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Wang J, Wang Y, Xu X, Song C, Zhou Y, Xue D, Feng Z, Zhou Y, Li X. Low methyl-esterified ginseng homogalacturonan pectins promote longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans via impairing insulin/IGF-1 signalling. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 346:122600. [PMID: 39245488 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122600] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) is a medicinal plant widely used for promoting longevity. Recently, homogalacturonan (HG) domain-rich pectins purified from some plants have been reported to have anti-aging-related activities, leading us to explore the longevity-promoting activity of the HG pectins from ginseng. In this study, we discovered that two of low methyl-esterified ginseng HG pectins (named as WGPA-2-HG and WGPA-3-HG), whose degree of methyl-esterification (DM) was 16 % and 8 % respectively, promoted longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results showed that WGPA-2-HG/WGPA-3-HG impaired insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signalling (IIS) pathway, thereby increasing the nuclear accumulation of transcription factors SKN-1/Nrf2 and DAF-16/FOXO and enhancing the expression of relevant anti-aging genes. BLI and ITC analysis showed that the insulin-receptor binding, the first step to activate IIS pathway, was impeded by the engagement of WGPA-2-HG/WGPA-3-HG with insulin. By chemical modifications, we found that high methyl-esterification of WGPA-2-HG/WGPA-3-HG was detrimental for their longevity-promoting activity. These findings provided novel insight into the precise molecular mechanism for the longevity-promoting effect of ginseng pectins, and suggested a potential to utilize the ginseng HG pectins with appropriate DM values as natural nutrients for increasing human longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; School of Chemistry and Life Science, Changchun University of Technology, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Chengcheng Song
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yuwei Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Dongxue Xue
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Zhangkai Feng
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yifa Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Xiaoxue Li
- Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates of the Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
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Maza-Lopez J, Jiménez-Jacinto V, Bermúdez-Morales VH, Alonso-Morales RA, Reyes-Guerrero DE, Higuera-Piedrahita RI, Camas-Pereyra R, López-Arellano ME. Molecular study of the transcription factor SKN-1 and its putative relationship with genes that encode GST and antioxidant enzymes in Haemonchus contortus. Vet Parasitol 2024; 331:110255. [PMID: 39084102 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110255] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Haemonchus contortus is a parasitic nematode of ruminants. Once inside its host, it is exposed to reactive oxidative species and responds by synthesising antioxidant enzymes as a defence. In Caenorhabditis elegans, antioxidant genes are regulated by the transcription factor skinhead-1 (Cel-SKN-1). However, there is little information about the function of SKN-1 in H. contortus (Hco-SKN-1). Therefore, we performed a molecular investigation to characterise Hco-SKN-1 and its putative relationship with genes encode antioxidant enzymes, namely glutathione S-transferases (Hco-GSTs, n = 3), superoxide dismutase (Hco-SOD) and catalase (Hco-CAT), which are involved in haematophagy and defence against the host. We used in silico sequence analysis of Hco-SKN-1 and Hco-GSTs to design and perform relative expression assays involving H. contortus eggs, infective larvae (L3) and adults. Furthermore, we exposed H. contortus transitional infective larvae (xL3) to erythrocytes or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and evaluated the relative expression of antioxidant genes at 24 or 48 h. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed 31 functions associated with Hco-SKN-1 and Hco-GSTs, including stress resistance, larval development and the active immune response. Hco-GST-5957 and Hco-SOD showed the highest expression in adults, indicating a relationship with specific functions at this mature stage. xL3 exposed to erythrocytes or H2O2 showed significant upregulation of Hco-SKN-1, but it occurred after upregulation of the antioxidant genes, indicating that these genes are not regulated by Hco-SKN-1 during the blood-feeding stage. Additional investigation is necessary to understand the putative regulation of antioxidant genes by Hco-SKN-1 during the blood-feeding stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn Maza-Lopez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Verónica Jiménez-Jacinto
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Víctor H Bermúdez-Morales
- Centro de Investigación sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad ♯655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico
| | - Rogelio A Alonso-Morales
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - David E Reyes-Guerrero
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, Jiutepec, Morelos 62574, Mexico
| | - Rosa I Higuera-Piedrahita
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Rene Camas-Pereyra
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, Jiutepec, Morelos 62574, Mexico
| | - Maria Eugenia López-Arellano
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, Jiutepec, Morelos 62574, Mexico.
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Santos PA, Uczay M, Pflüger P, Lobo LAC, Rott MB, Fontenla JA, Rodrigues Siqueira I, Pereira P. Toxicological assessment of the Achyrocline satureioides aqueous extract in the Caenorhabditis elegans alternative model. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2024; 87:730-751. [PMID: 38904345 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2024.2368618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Achyrocline satureioides, popularly called "marcela" in Brazil, is used in traditional medicine in South America. A. satureioides, inflorescences are used for many conditions, including to minimize the Sars-Cov-2 symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the toxicity profile of A. satureioides aqueous extract (ASAE), using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) alternative model. Survival, reproduction, development, and transgenerational assays were performed. The effects of ASAE were investigated under conditions of thermal stress and presence of oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, C. elegans strains containing high antioxidant enzyme levels and elevated lineages of daf-16, skn-1 and daf-2 regulatory pathways were examined. The ASAE LC50 value was found to be 77.3 ± 4 mg/ml. The concentration of ASAE 10 mg/ml (frequently used in humans) did not exhibit a significant reduction in worm survival at either the L1 or L4 stage, after 24 or 72 hr treatment. ASAE did not markedly alter the body area. In N2 strain, ASAE (10 or 25 mg/ml) reversed the damage initiated by H2O2. In addition, ASAE protected the damage produced by H2O2 in strains containing significant levels of sod-3, gst-4 and ctl - 1,2,3, suggesting modulation in these antioxidant systems by this plant extract. ASAE exposure activated daf-16 and skn-1 stress response transcriptional pathways independently of daf-2, even under extreme stress. Data suggest that ASAE, at the concentrations tested in C. elegans, exhibits a reliable toxicity profile, which may contribute to consideration for safe use in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péterson Alves Santos
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mariana Uczay
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Pricila Pflüger
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Larissa Aline Carneiro Lobo
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilise Brittes Rott
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jose Angel Fontenla
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ionara Rodrigues Siqueira
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Pereira
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Muthusamy V, Govindhan T, Amirthalingam M, Pottanthara Ashokan A, Thangavel H, Palanisamy S, Paramasivam P. Chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated Piper betle essential oil alleviates Alzheimer's disease associated pathology in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 279:135323. [PMID: 39241994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
A multifaceted approach in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition that poses health risks in the aging population is explored in this investigation via encapsulating Piper betle essential oil (PBEO) in chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) to improve solubility and efficacy of PBEO. PBEO-ChNPs mitigated AD-like features more effectively than free PBEO by delaying paralysis progression and reducing serotonin hypersensitivity, ROS levels, Aβ deposits, and neurotoxic Aβ-oligomers in the Caenorhabditis elegans AD model. PBEO-ChNPs significantly improved lifespan, neuronal health, healthspan, cognitive function, and reversed deficits in chemotaxis and reproduction. PBEO-ChNPs also induced stress response genes daf-16, sod-3, and hsp-16.2. The participation of the DAF-16 pathway in reducing Aβ-induced toxicity was confirmed by daf-16 RNAi treatment, and upregulation of autophagy genes leg-1, unc-51, and bec-1 was noted. This study is the first to demonstrate an alternative biopolymeric nanoformulation with natural PBEO and chitosan, in mitigating AD and its associated symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velumani Muthusamy
- Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Thiruppathi Govindhan
- Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mohankumar Amirthalingam
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV 25112, USA
| | | | - Hema Thangavel
- Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sundararaj Palanisamy
- Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Premasudha Paramasivam
- Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Piragine E, De Felice M, Germelli L, Brinkmann V, Flori L, Martini C, Calderone V, Ventura N, Da Pozzo E, Testai L. The Citrus flavanone naringenin prolongs the lifespan in C. elegans and slows signs of brain aging in mice. Exp Gerontol 2024; 194:112495. [PMID: 38897393 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112495] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Aging is one of the main risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders, which represent a global burden on healthcare systems. Therefore, identifying new strategies to slow the progression of brain aging is a compelling challenge. In this article, we first assessed the potential anti-aging effects of the Citrus flavanone naringenin (NAR), an activator of the enzyme sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), in a 3R-compliant and short-lived aging model (i.e., the nematode C. elegans). Then, we investigated the preventive effects of a 6-month treatment with NAR (100 mg/kg, orally) against brain aging and studied its mechanism of action in middle-aged mice. We demonstrated that NAR (100 μM) extends lifespan and improves healthspan in C. elegans. In the brain of middle-aged mice, NAR promotes the activity of metabolic enzymes (citrate synthase, cytochrome C oxidase) and increases the expression of the SIRT1 enzyme. Consistently, NAR up-regulates the expression of downstream antioxidant (Foxo3, Nrf2, Ho-1), anti-senescence (p16), and anti-inflammatory (Il-6, Il-18) markers. Our findings support NAR supplementation to slow the signs of brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Piragine
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood-Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Italy.
| | | | | | - Vanessa Brinkmann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany; Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF), Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | | | - Claudia Martini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood-Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Calderone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Biology and Pathology of Ageing", University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood-Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Italy.
| | - Natascia Ventura
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany; Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF), Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Eleonora Da Pozzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood-Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Italy.
| | - Lara Testai
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Biology and Pathology of Ageing", University of Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Nutrafood-Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Italy.
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Urushihata T, Satoh A. Role of the central nervous system in cell non-autonomous signaling mechanisms of aging and longevity in mammals. J Physiol Sci 2024; 74:40. [PMID: 39217308 PMCID: PMC11365208 DOI: 10.1186/s12576-024-00934-3] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Multiple organs orchestrate the maintenance of proper physiological function in organisms throughout their lifetimes. Recent studies have uncovered that aging and longevity are regulated by cell non-autonomous signaling mechanisms in several organisms. In the brain, particularly in the hypothalamus, aging and longevity are regulated by such cell non-autonomous signaling mechanisms. Several hypothalamic neurons have been identified as regulators of mammalian longevity, and manipulating them promotes lifespan extension or shortens the lifespan in rodent models. The hypothalamic structure and function are evolutionally highly conserved across species. Thus, elucidation of hypothalamic function during the aging process will shed some light on the mechanisms of aging and longevity and, thereby benefiting to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Urushihata
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Integrative Physiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Akiko Satoh
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
- Department of Integrative Physiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan.
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Reigada I, Kapp K, Kaudela T, García Soria M, Oksanen T, Hanski L. Tracking Chlamydia - Host interactions and antichlamydial activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:116956. [PMID: 38901202 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116956] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The fading efficacy of antibiotics is a growing global health concern due to its life-threatening consequences and increased healthcare costs. Non-genetic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, such as those employed by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis, complicate treatment as these bacteria can enter a non-replicative, persistent state under stress, evading antibiotics and linking to inflammatory conditions. Understanding chlamydial persistence at the molecular level is challenging, and new models for studying Chlamydia-host interactions in vivo are urgently needed. Caenorhabditis elegans offers an alternative given its immune system and numerous orthologues of human genes. This study established C. elegans as an in vivo model for chlamydial infection. Both Chlamydia species reduced the worm's lifespan, their DNA being detectable at three- and six-days post-infection. Azithromycin at its MIC (25 nM) failed to prevent the infection-induced lifespan reduction, indicating a persister phenotype. In contrast, the methanolic extract of Schisandra chinensis berries showed anti-chlamydial activity both in vitro (in THP-1 macrophages) and in vivo, significantly extending the lifespan of infected C. elegans and reducing the bacterial load. Moreover, S. chinensis increased the transcriptional activity of SKN-1 in the worms, but was unable to impact the bacterial load or lifespan in a sek-1 defective C. elegans strain. In summary, this study validated C. elegans as a chlamydial infection model and showcased S. chinensis berries' in vivo anti-chlamydial potential, possibly through SEK/SKN-1 signaling modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Reigada
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Karmen Kapp
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Theresa Kaudela
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - María García Soria
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge (San Jorge University), Zaragoza 50830, Spain
| | - Timo Oksanen
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Leena Hanski
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
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He X, Zhao L, Huang B, Zhang G, Lu Y, Mi D, Sun Y. Integrated analysis of miRNAome and transcriptome reveals that microgravity induces the alterations of critical functional gene modules via the regulation of miRNAs in short-term space-flown C. elegans. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 42:117-132. [PMID: 39067983 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2024.07.001] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Microgravity, as a unique hazardous factor encountered in space, can induce a series of harmful effects on living organisms. The impact of microgravity on the pivotal functional gene modules stemming from gene enrichment analysis via the regulation of miRNAs is not fully illustrated. To explore the microgravity-induced alterations in critical functional gene modules via the regulation of miRNAs, in the present study, we proposed a novel bioinformatics algorithm for the integrated analysis of miRNAome and transcriptome from short-term space-flown C. elegans. The samples of C. elegans were exposed to two space conditions, namely spaceflight (SF) and spaceflight control (SC) onboard the International Space Station for 4 days. Additionally, the samples of ground control (GC) were included for comparative analysis. Using the present algorithm, we constructed regulatory networks of functional gene modules annotated from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their associated regulatory differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs). The results showed that functional gene modules of molting cycle, defense response, fatty acid metabolism, lysosome, and longevity regulating pathway were facilitated by 25 down-regulated DEmiRNAs (e.g., cel-miR-792, cel-miR-65, cel-miR-70, cel-lsy-6, cel-miR-796, etc.) in the SC vs. GC groups, whereas these modules were inhibited by 13 up-regulated DEmiRNAs (e.g., cel-miR-74, cel-miR-229, cel-miR-70, cel-miR-249, cel-miR-85, etc.) in the SF vs. GC groups. These findings indicated that microgravity could significantly alter gene expression patterns and their associated functional gene modules in short-term space-flown C. elegans. Additionally, we identified 34 miRNAs as post-transcriptional regulators that modulated these functional gene modules under microgravity conditions. Through the experimental verification, our results demonstrated that microgravity could induce the down-regulation of five critical functional gene modules (i.e., molting cycle, defense response, fatty acid metabolism, lysosome, and longevity regulating pathways) via the regulation of miRNAs in short-term space-flown C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinye He
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China.
| | - Baohang Huang
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Ye Lu
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Dong Mi
- College of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Yeqing Sun
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, PR China.
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Fong A, Rodriguez M, Choe KP. Increased expression of metabolism and lysosome-associated genes in a C. elegans dpy-7 cuticle furrow mutant. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001241. [PMID: 39144098 PMCID: PMC11322832 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The collagen-based epidermal 'cuticle' of Caenorhabditis elegans functions as an extracellular sensor for damage that regulates genes promoting osmotic balance, innate immunity, and detoxification. Prior studies demonstrate that SKN-1 , an ortholog of the mammalian Nrf transcription factors, activates core detoxification genes downstream from cuticle damage. Prior RNAseq data suggested that expression of five genes with functions in redox balance, ATP homeostasis, and lysosome function ( gst-15 , gst-24 , cyts-1 , argk-1 , and mfsd-8.4 ) were increased in a cuticle collagen mutant; this study employed RT-qPCR to verify this observation and to test the role of SKN-1 . Activation of all five genes was verified in dpy-7 mutants, but none were reduced by skn-1 (RNAi) suggesting parallel or distinct regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiden Fong
- Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | | | - Keith Patrick Choe
- Department of Biology and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
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Wang R, Ding A, Wang J, Wang J, Zhou Y, Chen M, Ju S, Tan M, Xiang Z. Astragalin from Thesium chinense: A Novel Anti-Aging and Antioxidant Agent Targeting IGFR/CD38/ Sirtuins. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:859. [PMID: 39061927 PMCID: PMC11273813 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13070859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Astragalin (AG), a typical flavonoid found in Thesium chinense Turcz (T. chinense), is abundant in various edible plants and possesses high nutritional value, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial effects. In this study, we initially predicted the mechanism of action of AG with two anti-aging and antioxidant-related protein targets (CD38 and IGFR) by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation techniques. Subsequently, we examined the anti-aging effects of AG in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), the antioxidant effects in zebrafish, and verified the related molecular mechanisms. In C. elegans, AG synergistically extended the lifespan of C. elegans by up-regulating the expression of daf-16 through inhibiting the expression of daf-2/IGFR and also activating the AMPK and MAPK pathways to up-regulate the expression of sir-2.1, sir-2.4, and skn-1. In oxidatively damaged zebrafish embryos, AG demonstrated a synergistic effect in augmenting the resistance of zebrafish embryos to oxidative stress by up-regulating the expression levels of SIRT1 and SIRT6 within the zebrafish embryos system via the suppression of CD38 enzymatic activity and then inhibiting the expression of IGFR through high levels of SIRT6. These findings highlight the antioxidant and anti-aging properties of AG and indicate its potential application as a supplementary ingredient in aquaculture for enhancing fish health and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifeng Wang
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (R.W.); (A.D.); (Y.Z.); (M.C.); (S.J.)
| | - Anping Ding
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (R.W.); (A.D.); (Y.Z.); (M.C.); (S.J.)
| | - Jiaye Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China;
| | - Jiaxue Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Yujie Zhou
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (R.W.); (A.D.); (Y.Z.); (M.C.); (S.J.)
| | - Miao Chen
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (R.W.); (A.D.); (Y.Z.); (M.C.); (S.J.)
| | - Shuang Ju
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (R.W.); (A.D.); (Y.Z.); (M.C.); (S.J.)
| | - Mingpu Tan
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Zengxu Xiang
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (R.W.); (A.D.); (Y.Z.); (M.C.); (S.J.)
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11
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Wang S, Yang C, Luo Y, Chen Q, Xu M, Ji Y, Jiang X, Qu C. Poplar Bud ( Populus) Extraction and Chinese Propolis Counteract Oxidative Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans via Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling Pathway. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:860. [PMID: 39061928 PMCID: PMC11274317 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13070860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Poplar buds are characterized by a high content of phenolic compounds, which exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities. However, the relationship between Chinese propolis and poplar buds based on their antioxidant capacities and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties of poplar bud (Populus) extract (PBE) and Chinese propolis (CP) and to elucidate the mechanisms behind their activity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that both PBE and CP contain a significant amount of phenolic acids and flavonoids. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays demonstrated that PBE and CP possess excellent antioxidant activity. Furthermore, administration of PBE and CP improved the survival rate of C. elegans under oxidative stress. They also decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT). PBE and CP intervention upregulated the expression of key genes daf-16, sod-3, hsp-16.2, and skn-1 in nematodes. This suggests that the antioxidant activity of PBE and CP is dependent on daf-16 and skn-1 signaling pathways. In conclusion, poplar bud extracts ha have the potential to become a substitute for propolis and a potential therapeutic agent for treating diseases associated with oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Chengchao Yang
- Liaoning Provincial Institute of Poplar, Gaizhou 115200, China
| | - Yaling Luo
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Qingyi Chen
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Mengyang Xu
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Yuntao Ji
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Xiasen Jiang
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Changqing Qu
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-Aging Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui Province, Biology and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236000, China
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12
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Mo A, Liang Y, Cao X, Jiang J, Liu Y, Cao X, Qiu Y, He D. Polymer chain extenders induce significant toxicity through DAF-16 and SKN-1 pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans: A comparative analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134730. [PMID: 38797076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134730] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Polymer chain extenders, commonly used in plastic production, have garnered increasing attention due to their potential environmental impacts. However, a comprehensive understanding of their ecological risks remains largely unknown. In this study, we employed the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate toxicological profiles of ten commonly-used chain extenders. Exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of these chain extenders (ranging from 0.1 µg L-1 to 10 mg L-1) caused significant variations in toxicity. Lethality assays demonstrated the LC50 values ranged from 92.42 µg L-1 to 1553.65 mg L-1, indicating marked differences in acute toxicity. Sublethal exposures could inhibit nematodes' growth, shorten lifespan, and induce locomotor deficits, neuronal damage, and reproductive toxicity. Molecular analyses further elucidated the involvement of the DAF-16 and SKN-1 signaling pathways, as evidenced by upregulated expression of genes including ctl-1,2,3, sod-3, gcs-1, and gst-4. It implicates these pathways in mediating oxidative stress and toxicities induced by chain extenders. Particularly, hexamethylene diisocyanate and diallyl maleate exhibited markedly high toxicity among the chain extenders, as revealed through a comparative analysis of multiple endpoints. These findings demonstrate the potential ecotoxicological risks of polymer chain extenders, and suggest the need for more rigorous environmental safety assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoyun Mo
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuqing Liang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaomu Cao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xuelong Cao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuping Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Defu He
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Technology Innovation Center for Land Spatial Eco-restoration in Metropolitan Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 200062, China.
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13
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Turner CD, Curran SP. Activated SKN-1 alters the aging trajectories of long-lived C. elegans mutants. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.09.602737. [PMID: 39026841 PMCID: PMC11257557 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.602737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
In the presence of stressful environments, the SKN-1 cytoprotective transcription factor is activated to induce the expression of gene targets that can restore homeostasis. However, chronic activation of SKN-1 results in diminished health and a reduction of lifespan. Here we demonstrate the necessity of modulating SKN-1 activity to maintain the longevity-promoting effects associated with genetic mutations that impair daf-2/insulin receptor signaling, the eat-2 model of caloric restriction, and glp-1-dependent loss of germ cell proliferation. A hallmark of animals with constitutive SKN-1 activation is the age-dependent loss of somatic lipids and this phenotype is linked to a general reduction in survival in animals harboring the skn-1gf allele, but surprisingly, daf-2lf; skn-1gf double mutant animals do not redistribute somatic lipids which suggests the insulin signaling pathway functions downstream of SKN-1 in the maintenance of lipid distribution. As expected, the eat-2lf allele, which independently activates SKN-1, continues to display somatic lipid depletion in older ages with and without the skn-1gf activating mutation. In contrast, the presence of the skn-1gf allele does not lead to somatic lipid redistribution in glp-1lf animals that lack a proliferating germline. Taken together, these studies support a genetic model where SKN-1 activity is an important regulator of lipid mobilization in response to nutrient availability that fuels the developing germline by engaging the daf-2/insulin receptor pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D. Turner
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.90089
| | - Sean P. Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.90089
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14
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Nair T, Ramos CM, Turner CD, Gorla V, Gaglio M, Curran SP. SKN-1 isoform-c is essential for C. elegans development. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001205. [PMID: 39027732 PMCID: PMC11255869 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The transcription factor SKN-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans is a critical regulator of various biological processes, impacting development, diet and immune responses, cellular detoxification, and lipid metabolism; thereby playing a pivotal role in regulating the health and lifespan of the organism. The primary isoforms of SKN-1 ( SKN-1 a, SKN-1 b, and SKN-1 c) exhibit distinct functions resembling mammalian Nrf transcription factors. This study investigates the specific role of the SKN-1 c isoform in development by generating mutants with targeted missense mutations in the skn-1 c and skn-1 a isoforms. The skn-1 c Met1Ala mutants, which replaces a start methionine with alanine, renders SKN-1 c non-functional while preserving other isoforms, produced inviable embryos, requiring a balancer chromosome for proper embryonic development. In contrast, skn-1 a Met1Ala mutants, which replaces the start methionine with alanine for this isoform, displayed normal embryonic development and hatching. Moreover, the data suggest that SKN-1 c plays a crucial role in embryonic development, as strains without maternally deposited SKN-1 c lead to embryos that are developmentally arrested. Together, these findings contribute to our understanding of SKN-1 c's specific role in influencing embryogenesis and development in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tripti Nair
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Carmen M. Ramos
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Chris D. Turner
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Vandita Gorla
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Marisa Gaglio
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Sean P. Curran
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
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15
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Yanagi KS, Jochim B, Kunjo SO, Breen P, Ruvkun G, Lehrbach N. Mutations in nucleotide metabolism genes bypass proteasome defects in png-1/NGLY1-deficient Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002720. [PMID: 38991033 PMCID: PMC11265709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The conserved SKN-1A/Nrf1 transcription factor regulates the expression of proteasome subunit genes and is essential for maintenance of adequate proteasome function in animal development, aging, and stress responses. Unusual among transcription factors, SKN-1A/Nrf1 is a glycoprotein synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). N-glycosylated SKN-1A/Nrf1 exits the ER and is deglycosylated in the cytosol by the PNG-1/NGLY1 peptide:N-glycanase. Deglycosylation edits the protein sequence of SKN-1A/Nrf1 by converting N-glycosylated asparagine residues to aspartate, which is necessary for SKN-1A/Nrf1 transcriptional activation of proteasome subunit genes. Homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the peptide:N-glycanase (NGLY1) gene cause NGLY1 deficiency, a congenital disorder of deglycosylation. There are no effective treatments for NGLY1 deficiency. Since SKN-1A/Nrf1 is a major client of NGLY1, the resulting proteasome deficit contributes to NGLY1 disease. We sought to identify targets for mitigation of proteasome dysfunction in NGLY1 deficiency that might indicate new avenues for treatment. We isolated mutations that suppress the sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors caused by inactivation of the NGLY1 ortholog PNG-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identified multiple suppressor mutations affecting 3 conserved genes: rsks-1, tald-1, and ent-4. We show that the suppressors act through a SKN-1/Nrf-independent mechanism and confer proteostasis benefits consistent with amelioration of proteasome dysfunction. ent-4 encodes an intestinal nucleoside/nucleotide transporter, and we show that restriction of nucleotide availability is beneficial, whereas a nucleotide-rich diet exacerbates proteasome dysfunction in PNG-1/NGLY1-deficient C. elegans. Our findings suggest that dietary or pharmacological interventions altering nucleotide availability have the potential to mitigate proteasome insufficiency in NGLY1 deficiency and other diseases associated with proteasome dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S. Yanagi
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Briar Jochim
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sheikh Omar Kunjo
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Peter Breen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gary Ruvkun
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nicolas Lehrbach
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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16
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Chen X, Bahramimehr F, Shahhamzehei N, Fu H, Lin S, Wang H, Li C, Efferth T, Hong C. Anti-aging effects of medicinal plants and their rapid screening using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 129:155665. [PMID: 38768535 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155665] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging is the primary risk factor of most chronic diseases in humans, including cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases, which extensively damage the quality of life for elderly individuals. Aging is a multifaceted process with numerous factors affecting it. Efficient model organisms are essential for the research and development of anti-aging agents, particularly when investigating pharmacological mechanisms are needed. PURPOSE This review discusses the application of Caenorhabditis elegans for studying aging and its related signaling pathways, and presents an overview of studies exploring the mechanism and screening of anti-aging agents in C. elegans. Additionally, the review summarizes related clinical trials of anti-aging agents to inspire the development of new medications. METHOD Literature was searched, analyzed, and collected using PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The search terms used were "anti-aging", "medicinal plants", "synthetic compounds", "C. elegans", "signal pathway", etc. Several combinations of these keywords were used. Studies conducted in C. elegans or humans were included. Articles were excluded, if they were on studies conducted in silico or in vitro or could not offer effective data. RESULTS Four compounds mainly derived through synthesis (metformin, rapamycin, nicotinamide mononucleotide, alpha-ketoglutarate) and four active ingredients chiefly obtained from plants (resveratrol, quercetin, Astragalus polysaccharide, ginsenosides) are introduced emphatically. These compounds and active ingredients exhibit potential anti-aging effects in preclinical and clinical studies. The screening of these anti-aging agents and the investigation of their pharmacological mechanisms can benefit from the use of C. elegans. CONCLUSION Medicinal plants provide valuable resource for the treatment of diseases. A wide source of raw materials for the particular plant medicinal compounds having anti-aging effects meet diverse pharmaceutical requirements, such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammation and alleviating oxidative stress. C. elegans possesses advantages in scientific research including short life cycle, small size, easy maintenance, genetic tractability and conserved biological processes related to aging. C. elegans can be used for the efficient and rapid evaluation of compounds with the potential to slow down aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Faranak Bahramimehr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nasim Shahhamzehei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Huangjie Fu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Siyi Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Hanxiao Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Changyu Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Chunlan Hong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
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17
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Charmpilas N, Sotiriou A, Axarlis K, Tavernarakis N, Hoppe T. Reproductive regulation of the mitochondrial stress response in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114336. [PMID: 38852157 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114336] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteome integrity is fundamental for cellular and organismal homeostasis. The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), a key component of the proteostasis network, is activated in a non-cell-autonomous manner in response to mitochondrial stress in distal tissues. However, the importance of inter-tissue communication for UPRmt inducibility under physiological conditions remains elusive. Here, we show that an intact germline is essential for robust UPRmt induction in the Caenorhabditis elegans somatic tissues. A series of nematode mutants with germline defects are unable to respond to genetic or chemical UPRmt inducers. Our genetic analysis suggests that reproductive signals, rather than germline stem cells, are responsible for somatic UPRmt induction. Consistent with this observation, we show that UPRmt is sexually dimorphic, as male nematodes are inherently unresponsive to mitochondrial stress. Our findings highlight a paradigm of germline-somatic communication and suggest that reproductive cessation is a primary cause of age-related UPRmt decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Charmpilas
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Aggeliki Sotiriou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece; Division of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Axarlis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece; Division of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
| | - Thorsten Hoppe
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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18
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Li W, McIntyre RL, Schomakers BV, Kamble R, Luesink AH, van Weeghel M, Houtkooper RH, Gao AW, Janssens GE. Low-dose naltrexone extends healthspan and lifespan in C. elegans via SKN-1 activation. iScience 2024; 27:109949. [PMID: 38799567 PMCID: PMC11126937 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
As the global aging population rises, finding effective interventions to improve aging health is crucial. Drug repurposing, utilizing existing drugs for new purposes, presents a promising strategy for rapid implementation. We explored naltrexone from the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) based on several selection criteria. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has gained attention for treating various diseases, yet its impact on longevity remains underexplored. Our study on C. elegans demonstrated that a low dose, but not high dose, of naltrexone extended the healthspan and lifespan. This effect was mediated through SKN-1 (NRF2 in mammals) signaling, influencing innate immune gene expression and upregulating oxidative stress responses. With LDN's low side effects profile, our findings underscore its potential as a geroprotector, suggesting further exploration for promoting healthy aging in humans is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weisha Li
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rebecca L. McIntyre
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bauke V. Schomakers
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rashmi Kamble
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne H.G. Luesink
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michel van Weeghel
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Riekelt H. Houtkooper
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Arwen W. Gao
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Georges E. Janssens
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Ji Z, Pandey T, de Belly H, Wang B, Weiner OD, Tang Y, Guang S, Goddard TD, Ma DK. ER-GUARD: an evolutionarily conserved antioxidant defense system at ER membranes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.19.599784. [PMID: 38948723 PMCID: PMC11212984 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Oxidative protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is essential for all eukaryotic cells yet generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ER-transmembrane protein that provides reducing equivalents to ER and guards the cytosol for antioxidant defense remains unidentified. Here we combine AlphaFold2-based and functional reporter screens in C. elegans to identify a previously uncharacterized and evolutionarily conserved protein ERGU-1 that fulfills these roles. Deleting C. elegans ERGU-1 causes excessive H2O2 and transcriptional gene up-regulation through SKN-1, homolog of mammalian antioxidant master regulator NRF2. ERGU-1 deficiency also impairs organismal reproduction and behaviors. Both C. elegans and human ERGU-1 proteins localize to ER membranes and form network reticulum structures. We name this system ER-GUARD, Endoplasmic Reticulum Guardian Aegis of Redox Defense. Human and Drosophila homologs of ERGU-1 can rescue C. elegans mutant phenotypes, demonstrating evolutionarily ancient and conserved functions. Together, our results reveal an ER-membrane-specific protein machinery and defense-net system ER-GUARD for peroxide detoxification and suggest a previously unknown but conserved pathway for antioxidant defense in animal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijian Ji
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Taruna Pandey
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Henry de Belly
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Bingying Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Orion D. Weiner
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yao Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shouhong Guang
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Thomas D. Goddard
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Dengke K. Ma
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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20
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Zhang Z, Li J, Li F, Wang T, Luo X, Li B, You Y, Wu C, Liu X. Jujubae Fructus extract prolongs lifespan and improves stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans dependent on DAF-16/SOD-3. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13713. [PMID: 38877105 PMCID: PMC11178930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64045-0] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Jujubae Fructus, the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill has been used as one of the medicine food homology species for thousands of years in China. Studies have shown that the active ingredients of Jujubae Fructus have a variety of biological effects, but its role in the aging process still lacks knowledge. Here, we investigated the effect of Jujubae Fructus extract (JE) on Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan and its potential mechanism. The lifespan of C. elegans treated with JE was signifificantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, JE treatment prolonged the reproductive period and increased normal activity during aging in C. elegans. Similarly, JE supplementation also enhanced the resistance to heat and oxidative stress in C. elegans. Furthermore, the mutant worms' lifespan assays demonstrated that JE requires daf-16 to prolong lifespan. DAF-16::GFP analysis of TJ356 showed that JE treatment translocates DAF-16::GFP to nucleus in transgenic worms. By analyzing the downstream of daf-16, we identify that JE may regulate sod3 downstream of daf-16. Mutant worms' lifespan and transgenic reporter gene expression assays revealed that increasing SOD-3 expression was critical for extending longevity in C. elegans with JE therapy. Collectively, these data indicate that JE may have an important role in C. elegans longevity that is dependent on DAF-16 and SOD-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Avenue, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhoukou Normal University, No.6, Middle Wenchang Avenue, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Avenue, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhoukou Normal University, No.6, Middle Wenchang Avenue, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhoukou Normal University, No.6, Middle Wenchang Avenue, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Avenue, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
| | - Bing Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhoukou Normal University, No.6, Middle Wenchang Avenue, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, China
| | - Yilin You
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Viticulture and Enology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Changjing Wu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhoukou Normal University, No.6, Middle Wenchang Avenue, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, China.
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Avenue, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhoukou Normal University, No.6, Middle Wenchang Avenue, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, China.
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21
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Yue Z, Liu H, Liu M, Wang N, Ye L, Guo C, Zheng B. Cornus officinalis Extract Enriched with Ursolic Acid Ameliorates UVB-Induced Photoaging in Caenorhabditis elegans. Molecules 2024; 29:2718. [PMID: 38930783 PMCID: PMC11206114 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122718] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure can contribute to photoaging of skin. Cornus officinalis is rich in ursolic acid (UA), which is beneficial to the prevention of photoaging. Because UA is hardly soluble in water, the Cornus officinalis extract (COE) was obtained using water as the antisolvent to separate the components containing UA from the crude extract of Cornus officinalis. The effect of COE on UVB damage was assessed using Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that COE could increase the lifespan and enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity of C. elegans exposed to UVB while decreasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. At the same time, COE upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and promoted the migration of SKN-1 to the nucleus. Moreover, COE inhibited the expression of the skn-1 downstream gene and the extension of the lifespan in skn-1 mutants exposed to UVB, indicating that SKN-1 was required for COE to function. Our findings indicate that COE mainly ameliorates the oxidative stress caused by UVB in C. elegans via the SKN-1/Nrf2 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengwang Yue
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; (Z.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
- Research and Development Center, Guangdong Marubi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, China; (H.L.); (N.W.)
| | - Han Liu
- Research and Development Center, Guangdong Marubi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, China; (H.L.); (N.W.)
| | - Manqiu Liu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; (Z.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
| | - Ning Wang
- Research and Development Center, Guangdong Marubi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, China; (H.L.); (N.W.)
| | - Lin Ye
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; (Z.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
| | - Chaowan Guo
- Research and Development Center, Guangdong Marubi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510700, China; (H.L.); (N.W.)
| | - Bisheng Zheng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; (Z.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
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22
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Gao X, Yu J, Zhang L, Shi H, Yan Y, Han Y, Fang M, Liu Y, Wu C, Fan S, Huang C. Mulberrin extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans through detoxification function. J Appl Toxicol 2024; 44:833-845. [PMID: 38291015 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4578] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Mulberrin, a naturally occurring flavone found in mulberry and Romulus Mori, exhibits diverse biological functions. Here, we showed that mulberrin extended both the lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans. Moreover, mulberrin increased the worms' resistance to toxicants and activated the expression of detoxification genes. The longevity-promoting effect of mulberrin was attenuated in nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) homologous nhr-8 and daf-12 mutants, indicating that the lifespan extending effects of mulberrin in C. elegans may depend on nuclear hormone receptors NHR-8/DAF-12. Further analyses revealed the potential associations between the longevity effects of mulberrin and the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways. Together, our findings suggest that mulberrin may prolong lifespan and healthspan by activating detoxification functions mediated by nuclear receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingxuan Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongli Han
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Minglv Fang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengyuan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengjie Fan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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23
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Govindhan T, Amirthalingam M, Govindan S, Duraisamy K, Cho JH, Tawata S, Periyakali SB, Palanisamy S. Diosgenin intervention: targeting lipophagy to counter high glucose diet-induced lipid accumulation and lifespan reduction. 3 Biotech 2024; 14:171. [PMID: 38828099 PMCID: PMC11143156 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-024-04017-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Diosgenin (DG), a well-known steroidal sapogenin, is abundantly found in the plants of the Dioscoreaceae family and exhibits diverse pharmacological properties. In our previous study, we demonstrated that DG supplementation protected Caenorhabditis elegans from high glucose-induced lipid deposition, oxidative damage, and lifespan reduction. Nevertheless, the precise biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of DG have not yet been described. In this context, the present study aims to elucidate how DG reduces molecular and cellular declines induced by high glucose, using the powerful genetics of the C. elegans model. Treatment with DG significantly (p < 0.01) prevented fat accumulation and extended lifespan under high-glucose conditions without affecting physiological functions. DG-induced lifespan extension was found to rely on longevity genes daf-2, daf-16, skn-1, glp-1, eat-2, let-363, and pha-4. Specifically, DG regulates lipophagy, the autophagy-mediated degradation of lipid droplets, in C. elegans, thereby inhibiting fat accumulation. Furthermore, DG treatment did not alter the triglyceride levels in the fat-6 and fat-7 single mutants and fat-6;fat-7 double mutants, indicating the significant role of stearoyl-CoA desaturase genes in mediating the reduction of fat deposition by DG. Our results provide new insight into the fat-reducing mechanisms of DG, which might develop into a multitarget drug for preventing obesity and associated health complications; however, preclinical studies are required to investigate the effect of DG on higher models. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-04017-3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohankumar Amirthalingam
- PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara-Cho, Okinawa, 903-0213 Japan
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV 25112 USA
| | - Shanmugam Govindan
- Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641046 India
| | - Kalaiselvi Duraisamy
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hoon Cho
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452 Republic of Korea
| | - Shinkichi Tawata
- PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara-Cho, Okinawa, 903-0213 Japan
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24
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Park SH, Lee DH, Lee DH, Jung CH. Scientific evidence of foods that improve the lifespan and healthspan of different organisms. Nutr Res Rev 2024; 37:169-178. [PMID: 37469212 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422423000136] [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] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Age is a risk factor for numerous diseases. Although the development of modern medicine has greatly extended the human lifespan, the duration of relatively healthy old age, or 'healthspan', has not increased. Targeting the detrimental processes that can occur before the onset of age-related diseases can greatly improve health and lifespan. Healthspan is significantly affected by what, when and how much one eats. Dietary restriction, including calorie restriction, fasting or fasting-mimicking diets, to extend both lifespan and healthspan has recently attracted much attention. However, direct scientific evidence that consuming specific foods extends the lifespan and healthspan seems lacking. Here, we synthesized the results of recent studies on the lifespan and healthspan extension properties of foods and their phytochemicals in various organisms to confirm how far the scientific research on the effect of food on the lifespan has reached.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Hyun Park
- Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
| | - Da-Hye Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Dae-Hee Lee
- Department of Marine Food Science and Technology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea
| | - Chang Hwa Jung
- Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
- Department of Food Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
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25
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Tan X, Xu R, Li AP, Li D, Wang Y, Zhao Q, Long LP, Fan YZ, Zhao CX, Liu Y, Li SH. Antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer's disease activities of 1,8-cineole and its cyclodextrin inclusion complex. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116784. [PMID: 38781865 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116784] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
1,8-Cineole is a bicyclic monoterpene widely distributed in the essential oils of various medicinal plants, and it exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of 1,8-cineole on anti-Alzheimer's disease by using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models. Our studies demonstrated that 1,8-cineole significantly relieved Aβ1-42-induced paralysis and exhibited remarkable antioxidant and anti-Aβ1-42 aggregation activities in transgenic nematodes CL4176, CL2006 and CL2355. We developed a 1,8-cineole/cyclodextrin inclusion complex, displaying enhanced anti-paralysis, anti-Aβ aggregation and antioxidant activities compared to 1,8-cineole. In addition, we found 1,8-cineole treatment activated the SKN-1/Nrf-2 pathway and induced autophagy in nematodes. Our results demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer's disease activities of 1,8-cineole, which provide a potential therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Rui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Ai-Pei Li
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Dan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Qian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Li-Ping Long
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Yu-Zhou Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Chen-Xiao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China
| | - Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China.
| | - Sheng-Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, PR China.
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26
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Bouasker S, Nodland S, Millette M. The Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 Reduces Fat Deposition and Oxidative Stress and Increases Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1036. [PMID: 38930418 PMCID: PMC11205358 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans was recently shown to be a powerful model for studying and identifying probiotics with specific functions. Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lacticaseibacillus casei LBC80R, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CLR2, which are three bacteria that were marketed by Bio-K+, were evaluated using the nematode C. elegans to study fat accumulation, lifespan, and resistance to oxidative stress. Although the general effects of probiotics in terms of protection against oxidative stress were highlighted, the CL1285 strain had an interesting and specific feature, namely its ability to prevent fat accumulation in nematodes; this effect was verified by both the Oil Red and Nile Red methods. This observed phenotype requires daf-16 and is affected by glucose levels. In addition, in a daf-16- and glucose-dependent manner, CL1285 extended the lifespan of C. elegans; this effect was unique to CL1285 and not found in the other L. acidophilus subtypes in this study. Our findings indicate that L. acidophilus CL1285 impacts fat/glucose metabolism in C. elegans and provides a basis to further study this probiotic, which could have potential health benefits in humans and/or in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Bouasker
- Bio-K+, a Kerry Company, 495 Boulevard Armand-Frappier, Laval, QC H7V 4B3, Canada;
| | | | - Mathieu Millette
- Bio-K+, a Kerry Company, 495 Boulevard Armand-Frappier, Laval, QC H7V 4B3, Canada;
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27
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Hernández-Cruz EY, Aparicio-Trejo OE, Eugenio-Pérez D, Juárez-Peredo E, Zurita-León M, Valdés VJ, Pedraza-Chaverri J. Sulforaphane Exposure Prevents Cadmium-Induced Toxicity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by Regulating the Insulin/Insulin-like Growth Factor Signaling (IIS) Pathway. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:584. [PMID: 38790689 PMCID: PMC11117759 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans and animals. Its adverse effects have been widely associated with mitochondrial alterations. However, there are not many treatments that target mitochondria. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sulforaphane (SFN) pre-exposure against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced toxicity and mitochondrial alterations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), by exploring the role of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway (IIS). The results revealed that prior exposure to SFN protected against CdCl2-induced mortality and increased lifespan, body length, and mobility while reducing lipofuscin levels. Furthermore, SFN prevented mitochondrial alterations by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and restoring mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate, thereby decreasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The improvement in mitochondrial function was associated with increased mitochondrial mass and the involvement of the daf-16 and skn-1c genes of the IIS signaling pathway. In conclusion, exposure to SFN before exposure to CdCl2 mitigates toxic effects and mitochondrial alterations, possibly by increasing mitochondrial mass, which may be related to the regulation of the IIS pathway. These discoveries open new possibilities for developing therapies to reduce the damage caused by Cd toxicity and oxidative stress in biological systems, highlighting antioxidants with mitochondrial action as promising tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefani Yaquelin Hernández-Cruz
- Laboratorio F-315, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (E.Y.H.-C.); (D.E.-P.); (E.J.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Omar Emiliano Aparicio-Trejo
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | - Dianelena Eugenio-Pérez
- Laboratorio F-315, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (E.Y.H.-C.); (D.E.-P.); (E.J.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Bioquímicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Biochemical Sciences, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Elí Juárez-Peredo
- Laboratorio F-315, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (E.Y.H.-C.); (D.E.-P.); (E.J.-P.)
| | - Mariana Zurita-León
- Departamento de Biología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular (IFC), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (M.Z.-L.); (V.J.V.)
| | - Víctor Julián Valdés
- Departamento de Biología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular (IFC), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (M.Z.-L.); (V.J.V.)
| | - José Pedraza-Chaverri
- Laboratorio F-315, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (E.Y.H.-C.); (D.E.-P.); (E.J.-P.)
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28
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Wang Y, Zhang H, Ding F, Li J, Li L, Xu Z, Zhao Y. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuate amyloid-beta-induced toxicity in AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans via promotion of proteasomal activity and activation of PPAR-gamma. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 127:109603. [PMID: 38373507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109603] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive cognitive decline. A major pathological characteristic of AD brain is the presence of senile plaques composed of β-amyloid (Aβ), the accumulation of which induces toxic cascades leading to synaptic dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, and eventually cognitive decline. Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are beneficial for patients with early-stage AD; however, the mechanisms are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of n-3 PUFAs on Aβ-induced toxicity in a transgenic AD Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. The results showed that EPA and DHA significantly inhibited Aβ-induced paralytic phenotype and decreased the production of reactive oxygen species while reducing the levels of Aβ in the AD worms. Further studies revealed that EPA and DHA might reduce the accumulation of Aβ by restoring the activity of proteasome. Moreover, treating worms with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ inhibitor GW9662 prevented the inhibitory effects of n-3 PUFAs on Aβ-induced paralytic phenotype and diminished the elevation of proteasomal activity by n-3 PUFAs, suggesting that PPARγ-mediated signals play important role in the protective effects of n-3 PUFAs against Aβ-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Huanying Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Lianyu Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Zhong Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China.
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China.
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29
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Vergani-Junior CA, Moro RDP, Pinto S, De-Souza EA, Camara H, Braga DL, Tonon-da-Silva G, Knittel TL, Ruiz GP, Ludwig RG, Massirer KB, Mair WB, Mori MA. An Intricate Network Involving the Argonaute ALG-1 Modulates Organismal Resistance to Oxidative Stress. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3070. [PMID: 38594249 PMCID: PMC11003958 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47306-4] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular response to redox imbalance is crucial for organismal health. microRNAs are implicated in stress responses. ALG-1, the C. elegans ortholog of human AGO2, plays an essential role in microRNA processing and function. Here we investigated the mechanisms governing ALG-1 expression in C. elegans and the players controlling lifespan and stress resistance downstream of ALG-1. We show that upregulation of ALG-1 is a shared feature in conditions linked to increased longevity (e.g., germline-deficient glp-1 mutants). ALG-1 knockdown reduces lifespan and oxidative stress resistance, while overexpression enhances survival against pro-oxidant agents but not heat or reductive stress. R02D3.7 represses alg-1 expression, impacting oxidative stress resistance at least in part via ALG-1. microRNAs upregulated in glp-1 mutants (miR-87-3p, miR-230-3p, and miR-235-3p) can target genes in the protein disulfide isomerase pathway and protect against oxidative stress. This study unveils a tightly regulated network involving transcription factors and microRNAs which controls organisms' ability to withstand oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Vergani-Junior
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raíssa De P Moro
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silas Pinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Evandro A De-Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henrique Camara
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Section on Integrative Physiology & Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deisi L Braga
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Tonon-da-Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago L Knittel
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel P Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raissa G Ludwig
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katlin B Massirer
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Medicinal Chemistry (CQMED), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - William B Mair
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcelo A Mori
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Experimental Medicine Research Cluster (EMRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Li R, Yi Q, Wang J, Miao Y, Chen Q, Xu Y, Tao M. Paeonol promotes longevity and fitness in Caenorhabditis elegans through activating the DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/Nrf2 transcription factors. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116368. [PMID: 38471269 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116368] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Paeonol, as one of the most abundant plant-derived polyphenols, has multiple bioactivities including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the anti-aging effects and related mechanisms of paeonol are rarely reported. In this study, we found that paeonol significantly prolonged the mean lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) by 28.49% at a dose of 200 μM. Moreover, paeonol promoted the health of C. elegans by increasing the body bending and pharyngeal pumping rates and reducing the lipofuscin accumulation level. Meanwhile, paeonol induced the expression of stress-related genes or proteins by activating the transcription factors DAF-16/FOXO, SKN-1/Nrf2, and HSF-1, which in turn enhanced oxidative and thermal stress tolerance. The mechanism behind the anti-aging effect of paeonol occurred by down-regulating the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway. Our findings shed new light on the application of paeonol for longevity promotion and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- College of Bioengineering/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Specialty Flowers Biological Breeding, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingping Yi
- College of Bioengineering/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Specialty Flowers Biological Breeding, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsong Wang
- College of Bioengineering/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Specialty Flowers Biological Breeding, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanxin Miao
- College of Bioengineering/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Specialty Flowers Biological Breeding, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingchan Chen
- College of Bioengineering/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Specialty Flowers Biological Breeding, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Xu
- College of Bioengineering/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Specialty Flowers Biological Breeding, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, People's Republic of China.
| | - Mingfang Tao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Nutritional Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Agricultural Quality Standards and Detection Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
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Li B, Dong L, Meng W, Xiong SY, Wu GS, Ma WZ, Luo HR. Phloretic acid requires the insulin/IGF-1 pathway and autophagy to enhance stress resistance and extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1384227. [PMID: 38601465 PMCID: PMC11004342 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1384227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: In humans, aging is associated with increased susceptibility to most age-related diseases. Phloretic acid (PA), a naturally occurring compound found in Ginkgo biloba and Asparagus, exhibits has potential as an anti-aging agent and possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PA on longevity and stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) and the mechanisms that underlie its effects. Methods: First, we examined the effects of PA on lifespan and healthspan assay, stress resistance and oxidative analysis, lipofuscin levels. Second, we examined the insulin/insulin-like pathway, mitochondria, autophagy-related proteins, and gene expression to explain the possible mechanism of PA prolonging lifespan. Results: Our findings demonstrated that PA dose-dependently extended the C.elegans lifespan, with 200 μM PA showing the greatest effect and increased the C.elegans lifespan by approximately 16.7%. PA enhanced motility and the pharyngeal pumping rate in senescent C.elegans while reducing the accumulation of aging pigments. Further investigations revealed that daf-16, skn-1, and hsf-1 were required for mediating the lifespan extension effect of PA in C.elegans since its impact was suppressed in mutant strains lacking these genes. This suggests that PA activates these genes, leading to the upregulation of downstream genes involved in stress response and senescence regulation pathways. Furthermore, PA did not extend the lifespan of the RNAi atg-18 and RNAi bec-1 but it attenuated SQST-1 accumulation, augmented autophagosome expression, upregulated autophagy-related gene expression, and downregulated S6K protein levels. These findings suggest that the potential life-extending effect of PA also involves the modulation of the autophagy pathway. Conclusion: These findings results highlight the promising anti-aging effects of PA and warrant further investigation into its pharmacological mechanism and medicinal development prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Luzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Luzhou City for Aging Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Li Dong
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Luzhou, China
| | - Wei Meng
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Luzhou, China
| | - Shi-Ying Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
- Key Laboratory of Luzhou City for Aging Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Gui-Sheng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Luzhou City for Aging Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Wen-Zhe Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Huai-Rong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
- Key Laboratory of Luzhou City for Aging Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
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Pires da Silva A, Kelleher R, Reynoldson L. Decoding lifespan secrets: the role of the gonad in Caenorhabditis elegans aging. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1380016. [PMID: 38605866 PMCID: PMC11008531 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1380016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The gonad has become a central organ for understanding aging in C. elegans, as removing the proliferating stem cells in the germline results in significant lifespan extension. Similarly, when starvation in late larval stages leads to the quiescence of germline stem cells the adult nematode enters reproductive diapause, associated with an extended lifespan. This review summarizes recent advancements in identifying the mechanisms behind gonad-mediated lifespan extension, including comparisons with other nematodes and the role of lipid signaling and transcriptional changes. Given that the gonad also mediates lifespan regulation in other invertebrates and vertebrates, elucidating the underlying mechanisms may help to gain new insights into the mechanisms and evolution of aging.
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Rathor L, Curry S, Park Y, McElroy T, Robles B, Sheng Y, Chen WW, Min K, Xiao R, Lee MH, Han SM. Mitochondrial stress in GABAergic neurons non-cell autonomously regulates organismal health and aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.20.585932. [PMID: 38585797 PMCID: PMC10996468 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.20.585932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial stress within the nervous system can trigger non-cell autonomous responses in peripheral tissues. However, the specific neurons involved and their impact on organismal aging and health have remained incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that mitochondrial stress in γ-aminobutyric acid-producing (GABAergic) neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ) is sufficient to significantly alter organismal lifespan, stress tolerance, and reproductive capabilities. This mitochondrial stress also leads to significant changes in mitochondrial mass, energy production, and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). DAF-16/FoxO activity is enhanced by GABAergic neuronal mitochondrial stress and mediates the induction of these non-cell-autonomous effects. Moreover, our findings indicate that GABA signaling operates within the same pathway as mitochondrial stress in GABAergic neurons, resulting in non-cell-autonomous alterations in organismal stress tolerance and longevity. In summary, these data suggest the crucial role of GABAergic neurons in detecting mitochondrial stress and orchestrating non-cell-autonomous changes throughout the organism.
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Turner CD, Ramos CM, Curran SP. Disrupting the SKN-1 homeostat: mechanistic insights and phenotypic outcomes. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1369740. [PMID: 38501033 PMCID: PMC10944932 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1369740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The mechanisms that govern maintenance of cellular homeostasis are crucial to the lifespan and healthspan of all living systems. As an organism ages, there is a gradual decline in cellular homeostasis that leads to senescence and death. As an organism lives into advanced age, the cells within will attempt to abate age-related decline by enhancing the activity of cellular stress pathways. The regulation of cellular stress responses by transcription factors SKN-1/Nrf2 is a well characterized pathway in which cellular stress, particularly xenobiotic stress, is abated by SKN-1/Nrf2-mediated transcriptional activation of the Phase II detoxification pathway. However, SKN-1/Nrf2 also regulates a multitude of other processes including development, pathogenic stress responses, proteostasis, and lipid metabolism. While this process is typically tightly regulated, constitutive activation of SKN-1/Nrf2 is detrimental to organismal health, this raises interesting questions surrounding the tradeoff between SKN-1/Nrf2 cryoprotection and cellular health and the ability of cells to deactivate stress response pathways post stress. Recent work has determined that transcriptional programs of SKN-1 can be redirected or suppressed to abate negative health outcomes of constitutive activation. Here we will detail the mechanisms by which SKN-1 is controlled, which are important for our understanding of SKN-1/Nrf2 cytoprotection across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D. Turner
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Carmen M. Ramos
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sean P. Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Grover M, Gang SS, Troemel ER, Barkoulas M. Proteasome inhibition triggers tissue-specific immune responses against different pathogens in C. elegans. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002543. [PMID: 38466732 PMCID: PMC10957088 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein quality control pathways play important roles in resistance against pathogen infection. For example, the conserved transcription factor SKN-1/NRF up-regulates proteostasis capacity after blockade of the proteasome and also promotes resistance against bacterial infection in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. SKN-1/NRF has 3 isoforms, and the SKN-1A/NRF1 isoform, in particular, regulates proteasomal gene expression upon proteasome dysfunction as part of a conserved bounce-back response. We report here that, in contrast to the previously reported role of SKN-1 in promoting resistance against bacterial infection, loss-of-function mutants in skn-1a and its activating enzymes ddi-1 and png-1 show constitutive expression of immune response programs against natural eukaryotic pathogens of C. elegans. These programs are the oomycete recognition response (ORR), which promotes resistance against oomycetes that infect through the epidermis, and the intracellular pathogen response (IPR), which promotes resistance against intestine-infecting microsporidia. Consequently, skn-1a mutants show increased resistance to both oomycete and microsporidia infections. We also report that almost all ORR/IPR genes induced in common between these programs are regulated by the proteasome and interestingly, specific ORR/IPR genes can be induced in distinct tissues depending on the exact trigger. Furthermore, we show that increasing proteasome function significantly reduces oomycete-mediated induction of multiple ORR markers. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that proteasome regulation keeps innate immune responses in check in a tissue-specific manner against natural eukaryotic pathogens of the C. elegans epidermis and intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Grover
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Spencer S. Gang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Troemel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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Zheng LY, Da YX, Luo X, Zhang X, Sun ZJ, Dong DL. Sorafenib extends the lifespan of C. elegans through mitochondrial uncoupling mechanism. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 214:101-113. [PMID: 38360276 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Sorafenib is a targeted anticancer drug in clinic. Low-dose sorafenib has been reported to activate AMPK through inducing mitochondrial uncoupling without detectable toxicities. AMPK activation has been the approach for extending lifespan, therefore, we investigated the effect of sorafenib on lifespan and physical activity of C. elegans and the underlying mechanisms. In the present study, we found that the effect of sorafenib on C. elegans lifespan was typically hermetic. Sorafenib treatment at higher concentrations (100 μM) was toxic but at lower concentrations (1, 2.5, 5 μM) was beneficial to C. elegans. Sorafenib (1 μM) treatment for whole-life period extended C. elegans lifespan and improved C. elegans physical activity as manifested by increasing pharyngeal pumping and body movement, preserving intestinal barrier integrity, muscle fibers organization and mitochondrial morphology. In addition, sorafenib (1 μM) treatment enhanced C. elegans stress resistance. Sorafenib activated AMPK through inducing mitochondrial uncoupling in C. elegans. Sorafenib treatment activated DAF-16, SKN-1, and increased SOD-3, HSP-16.2, GST-4 expression in C. elegans. Sorafenib treatment induced AMPK-dependent autophagy in C. elegans. We conclude that low-dose sorafenib protects C. elegans against aging through activating AMPK/DAF-16 dependent anti-oxidant pathways and stimulating autophagy responses. Low-dose sorafenib could be a strategy for treating aging and aging-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Yao Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Xin Da
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiu Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Jie Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - De-Li Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
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Onraet T, Zuryn S. C. elegans as a model to study mitochondrial biology and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 154:48-58. [PMID: 37149409 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria perform a myriad of essential functions that ensure organismal homeostasis, including maintaining bioenergetic capacity, sensing and signalling the presence of pathogenic threats, and determining cell fate. Their function is highly dependent on mitochondrial quality control and the appropriate regulation of mitochondrial size, shape, and distribution during an entire lifetime, as well as their inheritance across generations. The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as an ideal model organism through which to study mitochondria. The remarkable conservation of mitochondrial biology has allowed C. elegans researchers to investigate complex processes that are challenging to study in higher organisms. In this review, we explore the key recent contributions of C. elegans to mitochondrial biology through the lens of mitochondrial dynamics, organellar removal, and mitochondrial inheritance, as well as their involvement in immune responses, various types of stress, and transgenerational signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Onraet
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Steven Zuryn
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
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38
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Yu J, Gao X, Zhang L, Shi H, Yan Y, Han Y, Wu C, Liu Y, Fang M, Huang C, Fan S. Magnolol extends lifespan and improves age-related neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans via increase of stress resistance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3158. [PMID: 38326350 PMCID: PMC10850488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53374-9] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Magnolol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound in many edible plants, which has various biological effects including anti-aging and alleviating neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying mechanism on longevity is uncertain. In this study, we investigated the effect of magnolol on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans and explored the mechanism. The results showed that magnolol treatment significantly extended the lifespan of nematode and alleviated senescence-related decline in the nematode model. Meanwhile, magnolol enhanced stress resistance to heat shock, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), mercuric potassium chloride (MeHgCl) and paraquat (PQ) in nematode. In addition, magnolol reduced reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT) activities in nematodes. Magnolol also up-regulated gene expression of sod-3, hsp16.2, ctl-3, daf-16, skn-1, hsf-1, sir2.1, etc., down-regulated gene expression of daf-2, and promoted intranuclear translocation of daf-16 in nematodes. The lifespan-extending effect of magnolol were reversed in insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) pathway-related mutant lines, including daf-2, age-1, daf-16, skn-1, hsf-1 and sir-2.1, suggesting that IIS signaling is involved in the modulation of longevity by magnolol. Furthermore, magnolol improved the age-related neurodegeneration in PD and AD C. elegans models. These results indicate that magnolol may enhance lifespan and health span through IIS and sir-2.1 pathways. Thus, the current findings implicate magnolol as a potential candidate to ameliorate the symptoms of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiaoyan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hang Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yingxuan Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yongli Han
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chengyuan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Minglv Fang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Shengjie Fan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Miller BC, Mathai M, Yadav H, Jain S. Geroprotective potential of microbiome modulators in the Caenorhabditis elegans model. GeroScience 2024; 46:129-151. [PMID: 37561384 PMCID: PMC10828408 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00901-7] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with cellular and physiological changes, which significantly reduce the quality of life and increase the risk for disease. Geroprotectors improve lifespan and slow the progression of detrimental aging-related changes such as immune system senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and dysregulated nutrient sensing and metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis is a hallmark of aging-related diseases and microbiome modulators, such as probiotics (live bacteria) or postbiotics (non-viable bacteria/bacterial byproducts) may be promising geroprotectors. However, because they are strain-specific, the geroprotective effects of probiotics and postbiotics remain poorly understood and understudied. Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and rodents are well-validated preclinical models for studying lifespan and the role of probiotics and/or postbiotics, but each have their limitations, including cost and their translation to human aging biology. C. elegans is an excellent model for large-scale screening to determine the geroprotective potential of drugs or probiotics/postbiotics due to its short lifecycle, easy maintenance, low cost, and homology to humans. The purpose of this article is to review the geroprotective effects of microbiome modulators and their future scope, using C. elegans as a model. The proposed geroprotective mechanisms of these probiotics and postbiotics include delaying immune system senescence, preventing or reducing mitochondrial dysfunction, and regulating food intake (dietary restriction) and metabolism. More studies are warranted to understand the geroprotective potential of probiotics and postbiotics, as well as other microbiome modulators, like prebiotics and fermented foods, and use them to develop effective therapeutics to extend lifespan and reduce the risk of debilitating aging-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandi C Miller
- USF Center for Microbiome Research, Microbiomes Institute, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 78, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Megha Mathai
- USF Center for Microbiome Research, Microbiomes Institute, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 78, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Hariom Yadav
- USF Center for Microbiome Research, Microbiomes Institute, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 78, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Shalini Jain
- USF Center for Microbiome Research, Microbiomes Institute, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 78, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Wang Q, Wang L, Huang Z, Xiao Y, Liu M, Liu H, Yu Y, Liang M, Luo N, Li K, Mishra A, Huang Z. Abalone peptide increases stress resilience and cost-free longevity via SKN-1-governed transcriptional metabolic reprogramming in C. elegans. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14046. [PMID: 37990605 PMCID: PMC10861207 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A major goal of healthy aging is to prevent declining resilience and increasing frailty, which are associated with many chronic diseases and deterioration of stress response. Here, we propose a loss-or-gain survival model, represented by the ratio of cumulative stress span to life span, to quantify stress resilience at organismal level. As a proof of concept, this is demonstrated by reduced survival resilience in Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to exogenous oxidative stress induced by paraquat or with endogenous proteotoxic stress caused by polyglutamine or amyloid-β aggregation. Based on this, we reveal that a hidden peptide ("cryptide")-AbaPep#07 (SETYELRK)-derived from abalone hemocyanin not only enhances survival resilience against paraquat-induced oxidative stress but also rescues proteotoxicity-mediated behavioral deficits in C. elegans, indicating its capacity against stress and neurodegeneration. Interestingly, AbaPep#07 is also found to increase cost-free longevity and age-related physical fitness in nematodes. We then demonstrate that AbaPep#07 can promote nuclear localization of SKN-1/Nrf, but not DAF-16/FOXO, transcription factor. In contrast to its effects in wild-type nematodes, AbaPep#07 cannot increase oxidative stress survival and physical motility in loss-of-function skn-1 mutant, suggesting an SKN-1/Nrf-dependent fashion of these effects. Further investigation reveals that AbaPep#07 can induce transcriptional activation of immune defense, lipid metabolism, and metabolic detoxification pathways, including many SKN-1/Nrf target genes. Together, our findings demonstrate that AbaPep#07 is able to boost stress resilience and reduce behavioral frailty via SKN-1/Nrf-governed transcriptional reprogramming, and provide an insight into the health-promoting potential of antioxidant cryptides as geroprotectors in aging and associated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiangqiang Wang
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for BiocosmeticsGuangzhouChina
| | - Liangyi Wang
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Center for Bioresources and Drug Discovery, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ziliang Huang
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Center for Bioresources and Drug Discovery, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yue Xiao
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for BiocosmeticsGuangzhouChina
| | - Mao Liu
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for BiocosmeticsGuangzhouChina
| | - Huihui Liu
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Center for Bioresources and Drug Discovery, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yi Yu
- Research and Development Center, Infinitus (China) Company LtdGuangzhouChina
| | - Ming Liang
- Research and Development Center, Infinitus (China) Company LtdGuangzhouChina
| | - Ning Luo
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Kunping Li
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ajay Mishra
- European Bioinformatics InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Zebo Huang
- Institute for Food Nutrition and Human Health, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for BiocosmeticsGuangzhouChina
- Center for Bioresources and Drug Discovery, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhouChina
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41
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Shin N, Lascarez-Lagunas LI, Henderson AL, Martínez-García M, Karthikraj R, Barrera V, Sui SH, Kannan K, Colaiácovo MP. Altered gene expression linked to germline dysfunction following exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to DEET. iScience 2024; 27:108699. [PMID: 38299026 PMCID: PMC10829882 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is a commonly used synthetic insect repellent. Although the neurological effects of DEET have been widely investigated, its effects on the germline are less understood. Here, we show that exposure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is highly predictive of mammalian reprotoxicity, resulting in internal DEET levels within the range detected in human biological samples, causes activation of p53/CEP-1-dependent germ cell apoptosis, altered meiotic recombination, chromosome abnormalities, and missegregation. RNA-sequencing analysis links DEET-induced alterations in the expression of genes related to redox processes and chromatin structure to reduced mitochondrial function, impaired DNA double-strand break repair progression, and defects during early embryogenesis. We propose that Caenorhabditis elegans exposure to DEET interferes with gene expression, leading to increased oxidative stress and altered chromatin structure, resulting in germline effects that pose a risk to reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara Shin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Ayana L. Henderson
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marina Martínez-García
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rajendiran Karthikraj
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA
| | - Victor Barrera
- Bioinformatics Core, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shannan Ho Sui
- Bioinformatics Core, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12237, USA
| | - Mónica P. Colaiácovo
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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42
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Yan L, Deng Y, Du Y, Fang X, Fang X, Zhang Q. Metabolic Regulations of Smilax china L. against β-Amyloid Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Metabolites 2024; 14:49. [PMID: 38248852 PMCID: PMC10818737 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Smilax china L. (Chinaroot) is a natural herb that has multiple uses, such as being used to make tea and food. Both its roots and leaves have different uses due to their unique components. In this study, we analyzed the extract of S. china. roots using LC-HRMS and evaluated the neuroprotective effects and metabolic regulation of S. china on Caenorhabditis elegans. Chinaroot extract prolonged the life span of healthy nematodes, delayed the paralysis time of transgenic CL4176, and reduced the level of β-amyloid deposition in transgenic CL2006. The comprehensive analysis of metabolomics and qRT-PCR revealed that Chinaroot extract exerted neuroprotective effects through the valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation and fatty acid degradation pathways. Moreover, we first discovered that the expressions of T09B4.8, ech-7, and agxt-1 were linked to the neuroprotective effects of Chinaroot. The material exerted neuroprotective effects by modulating metabolic abnormalities in AD model C. elegans. Our study provides a new foundation for the development of functional food properties and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Yan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yuchan Deng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yulan Du
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xutong Fang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xin Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
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43
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Rahimpouresfahani F, Tabatabaei N, Rezai P. High-throughput light sheet imaging of adult and larval C. elegans Parkinson's disease model using a low-cost optofluidic device and a fluorescent microscope. RSC Adv 2024; 14:626-639. [PMID: 38173569 PMCID: PMC10759043 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra06323b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements at the interface of microfluidics technology and light sheet fluorescence microscopy have opened the door for high-throughput and high-content investigation of C. elegans disease models. In this paper, we report on the development of a simple, miniaturized, and low-cost optofluidic platform that can be added to a conventional inverted fluorescent microscope for continuous light sheet imaging of transgenic worm populations with high lateral and axial resolutions of 1.1 µm and 2.4 µm, respectively. The optofluidic device is made entirely of PDMS with integrated optics for light sheet generation. Laser excitation is delivered to the device via a low-cost free space laser, and cross-sections of worm populations are imaged as they pass continuously through a channel. Results show the platform can image NW1229 whole worms with pan-neural fluorescent expression at a throughput of >20 worms per minute at L3 and young adult (YA) stages. As a benchmark test, we show that the low-cost device can quantify the reduced neuronal expressions of L3 and YA NW1229 worms when exposed to 500 µM 6-OHDA neurodegenerative agent. Following the benchmark validation, we utilized the platform in a novel application for imaging human alpha-synuclein reporter in populations of Parkinson's transgenic model (ERS100). Results show the ability of the low-cost platform to reliably detect and quantify the anomalous neural phenotypic changes in ERS100 populations at L3 and YA stages with high spatial resolution. The findings of this study show the potential of our low-cost optofluidic add-on platform to equip conventional fluorescent microscopes with light sheet capability for quantitative phenotypic studies of transgenic C. elegans at high resolution and throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraz Rahimpouresfahani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University 4700 Keele St Toronto M3J 1P3 Ontario Canada +1-416-7362100
| | - Nima Tabatabaei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University 4700 Keele St Toronto M3J 1P3 Ontario Canada +1-416-7362100
| | - Pouya Rezai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University 4700 Keele St Toronto M3J 1P3 Ontario Canada +1-416-7362100
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44
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Wang Y, Zou Y, Fang Q, Feng R, Zhang J, Zhou W, Wei Q. Polysaccharides from Brasenia schreberi with Great Antioxidant Ability and the Potential Application in Yogurt. Molecules 2023; 29:150. [PMID: 38202733 PMCID: PMC10780003 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010150] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Brasenia schreberi is a widely consumed aquatic plant, yet the knowledge regarding its bioactive components, particularly polysaccharides, remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize the extraction process of polysaccharides from B. schreberi using the response surface method (RSM). Additionally, we characterized the polysaccharides using various methods and assessed their antioxidant capabilities both in vitro and in vivo, employing cell cultures and Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, these polysaccharides were incorporated into a unique yogurt formulation. Our findings demonstrated that hot water extraction was the most suitable method for extracting polysaccharides from B. schreberi, yielding samples with high sugar content, significant antioxidant capacity, and a well-defined spatial structure. Moreover, pectinase was employed for polysaccharide digestion, achieving an enzymolysis rate of 10.02% under optimized conditions using RSM. Notably, the results indicated that these polysaccharides could protect cells from oxidative stress by reducing apoptosis. Surprisingly, at a concentration of 250 μg/mL, the polysaccharides significantly increased the survival rate of C. elegans from 31.05% to 82.3%. Further qPCR results revealed that the polysaccharides protected C. elegans by up-regulating the daf-16 gene and down-regulating mTOR and insulin pathways, demonstrating remarkable antioxidant abilities. Upon addition to the yogurt, the polysaccharides significantly enhanced the water retention, viscosity, and viability of lactic acid bacteria. These outcomes underscore the potential of polysaccharides from B. schreberi as a valuable addition to novel yogurt formulations, thereby providing additional theoretical support for the utilization of B. schreberi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Wang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Yue Zou
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
| | - Qiong Fang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Ruizhang Feng
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Jihong Zhang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Wanhai Zhou
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), Beijing 100048, China
| | - Qin Wei
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China; (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.F.); (R.F.); (J.Z.)
- Sichuan Oil Cinnamon Engineering Technology Research Center, Yibin 644000, China
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45
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Turner CD, Stuhr NL, Ramos CM, Van Camp BT, Curran SP. A dicer-related helicase opposes the age-related pathology from SKN-1 activation in ASI neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308565120. [PMID: 38113255 PMCID: PMC10756303 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308565120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordination of cellular responses to stress is essential for health across the lifespan. The transcription factor SKN-1 is an essential homeostat that mediates survival in stress-inducing environments and cellular dysfunction, but constitutive activation of SKN-1 drives premature aging thus revealing the importance of turning off cytoprotective pathways. Here, we identify how SKN-1 activation in two ciliated ASI neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans results in an increase in organismal transcriptional capacity that drives pleiotropic outcomes in peripheral tissues. An increase in the expression of established SKN-1 stress response and lipid metabolism gene classes of RNA in the ASI neurons, in addition to the increased expression of several classes of noncoding RNA, define a molecular signature of animals with constitutive SKN-1 activation and diminished healthspan. We reveal neddylation as a unique regulator of the SKN-1 homeostat that mediates SKN-1 abundance within intestinal cells. Moreover, RNAi-independent activity of the dicer-related DExD/H-box helicase, drh-1, in the intestine, can oppose the effects of aberrant SKN-1 transcriptional activation and delays age-dependent decline in health. Taken together, our results uncover a cell nonautonomous circuit to maintain organism-level homeostasis in response to excessive SKN-1 transcriptional activity in the sensory nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D. Turner
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Nicole L. Stuhr
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Carmen M. Ramos
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Bennett T. Van Camp
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Sean P. Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
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46
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Kim Y, Lee SB, Cho M, Choe S, Jang M. Indian Almond ( Terminalia catappa Linn.) Leaf Extract Extends Lifespan by Improving Lipid Metabolism and Antioxidant Activity Dependent on AMPK Signaling Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans under High-Glucose-Diet Conditions. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 13:14. [PMID: 38275634 PMCID: PMC10812731 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antiaging effects of Indian almond (Terminalia catappa Linn.) leaf extract (TCE) on high-glucose (GLU)-induced obese Caenorhabditis elegans. Since TCE contains high contents of flavonoids and phenolics, strong radical scavenging activity was confirmed in vitro. The stress-resistance effect of TCE was confirmed under thermal and oxidative stress conditions at nontoxic tested concentrations (6.25, 12.5, and 25 μg/mL). GLU at 2% caused lipid and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in C. elegans, and TCE inhibited lipid and ROS accumulation under both normal and 2% GLU conditions in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, TCE proved to be effective in prolonging the lifespan of C. elegans under normal and 2% GLU conditions. The ROS reduction effect of TCE was abolished in mutants deficient in daf-16/FOXO and skn-1/Nrf-2. In addition, the lifespan-extending effect of TCE in these two mutants disappeared. The lifespan-extending effect was abolished even in atgl-1/ATGL-deficiency mutants. The TCE effect was reduced in aak-1/AMPK-deficient mutants and completely abolished under 2% GLU conditions. Therefore, the effect of prolonging lifespan by inhibiting lipid and ROS accumulation under the high GLU conditions of TCE is considered to be the result of atgl-1, daf-16, and skn-1 being downregulated by aak-1. These results suggest that the physiological potential of TCE contributes to antiaging under metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yebin Kim
- Department of Smart Food and Drug, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.-b.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Seul-bi Lee
- Department of Smart Food and Drug, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.-b.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Myogyeong Cho
- Department of Smart Food and Drug, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.-b.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Soojin Choe
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea;
| | - Miran Jang
- Department of Smart Food and Drug, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.-b.L.); (M.C.)
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea;
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47
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Ow MC, Hall SE. Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals. EPIGENOMES 2023; 8:1. [PMID: 38534792 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While reports on the generational inheritance of a parental response to stress have been widely reported in animals, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon have only recently emerged. The booming interest in epigenetic inheritance has been facilitated in part by the discovery that small non-coding RNAs are one of its principal conduits. Discovered 30 years ago in the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode, these small molecules have since cemented their critical roles in regulating virtually all aspects of eukaryotic development. Here, we provide an overview on the current understanding of epigenetic inheritance in animals, including mice and C. elegans, as it pertains to stresses such as temperature, nutritional, and pathogenic encounters. We focus on C. elegans to address the mechanistic complexity of how small RNAs target their cohort mRNAs to effect gene expression and how they govern the propagation or termination of generational perdurance in epigenetic inheritance. Presently, while a great amount has been learned regarding the heritability of gene expression states, many more questions remain unanswered and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Ow
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Sarah E Hall
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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48
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Ramos CM, Curran SP. Comparative analysis of the molecular and physiological consequences of constitutive SKN-1 activation. GeroScience 2023; 45:3359-3370. [PMID: 37751046 PMCID: PMC10643742 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00937-9] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular homeostats play essential roles across all levels of biological organization to ensure a return to normal function after responding to abnormal internal and environmental events. SKN-1 is an evolutionarily conserved cytoprotective transcription factor that is integral for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis upon exposure to a variety of stress conditions. Despite the essentiality of turning on SKN-1/NRF2 in response to exogenous and endogenous stress, animals with chronic activation of SKN-1 display premature loss of health with age, and ultimately, diminished lifespan. Previous genetic models of constitutive SKN-1 activation include gain-of-function alleles of skn-1 and loss-of-function alleles of wdr-23 that impede the turnover of SKN-1 by the ubiquitin proteasome. Here, we define a novel gain-of-function mutation in the xrep-4 locus that results in constitutive activation of SKN-1 in the absence of stress. Although each of these genetic mutations results in continuously unregulated transcriptional output from SKN-1, the physiological consequences of each model on development, stress resistance, reproduction, lipid homeostasis, and lifespan are distinct. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the differential healthspan impacts across multiple models of constitutive SKN-1 activation. Although our results reveal the universal need to reign in the uncontrolled activity of cytoprotective transcription factors, we also define the unique signatures of each model of constitutive SKN-1 activation, which provides innovative solutions for the design of molecular "off-switches" of unregulated transcriptional homeostats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Ramos
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Sean P Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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49
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Elsana H, Bruck‐Haimson R, Zhu H, Siddiqui AA, Zaretsky A, Cohen I, Boocholez H, Roitenberg N, Moll L, Plaschkes I, Naor D, Cohen E. A short peptide protects from age-onset proteotoxicity. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e14013. [PMID: 37897137 PMCID: PMC10726816 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14013] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant protein aggregation jeopardizes cellular functionality and underlies the development of a myriad of late-onset maladies including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Huntington's disease (HD). Accordingly, molecules that mitigate the toxicity of hazardous protein aggregates are of great interest as potential future therapeutics. Here we asked whether a small peptide, composed of five amino acids (5MER peptide) that was derived from the human pro-inflammatory CD44 protein, could protect model nematodes from the toxicity of aggregative proteins that underlie the development of neurodegenerative disorders in humans. We found that the 5MER peptide mitigates the toxicity that stems from both; the AD-causing Aβ peptide and a stretch of poly-glutamine that is accountable for the development of several disorders including HD, while minimally affecting lifespan. This protection was dependent on the activity of aging-regulating transcription factors and associated with enhanced Aβ and polyQ35-YFP aggregation. A transcriptomic analysis unveiled that the peptide modifies signaling pathways, thereby modulating the expression of various genes, including these, which are known as protein homeostasis (proteostasis) regulators such as txt-13 and modifiers of proteasome activity. The knockdown of txt-13 protects worms from proteotoxicity to the same extent as the 5MER peptide, suggesting that the peptide activates the transcellular chaperone signaling to promote proteostasis. Together, our results propose that the 5MER peptide should be considered as a component of future therapeutic cocktails for the treatment of neurodegenerative maladies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Elsana
- The Lautenberg Center of Immunology and Cancer ResearchThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Reut Bruck‐Haimson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Huadong Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Atif Ahmed Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Adam Zaretsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Irit Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Hana Boocholez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Noa Roitenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Lorna Moll
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Inbar Plaschkes
- Info‐COREBioinformatics Unit of the I‐CORE, The Hebrew UniversityJerusalemIsrael
| | - David Naor
- The Lautenberg Center of Immunology and Cancer ResearchThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
| | - Ehud Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Institute for Medical Research Israel – Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of MedicineJerusalemIsrael
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Govindhan T, Amirthalingam M, Duraisamy K, Cho JH, Tawata S, Palanisamy S. Fermented cereal-origin gerobiotic cocktails promote healthy longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Food Funct 2023; 14:10430-10442. [PMID: 37960884 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo02984k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in dietary interventions, particularly gerobiotics, that directly target aging. Several single-strain gerobiotics have proven to be beneficial in alleviating aging and age-related functional declines across species, but multistrain/multispecies gerobiotics have been proven even more advantageous due to the potential synergy and additive effects among individual isolates. However, there is very limited research on how multistrain/multispecies gerobiotic combinations or cocktails extend healthy longevity. This study comprehensively analyzed probiotic bacteria from traditionally fermented Barnyard millet and compared their efficacy in promoting healthy longevity under various combinations using Caenorhabditis elegans. We have shown that dramatic lifespan extension can be achieved by combining gerobiotics, and the effect was found to be strictly strain-specific. Among the 120 combinations tested, we identified two synergistic gerobiotic combinations, cocktail 55 (combination of B. licheniformis PS70, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus PS77, and L. amylovorus PS60) and cocktail 112 (combination of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus PS77, L. lactis PS10, and P. pentosaceus PS91), extending the mean lifespan of C. elegans by up to 46.2% and 53.1%, respectively. Our mechanistic study showed that the life-promoting effect of cocktail 55 relied on the p38 MAPK-SKN-1 pathway, while cocktail 112 acted on multiple signaling pathways, including IIS, β-catenin, and TGF-β pathways, to achieve its impact on the host. Moreover, feeding gerobiotic cocktails improved several healthspan markers reported to decline with age. These observations showed that the gerobiotic cocktails target different subsets of the gene regulatory network controlling the aging process in C. elegans, thereby extending healthy longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohankumar Amirthalingam
- PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV 25112, USA
| | - Kalaiselvi Duraisamy
- Division of Applied Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hoon Cho
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Shinkichi Tawata
- PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
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