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Sember E, Chennakesavula R, Beard B, Opoola M, Hwangbo DS. Dietary restriction fails to extend lifespan of Drosophila model of Werner syndrome. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae056. [PMID: 38491858 PMCID: PMC11075538 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disease in humans, caused by mutations in the WRN gene that encodes a protein containing helicase and exonuclease domains. WS is characterized by symptoms of accelerated aging in multiple tissues and organs, involving increased risk of cancer, heart failure, and metabolic dysfunction. These conditions ultimately lead to the premature mortality of patients with WS. In this study, using the null mutant flies (WRNexoΔ) for the gene WRNexo (CG7670), homologous to the exonuclease domain of WRN in humans, we examined how diets affect the lifespan, stress resistance, and sleep/wake patterns of a Drosophila model of WS. We observed that dietary restriction (DR), one of the most robust nongenetic interventions to extend lifespan in animal models, failed to extend the lifespan of WRNexoΔ mutant flies and even had a detrimental effect in females. Interestingly, the mean lifespan of WRNexoΔ mutant flies was not reduced on a protein-rich diet compared to that of wild-type (WT) flies. Compared to WT control flies, the mutant flies also exhibited altered responses to DR in their resistance to starvation and oxidative stress, as well as changes in sleep/wake patterns. These findings show that the WRN protein is necessary for mediating the effects of DR and suggest that the exonuclease domain of WRN plays an important role in metabolism in addition to its primary role in DNA-repair and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Sember
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | | | - Breanna Beard
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Mubaraq Opoola
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Dae-Sung Hwangbo
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
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Wang Y, Gao T, Wang B. Application of mesenchymal stem cells for anti-senescence and clinical challenges. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:260. [PMID: 37726805 PMCID: PMC10510299 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03497-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescence is a hot topic nowadays, which shows the accumulation of senescent cells and inflammatory factors, leading to the occurrence of various senescence-related diseases. Although some methods have been identified to partly delay senescence, such as strengthening exercise, restricting diet, and some drugs, these only slow down the process of senescence and cannot fundamentally delay or even reverse senescence. Stem cell-based therapy is expected to be a potential effective way to alleviate or cure senescence-related disorders in the coming future. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are the most widely used cell type in treating various diseases due to their potentials of self-replication and multidirectional differentiation, paracrine action, and immunoregulatory effects. Some biological characteristics of MSCs can be well targeted at the pathological features of aging. Therefore, MSC-based therapy is also a promising strategy to combat senescence-related diseases. Here we review the recent progresses of MSC-based therapies in the research of age-related diseases and the challenges in clinical application, proving further insight and reference for broad application prospects of MSCs in effectively combating senesce in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Wang
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyun Gao
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Wang
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China.
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Schneider BK, Sun S, Lee M, Li W, Skvir N, Neretti N, Vijg J, Secombe J. Expression of retrotransposons contributes to aging in Drosophila. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad073. [PMID: 37084379 PMCID: PMC10213499 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Retrotransposons are a class of transposable elements capable of self-replication and insertion into new genomic locations. Across species, the mobilization of retrotransposons in somatic cells has been suggested to contribute to the cell and tissue functional decline that occurs during aging. Retrotransposons are broadly expressed across cell types, and de novo insertions have been observed to correlate with tumorigenesis. However, the extent to which new retrotransposon insertions occur during normal aging and their effect on cellular and animal function remains understudied. Here, we use a single nucleus whole genome sequencing approach in Drosophila to directly test whether transposon insertions increase with age in somatic cells. Analyses of nuclei from thoraces and indirect flight muscles using a newly developed pipeline, Retrofind, revealed no significant increase in the number of transposon insertions with age. Despite this, reducing the expression of two different retrotransposons, 412 and Roo, extended lifespan, but did not alter indicators of health such as stress resistance. This suggests a key role for transposon expression and not insertion in regulating longevity. Transcriptomic analyses revealed similar changes to gene expression in 412 and Roo knockdown flies and highlighted changes to genes involved in proteolysis and immune function as potential contributors to the observed changes in longevity. Combined, our data show a clear link between retrotransposon expression and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair K Schneider
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Ullmann 809 Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Shixiang Sun
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1301 Morris Park Ave., Price 468 Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Moonsook Lee
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1301 Morris Park Ave., Price 468 Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Wenge Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Ullmann 909 Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Nicholas Skvir
- Department of Molecular biology, Cell biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship St., Providence 02903, USA
| | - Nicola Neretti
- Department of Molecular biology, Cell biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship St., Providence 02903, USA
| | - Jan Vijg
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1301 Morris Park Ave., Price 468 Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Julie Secombe
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Ullmann 809 Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Epiney DG, Salameh C, Cassidy D, Zhou LT, Kruithof J, Milutinović R, Andreani TS, Schirmer AE, Bolterstein E. Characterization of Stress Responses in a Drosophila Model of Werner Syndrome. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1868. [PMID: 34944512 PMCID: PMC8699552 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As organisms age, their resistance to stress decreases while their risk of disease increases. This can be shown in patients with Werner syndrome (WS), which is a genetic disease characterized by accelerated aging along with increased risk of cancer and metabolic disease. WS is caused by mutations in WRN, a gene involved in DNA replication and repair. Recent research has shown that WRN mutations contribute to multiple hallmarks of aging including genomic instability, telomere attrition, and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, questions remain regarding the onset and effect of stress on early aging. We used a fly model of WS (WRNexoΔ) to investigate stress response during different life stages and found that stress sensitivity varies according to age and stressor. While larvae and young WRNexoΔ adults are not sensitive to exogenous oxidative stress, high antioxidant activity suggests high levels of endogenous oxidative stress. WRNexoΔ adults are sensitive to stress caused by elevated temperature and starvation suggesting abnormalities in energy storage and a possible link to metabolic dysfunction in WS patients. We also observed higher levels of sleep in aged WRNexoΔ adults suggesting an additional adaptive mechanism to protect against age-related stress. We suggest that stress response in WRNexoΔ is multifaceted and evokes a systemic physiological response to protect against cellular damage. These data further validate WRNexoΔ flies as a WS model with which to study mechanisms of early aging and provide a foundation for development of treatments for WS and similar diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek G. Epiney
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Charlotte Salameh
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Deirdre Cassidy
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Luhan T. Zhou
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Joshua Kruithof
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Rolan Milutinović
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Tomas S. Andreani
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA;
| | - Aaron E. Schirmer
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Elyse Bolterstein
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA; (D.G.E.); (C.S.); (D.C.); (L.T.Z.); (J.K.); (R.M.); (A.E.S.)
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Wang M, Ren J, Chen X, Liu J, Xu X, Li X, Zhao D, Sun L. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 promotes myoblast differentiation and protects against myotube atrophy via regulation of the Akt/mTOR/FoxO3 pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 180:114145. [PMID: 32653593 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We previously found that 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (S-Rg3) promotes myoblast differentiation via an unknown mechanism. Here we measured levels of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and myogenin, markers of myoblast differentiation, using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Notably, S-Rg3 treatment of C2C12 myoblasts led to increased muscle differentiation and protection from muscle atrophy in a dexamethasone (DEX)-treated C2C12 myotube-based muscle atrophy model. This effect was likely caused by S-Rg3 treatment-induced promotion of Akt/mTOR phosphorylation and inhibition of FoxO3 nuclear transcription. Additionally, S-Rg3 treatment also led to increased fruit fly climbing distances (Drosophila melanogaster) and prevented muscle atrophy in aged fruit flies. Our study provides a mechanistic framework for understanding how S-Rg3 enhances myoblast differentiation and inhibits myotube atrophy through activation of the Akt/mTOR/FoxO3 signaling pathway, as demonstrated in vitro in C2C12 cells and in vivo in fruit flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manying Wang
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1478 Gongnong Street, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China; Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China
| | - Jixiang Ren
- Center of Preventive Treatment of Diseases, the Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1478 Gongnong Street, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China
| | - Xuenan Chen
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1478 Gongnong Street, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China; Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China
| | - Jianzeng Liu
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China
| | - Xiaohao Xu
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1478 Gongnong Street, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China
| | - Xiangyan Li
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of BioMacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China; Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, PR China.
| | - Liwei Sun
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1478 Gongnong Street, Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, PR China; Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, PR China.
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Abstract
Cancer is a genetic disease that involves the gradual accumulation of mutations. Human tumours are genetically unstable. However, the current knowledge about the origins and implications of genomic instability in this disease is limited. Understanding the biology of cancer requires the use of animal models. Here, we review relevant studies addressing the implications of genomic instability in cancer by using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system. We discuss how this invertebrate has helped us to expand the current knowledge about the mechanisms involved in genomic instability and how this hallmark of cancer influences disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan U Gerlach
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Héctor Herranz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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