Marine phycocompound screening reveals a potential source of novel senotherapeutics

Model organism life extending therapeutics modulate diverse nodes in the drug-gene-microbe tripartite human longevity interactome

Advances in antiaging drug/lead discovery in animal models constitute a large body of literature on novel senotherapeutics and geroprotectives. However, with little direct evidence or mechanism of action in humans-these drugs are utilized as nutraceuticals or repurposed supplements without proper testing directions, appropriate biomarkers, or consistent in-vivo models. In this study, we take previously identified drug candidates that have significant evidence of prolonging lifespan and promoting healthy aging in model organisms, and simulate them in human metabolic interactome networks. Screening for drug-likeness, toxicity, and KEGG network correlation scores, we generated a library of 285 safe and bioavailable compounds. We interrogated this library to present computational modeling-derived estimations of a tripartite interaction map of animal geroprotective compounds in the human molecular interactome extracted from longevity, senescence, and dietary restriction-associated genes. Our findings reflect previous studies in aging-associated metabolic disorders, and predict 25 best-connected drug interactors including Resveratrol, EGCG, Metformin, Trichostatin A, Caffeic Acid and Quercetin as direct modulators of lifespan and healthspan-associated pathways. We further clustered these compounds and the functionally enriched subnetworks therewith to identify longevity-exclusive, senescence-exclusive, pseudo-omniregulators and omniregulators within the set of interactome hub genes. Additionally, serum markers for drug-interactions, and interactions with potentially geroprotective gut microbial species distinguish the current study and present a holistic depiction of optimum gut microbial alteration by candidate drugs. These findings provide a systems level model of animal life-extending therapeutics in human systems, and act as precursors for expediting the ongoing global effort to find effective antiaging pharmacological interventions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Emerging Interrelationship Between the Gut Microbiome and Cellular Senescence in the Context of Aging and Disease: Perspectives and Therapeutic Opportunities

The significance of diversity, composition, and functional attributes of the gut microbiota in shaping human health is well recognized. Studies have shown that gut microbiota is closely linked to human aging, and changes in the gut microbiome can predict human survival and longevity. In addition, a causal relationship between gut microbiota dysbiosis and chronic age-related disorders is also becoming apparent. Recent advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular aspects of biological aging have revealed a cellular senescence-centric view of the aging process. However, the association between the gut microbiome and cellular senescence is only beginning to be understood. The present review provides an integrative view of the evolving relationship between the gut microbiome and cellular senescence in aging and disease. Evidence relating to microbiome-mediated modulation of senescent cells, as well as senescent cells-mediated changes in intestinal homeostasis and diseases, have been discussed. Unanswered questions and future research directions have also been deliberated to truly ascertain the relationship between the gut microbiome and cellular senescence for developing microbiome-based age-delaying and longevity-promoting therapies.

In silico insights into potential gut microbial modulation of NAD+ metabolism and longevity

Recent evidence has prompted the notion of gut-microbial signatures as an indirect marker of aging and aging-associated decline in humans. However, the underlying host-symbiont molecular interactions contributing to these signatures remain poorly understood. In this study, we address this gap using cheminformatic analyses to elucidate potential gut microbial metabolites that may perturb the longevity-associated NAD+ metabolic network. In silico ADMET, KEGG interaction analysis, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and molecular mechanics calculation predict a large number of safe and bioavailable microbial metabolites to be direct and/or indirect activators of NAD+-dependent sirtuin proteins. Our simulation results suggest dihydropteroate, phenylpyruvic acid, indole-3-propionic acid, phenyllactic acid, all-trans-retinoic acid, and multiple deoxy-, methyl-, and cyclic nucleotides from intestinal microbiota as the best-performing regulators of NAD+ metabolism. Retracing these molecules to their source microorganisms also suggest commensal Escherichia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacilli to be associated with the highest number of pro-longevity metabolites. These findings from our early-stage study, therefore, provide an informatics-based context for previous evidence in the area and grant novel insights for future clinical investigation intersecting anti-aging drug discovery, probiotics, and gut microbial signatures.