stress-response genes.