1
|
Miranda MC, Hyde J, Salazar K, Bell B, Holgado A. Investigating the effects of antipsychotic drugs as a treatment for improving the activity of the unc-33 /Dpysl2 gene in C. elegans. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024. [PMID: 39149410 PMCID: PMC11325200 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal stress is hypothesized to contribute to the development of schizophrenia. Lee and colleagues determined that prenatal stress in rats decreases levels of Dpysl2, which is found to be inactivated in schizophrenic patients. UNC-33 , the homolog to Dpysl2 in C. elegans , is important for axonal outgrowth and synapse formation. Herein, we study the effects of antipsychotic drugs on developing C.elegans exposed to stress through high temperatures. Results indicate that the unc-33 promoter was not impacted by antipsychotic drug treatment, but the lifespan was decreased.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Hyde
- St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, United States
| | | | - Balyssa Bell
- St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Min H, Kim J, Lee M, Kang S, Shim YH. Methionine Supplementation Alleviates the Germ Cell Apoptosis Increased by Maternal Caffeine Intake in a C. elegans Model. Nutrients 2024; 16:894. [PMID: 38542805 PMCID: PMC10974396 DOI: 10.3390/nu16060894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a widely consumed bioactive substance worldwide. Our recent study showed that a reduction in both reproduction and yolk protein production (vitellogenesis) caused by caffeine intake were improved by vitamin B12 supplementation, which is an essential co-factor in methionine metabolism. In the current study, we investigated the role of methionine in the reproduction of caffeine-ingested animals (CIAs). We assessed the effect of methionine metabolism on CIAs and found that caffeine intake decreased both methionine levels and essential enzymes related to the methionine cycle. Furthermore, we found that the caffeine-induced impairment of methionine metabolism decreased vitellogenesis and increased germ cell apoptosis in an LIN-35/RB-dependent manner. Interestingly, the increased germ cell apoptosis was restored to normal levels by methionine supplementation in CIAs. These results indicate that methionine supplementation plays a beneficial role in germ cell health and offspring development by regulating vitellogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yhong-Hee Shim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (H.M.); (J.K.); (M.L.); (S.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Min H, Lee M, Kang S, Shim YH. Vitamin B12 Supplementation Improves Oocyte Development by Modulating Mitochondria and Yolk Protein in a Caffeine-Ingested Caenorhabditis elegans Model. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 13:53. [PMID: 38247478 PMCID: PMC10812423 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010053] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B12 is an essential cofactor involved in the function of two enzymes: cytosolic methionine synthase and mitochondrial methylmalonic-CoA mutase. In our previous studies, caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), the most popular bioactivator, was shown to reduce yolk protein (vitellogenin) and fertility in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. Based on the previous finding that methionine supplementation increases vitellogenesis in C. elegans, we investigated the role of vitamin B12 in methionine-mediated vitellogenesis during oogenesis in caffeine-ingested animals (CIA). Vitamin B12 supplementation improved vitellogenesis and reduced oxidative stress by decreasing mitochondrial function in CIA. Furthermore, the decreased number of developing oocytes and high levels of reactive oxygen species in oocytes from CIA were recovered with vitamin B12 supplementation through a reduction in mitochondrial stress, which increased vitellogenesis. Taken together, vitamin B12 supplementation can reverse the negative effects of caffeine intake by enhancing methionine-mediated vitellogenesis and oocyte development by reducing mitochondrial stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yhong-Hee Shim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (H.M.); (M.L.); (S.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lee MB, Blue B, Muir M, Kaeberlein M. The million-molecule challenge: a moonshot project to rapidly advance longevity intervention discovery. GeroScience 2023; 45:3103-3113. [PMID: 37432607 PMCID: PMC10643437 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00867-6] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting aging is the future of twenty-first century preventative medicine. Small molecule interventions that promote healthy longevity are known, but few are well-developed and discovery of novel, robust interventions has stagnated. To accelerate longevity intervention discovery and development, high-throughput systems are needed that can perform unbiased drug screening and directly measure lifespan and healthspan metrics in whole animals. C. elegans is a powerful model system for this type of drug discovery. Combined with automated data capture and analysis technologies, truly high-throughput longevity drug discovery is possible. In this perspective, we propose the "million-molecule challenge", an effort to quantitatively assess 1,000,000 interventions for longevity within five years. The WormBot-AI, our best-in-class robotics and AI data analysis platform, provides a tool to achieve the million-molecule challenge for pennies per animal tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell B Lee
- Ora Biomedical, Inc., 12101 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 210, Seattle, WA, 98168, USA.
| | - Benjamin Blue
- Ora Biomedical, Inc., 12101 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 210, Seattle, WA, 98168, USA
| | - Michael Muir
- Ora Biomedical, Inc., 12101 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 210, Seattle, WA, 98168, USA
| | - Matt Kaeberlein
- Ora Biomedical, Inc., 12101 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 210, Seattle, WA, 98168, USA
- Optispan Geroscience, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fidalgo S, Yeoman MS. Age-Related Changes in Central Nervous System 5-Hydroxytryptamine Signalling and Its Potential Effects on the Regulation of Lifespan. Subcell Biochem 2023; 102:379-413. [PMID: 36600141 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21410-3_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and the periphery. Most 5-HT (~99%) is found in the periphery where it regulates the function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is an important regulator of platelet aggregation. However, the remaining 1% that is found in the central nervous system (CNS) can regulate a range of physiological processes such as learning and memory formation, mood, food intake, sleep, temperature and pain perception. More recent work on the CNS of invertebrate model systems has shown that 5-HT can directly regulate lifespan.This chapter will focus on detailing how CNS 5-HT signalling is altered with increasing age and the potential consequences this has on its ability to regulate lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark S Yeoman
- Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Serotonin and dopamine modulate aging in response to food odor and availability. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3271. [PMID: 35672307 PMCID: PMC9174215 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30869-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
An organism's ability to perceive and respond to changes in its environment is crucial for its health and survival. Here we reveal how the most well-studied longevity intervention, dietary restriction, acts in-part through a cell non-autonomous signaling pathway that is inhibited by the presence of attractive smells. Using an intestinal reporter for a key gene induced by dietary restriction but suppressed by attractive smells, we identify three compounds that block food odor effects in C. elegans, thereby increasing longevity as dietary restriction mimetics. These compounds clearly implicate serotonin and dopamine in limiting lifespan in response to food odor. We further identify a chemosensory neuron that likely perceives food odor, an enteric neuron that signals through the serotonin receptor 5-HT1A/SER-4, and a dopaminergic neuron that signals through the dopamine receptor DRD2/DOP-3. Aspects of this pathway are conserved in D. melanogaster. Thus, blocking food odor signaling through antagonism of serotonin or dopamine receptors is a plausible approach to mimic the benefits of dietary restriction.
Collapse
|
7
|
Naß J, Abdelfatah S, Efferth T. Induction of stress resistance and extension of lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans serotonin-receptor knockout strains by withanolide A. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 84:153482. [PMID: 33611213 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The COVID-19 crisis may dramatically increase these numbers. Severe side effects and resistance development limit the use of standard antidepressants. The steroidal lactone withanolide A (WA) from Withania somnifera may be a promising alternative. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as model to explore WA's anti-depressive and anti-stress potential. METHODS C. elegans wildtype (N2) and deficient strains (AQ866, DA1814, DA2100, DA2109 and MT9772) were used to assess oxidative, osmotic or heat stress as measured by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), determination of lifespan, and mRNA expression of serotonin receptor (ser-1, ser-4, ser-7) and serotonin transporter genes (mod-5). The protective effect of WA was compared to fluoxetine as clinically established antidepressant. Additionally, WA's effect on lifespan was determined. Furthermore, the binding affinities and pKi values of WA, fluoxetine and serotonin as natural ligand to Ser-1, Ser-4, Ser-7, Mod-5 and their human orthologues proteins were calculated by molecular docking. RESULTS Baseline oxidative stress was higher in deficient than wildtype worms. WA and fluoxetine reduced ROS levels in all strains except MT9772. WA and fluoxetine prolonged survival times in wildtype and mutants under osmotic stress. WA but not fluoxetine increased lifespan of all heat-stressed C. elegans strains except DA2100. Furthermore, WA but not fluoxetine extended lifespan in all non-stressed C. elegans strains. WA also induced mRNA expression of serotonin receptors and transporters in wildtype and mutants. WA bound with higher affinity and lower pKi values to all C. elegans and human serotonin receptors and transporters than serotonin, indicating that WA may competitively displaced serotonin from the binding pockets of these proteins. CONCLUSION WA reduced stress and increased lifespan by ROS scavenging and interference with the serotonin system. Hence, WA may serve as promising candidate to treat depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janine Naß
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sara Abdelfatah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bulterijs S, Braeckman BP. Phenotypic Screening in C. elegans as a Tool for the Discovery of New Geroprotective Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E164. [PMID: 32722365 PMCID: PMC7463874 DOI: 10.3390/ph13080164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Population aging is one of the largest challenges of the 21st century. As more people live to advanced ages, the prevalence of age-related diseases and disabilities will increase placing an ever larger burden on our healthcare system. A potential solution to this conundrum is to develop treatments that prevent, delay or reduce the severity of age-related diseases by decreasing the rate of the aging process. This ambition has been accomplished in model organisms through dietary, genetic and pharmacological interventions. The pharmacological approaches hold the greatest opportunity for successful translation to the clinic. The discovery of such pharmacological interventions in aging requires high-throughput screening strategies. However, the majority of screens performed for geroprotective drugs in C. elegans so far are rather low throughput. Therefore, the development of high-throughput screening strategies is of utmost importance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sven Bulterijs
- Laboratory of Aging Physiology and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart P. Braeckman
- Laboratory of Aging Physiology and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Transcriptomics-Based Screening Identifies Pharmacological Inhibition of Hsp90 as a Means to Defer Aging. Cell Rep 2020; 27:467-480.e6. [PMID: 30970250 PMCID: PMC6459000 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging strongly influences human morbidity and mortality. Thus, aging-preventive compounds could greatly improve our health and lifespan. Here we screened for such compounds, known as geroprotectors, employing the power of transcriptomics to predict biological age. Using age-stratified human tissue transcriptomes and machine learning, we generated age classifiers and applied these to transcriptomic changes induced by 1,309 different compounds in human cells, ranking these compounds by their ability to induce a “youthful” transcriptional state. Testing the top candidates in C. elegans, we identified two Hsp90 inhibitors, monorden and tanespimycin, which extended the animals’ lifespan and improved their health. Hsp90 inhibition induces expression of heat shock proteins known to improve protein homeostasis. Consistently, monorden treatment improved the survival of C. elegans under proteotoxic stress, and its benefits depended on the cytosolic unfolded protein response-inducing transcription factor HSF-1. Taken together, our method represents an innovative geroprotector screening approach and was able to identify a class that acts by improving protein homeostasis. Transcriptome-based age classifiers can distinguish young versus old tissues Application of age classifiers to drug-induced transcriptomes finds geroprotectors Validation of geroprotectors in C. elegans highlights Hsp90 inhibitors Hsp90 inhibitors act through HSF-1 to improve health and extend lifespan
Collapse
|
10
|
Cruz-Corchado J, Ooi FK, Das S, Prahlad V. Global Transcriptome Changes That Accompany Alterations in Serotonin Levels in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2020; 10:1225-1246. [PMID: 31996358 PMCID: PMC7144078 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), is a phylogenetically ancient molecule best characterized as a neurotransmitter that modulates multiple aspects of mood and social cognition. The roles that 5-HT plays in normal and abnormal behavior are not fully understood but have been posited to be due to its common function as a 'defense signal'. However, 5-HT levels also systemically impact cell physiology, modulating cell division, migration, apoptosis, mitochondrial biogenesis, cellular metabolism and differentiation. Whether these diverse cellular effects of 5-HT also share a common basis is unclear. C. elegans provides an ideal system to interrogate the systemic effects of 5-HT, since lacking a blood-brain barrier, 5-HT synthesized and released by neurons permeates the organism to modulate neuronal as well as non-neuronal cells throughout the body. Here we used RNA-Seq to characterize the systemic changes in gene expression that occur in C. elegans upon altering 5-HT levels, and compared the transcriptomes to published datasets. We find that an acute increase in 5-HT is accompanied by a global decrease in gene expression levels, upregulation of genes involved in stress pathways, changes that significantly correlate with the published transcriptomes of animals that have activated defense and immune responses, and an increase in levels of phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor, eIF2α. In 5-HT deficient animals lacking tryptophan hydroxylase (tph-1(mg280)II) there is a net increase in gene expression, with an overrepresentation of genes related to development and chromatin. Surprisingly, the transcriptomes of animals with acute increases in 5-HT levels, and 5-HT deficiency do not overlap with transcriptomes of mutants with whom they share striking physiological resemblance. These studies are the first to catalog systemic transcriptome changes that occur upon alterations in 5-HT levels. They further show that in C. elegans changes in gene expression upon altering 5-HT levels, and changes in physiology, are not directly correlated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johnny Cruz-Corchado
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
| | - Felicia K Ooi
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
| | - Srijit Das
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
| | - Veena Prahlad
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Measuring lifespan of the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, in a 96-well format enables the screening of large chemical libraries to identify biologically active molecules. Furthermore, the wide availability of these animals with specific genetic mutations allows the identification of genes that influence lifespan, and by extension, age-related biological pathways. Here, we present a method for measuring the lifespan of C. elegans in 96-well microtiter plates to identify and study pharmacologically active molecules that extend lifespan. The format of this assay is readily adapted for automated liquid handling systems and imaging of phenotypes.
Collapse
|
12
|
Admasu TD, Chaithanya Batchu K, Barardo D, Ng LF, Lam VYM, Xiao L, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Wenk MR, Tolwinski NS, Gruber J. Drug Synergy Slows Aging and Improves Healthspan through IGF and SREBP Lipid Signaling. Dev Cell 2018; 47:67-79.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
13
|
|
14
|
Lin CT, He CW, Huang TT, Pan CL. Longevity control by the nervous system: Sensory perception, stress response and beyond. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE OF AGING 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tma.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
15
|
Abstract
Triacylglycerol is a universal storage molecule for metabolic energy in living organisms. However, Dictyostelium amoebae, that have accumulated storage fat from added fatty acids do not progress through the starvation period preceding the development of the durable spore. Mutants deficient in genes of fat metabolism, such as fcsA, encoding a fatty acid activating enzyme, or dgat1 and dgat2, specifying proteins that synthesize triacylglycerol, strongly increase their chances to contribute to the spore fraction of the developing fruiting body, but lose the ability to produce storage fat efficiently. Dictyostelium seipin, an orthologue of a human protein that in patients causes the complete loss of adipose tissue when mutated, does not quantitatively affect fat storage in the amoeba. Dictyostelium seiP knockout mutants have lipid droplets that are enlarged in size but reduced in number. These mutants are as vulnerable as the wild type when exposed to fatty acids during their vegetative growth phase, and do not efficiently enter the spore head in Dictyostelium development. Summary: In contrast to many living organisms, storage fat is not beneficial for Dictyostelium cells when progressing through starvation and subsequent development of a dormant stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Kornke
- Abteilung Zellbiologie, Universität Kassel, D-34109 Kassel, Germany
| | - Markus Maniak
- Abteilung Zellbiologie, Universität Kassel, D-34109 Kassel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lucanic M, Plummer WT, Chen E, Harke J, Foulger AC, Onken B, Coleman-Hulbert AL, Dumas KJ, Guo S, Johnson E, Bhaumik D, Xue J, Crist AB, Presley MP, Harinath G, Sedore CA, Chamoli M, Kamat S, Chen MK, Angeli S, Chang C, Willis JH, Edgar D, Royal MA, Chao EA, Patel S, Garrett T, Ibanez-Ventoso C, Hope J, Kish JL, Guo M, Lithgow GJ, Driscoll M, Phillips PC. Impact of genetic background and experimental reproducibility on identifying chemical compounds with robust longevity effects. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14256. [PMID: 28220799 PMCID: PMC5321775 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Limiting the debilitating consequences of ageing is a major medical challenge of our time. Robust pharmacological interventions that promote healthy ageing across diverse genetic backgrounds may engage conserved longevity pathways. Here we report results from the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program in assessing longevity variation across 22 Caenorhabditis strains spanning 3 species, using multiple replicates collected across three independent laboratories. Reproducibility between test sites is high, whereas individual trial reproducibility is relatively low. Of ten pro-longevity chemicals tested, six significantly extend lifespan in at least one strain. Three reported dietary restriction mimetics are mainly effective across C. elegans strains, indicating species and strain-specific responses. In contrast, the amyloid dye ThioflavinT is both potent and robust across the strains. Our results highlight promising pharmacological leads and demonstrate the importance of assessing lifespans of discrete cohorts across repeat studies to capture biological variation in the search for reproducible ageing interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Lucanic
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - W Todd Plummer
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Esteban Chen
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Jailynn Harke
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Anna C Foulger
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Brian Onken
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | | | - Kathleen J Dumas
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Suzhen Guo
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Erik Johnson
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Dipa Bhaumik
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Jian Xue
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Anna B Crist
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Michael P Presley
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Girish Harinath
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Christine A Sedore
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Manish Chamoli
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Shaunak Kamat
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Michelle K Chen
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Suzanne Angeli
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Christina Chang
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - John H Willis
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Daniel Edgar
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Mary Anne Royal
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Chao
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Shobhna Patel
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Theo Garrett
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Carolina Ibanez-Ventoso
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - June Hope
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Jason L Kish
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Max Guo
- Division of Aging Biology, National Institute on Aging, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9205, USA
| | - Gordon J Lithgow
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA
| | - Monica Driscoll
- Nelson Biological Laboratories, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Patrick C Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
For decades, researchers in the biology of aging have focused on defining mechanisms that modulate aging by primarily studying a single metric, sometimes described as the "gold standard" lifespan. Increasingly, geroscience research is turning towards defining functional domains of aging such as the cardiovascular system, skeletal integrity, and metabolic health as being a more direct route to understand why tissues decline in function with age. Each model used in aging research has strengths and weaknesses, yet we know surprisingly little about how critical tissues decline in health with increasing age. Here I discuss popular model systems used in geroscience research and their utility as possible tools in preclinical studies in aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Melov
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Role of 5-HT2 receptors in diabetes: Swertiamarin seco-iridoid glycoside might be a possible 5-HT2 receptor modulator. Physiol Behav 2015; 144:66-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
|
19
|
Wang N, Liu J, Xie F, Gao X, Ye JH, Sun LY, Wei R, Ai J. miR-124/ATF-6, A Novel Lifespan Extension Pathway ofAstragalusPolysaccharide inCaenorhabditis Elegans. J Cell Biochem 2014; 116:242-51. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Fang Xie
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine Research (Harbin Medical University); Ministry of Education; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Biochemistry; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Jian-Han Ye
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Lu-Yao Sun
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Ran Wei
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| | - Jing Ai
- Department of Pharmacology; Harbin Medical University; Harbin 150081 China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Zong Y, Gao J, Feng H, Cheng B, Zhang X. Toxicity of 7-ketocholesterol on lethality, growth, reproduction, and germline apoptosis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2014; 77:716-723. [PMID: 24786678 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2014.888693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
7-Ketocholesterol is one of the most abundant cholesterol oxides, and is known to be cytotoxic to various types of cultured mammalian cells; however, little is known regarding its effects in vivo. With the use of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as model organism, in vivo toxicity of 7-ketocholesterol was investigated. The aim of the study was to examine the effects on life span, as well as short-term effects on reproduction, thermotolerance, germline apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation resulting from C. elegans exposure to 7-ketocholesterol at concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 μg/ml. Results indicated that 7-ketocholesterol reduced reproductive capacity, shortened the life span in a concentration-dependent manner, and impaired thermotolerance of the adult nematode. 7-Ketocholesterol also induced germline apoptotic cell death and increased ROS generation in adult worms. Thus, the model organism C. elegans is recommended for assessment of the safety and bioactivity of cholesterol oxides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Zong
- a School of Life Sciences , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , P. R. China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Reina A, Subramaniam AB, Laromaine A, Samuel ADT, Whitesides GM. Shifts in the distribution of mass densities is a signature of caloric restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69651. [PMID: 23922767 PMCID: PMC3726776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the starvation response of the model multicellular organism Caenorhabditis elegans is a subject of much research, there is no convenient phenotypic readout of caloric restriction that can be applicable to large numbers of worms. This paper describes the distribution of mass densities of populations of C. elegans, from larval stages up to day one of adulthood, using isopycnic centrifugation, and finds that density is a convenient, if complex, phenotypic readout in C. elegans. The density of worms in synchronized populations of wildtype N2 C. elegans grown under standard solid-phase culture conditions was normally distributed, with distributions peaked sharply at a mean of 1.091 g/cm3 for L1, L2 and L3 larvae, 1.087 g/cm3 for L4 larvae, 1.081 g/cm3 for newly molted adults, and 1.074 g/cm3 at 24 hours of adulthood. The density of adult worms under starvation stress fell well outside this range, falling to a mean value of 1.054 g/cm3 after eight hours of starvation. This decrease in density correlated with the consumption of stored glycogen in the food-deprived worms. The density of the worms increased when deprived of food for longer durations, corresponding to a shift in the response of the worms: worms sacrifice their bodies by retaining larvae, which consume the adults from within. Density-based screens with the drug Ivermectin on worms cultured on single plates resulted in a clear bimodal (double-peaked) distribution of densities corresponding to drug exposed and non-exposed worms. Thus, measurements of changes in density could be used to conduct screens on the effects of drugs on several populations of worms cultured on single plates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Reina
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anand Bala Subramaniam
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anna Laromaine
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Aravinthan D. T. Samuel
- Department of Physics and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - George M. Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zheng SQ, Ding AJ, Li GP, Wu GS, Luo HR. Drug absorption efficiency in Caenorhbditis elegans delivered by different methods. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56877. [PMID: 23451103 PMCID: PMC3581574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caenorhbditis elegans has being vigorously used as a model organism in many research fields and often accompanied by administrating with various drugs. The methods of delivering drugs to worms are varied from one study to another, which make difficult in comparing results between studies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We evaluated the drug absorption efficiency in C. elegans using five frequently used methods with resveratrol with low aqueous solubility and water-soluble 5-Fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUDR) as positive compounds. The drugs were either applied to the LB medium with bacteria OP50, before spreading onto Nematode Growth Medium (NGM) plates (LB medium method), or to the NGM with live (NGM live method) or dead bacteria (NGM dead method), or spotting the drug solution to the surface of plates directly (spot dead method), or growing the worms in liquid medium (liquid growing method). The concentration of resveratrol and FUDR increased gradually within C. elegans and reached the highest during 12 hours to one day and then decreased slowly. At the same time point, the higher the drug concentration, the higher the metabolism rate. The drug concentrations in worms fed with dead bacteria were higher than with live bacteria at the same time point. Consistently, the drug concentration in medium with live bacteria decreased much faster than in medium with dead bacteria, reach to about half of the original concentration within 12 hours. CONCLUSION Resveratrol with low aqueous solubility and water-soluble FUDR have the same absorption and metabolism pattern. The drug metabolism rate in worms was both dosage and time dependent. NGM dead method and liquid growing method achieved the best absorption efficiency in worms. The drug concentration within worms was comparable with that in mice, providing a bridge for dose translation from worms to mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Qing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ai-Jun Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Ping Li
- The key laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital & Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China
| | - Gui-Sheng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huai-Rong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- * E-mail: address:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lucanic M, Lithgow GJ, Alavez S. Pharmacological lifespan extension of invertebrates. Ageing Res Rev 2013; 12:445-58. [PMID: 22771382 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2012.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Revised: 06/28/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable interest in identifying small, drug-like compounds that slow aging in multiple species, particularly in mammals. Such compounds may prove to be useful in treating and retarding age-related disease in humans. Just as invertebrate models have been essential in helping us understand the genetic pathways that control aging, these model organisms are also proving valuable in discovering chemical compounds that influence longevity. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has numerous advantages for such studies including its short lifespan and has been exploited by a number of investigators to find compounds that impact aging. Here, we summarize the progress being made in identifying compounds that extend the lifespan of invertebrates, and introduce the challenges we face in translating this research into human therapies.
Collapse
|
24
|
Miersch C, Döring F. Sex differences in carbohydrate metabolism are linked to gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44748. [PMID: 22984551 PMCID: PMC3439400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 08/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The male and the hermaphrodite forms of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) differ markedly in anatomy, nervous system and behavior at adulthood. Using the male mutants fog-2, him-5, and him-8, we compared body proportions and composition, and aspects of carbohydrate metabolism and gene expression between the C. elegans sexes in three adult stages. In all experiments, both sexes were grown on the same plate and separated using flow cytometry. The fat to fat-free mass ratio and the body volume-adjusted fat mass is similar between the sexes, although the body size is more than 50% smaller in adult males than in age-matched hermaphrodites. The volume-adjusted total RNA content is approximately 2-fold lower in males. Biochemical and NMR-based analyses reveal higher trehalose levels and much lower glucose levels in males than in hermaphrodites. The resulting trehalose-to-glucose ratio is 5.4-fold higher in males. These sex differences are reflected in gene expression data because the genes encoding key enzymes of the glycolysis and trehalose synthesis pathways are more highly expressed in males than in hermaphrodites. Notably, expression of the phosphofructokinase gene (C50F4.2) is 29-fold higher in males. Comparative analysis of gene expression data identifies 285 male-specific and 160 hermaphrodite-specific genes. These include transcription factor and C-type lectin-encoding genes. More than 35% of all C-type lectin genes are more highly expressed in males. The expression of many C-type lectin genes differs by a factor of >100 between the sexes. In conclusion, we found sex differences in carbohydrate metabolism that are linked to gene expression and identified certain lectin genes that are differentially expressed by the C. elegans sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Miersch
- Department of Molecular Prevention, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank Döring
- Department of Molecular Prevention, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zarse K, Jabin S, Ristow M. L-Theanine extends lifespan of adult Caenorhabditis elegans. Eur J Nutr 2012; 51:765-8. [PMID: 22422488 PMCID: PMC3419347 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-012-0341-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2011] [Accepted: 03/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Compounds that delay aging in model organisms may be of significant interest to anti-aging medicine, since these substances potentially provide pharmaceutical approaches to promote healthy lifespan in humans. We here aimed to test whether pharmaceutical concentrations of l-theanine, a putative anti-cancer, anti-obesity, blood pressure-lowering, and neuroprotective compound contained in green tea (Camellia sinensis), are capable of extending lifespan in a nematodal model organism for aging processes, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Adult C. elegans roundworms were maintained on agar plates, were fed E. coli strain OP50 bacteria, and l-theanine was applied to agar to test (1) whether it may increase survival upon paraquat exposure and (2) whether it may promote longevity by quantifying survival in the presence and absence of the compound. Results l-theanine increases survival of C. elegans in the presence of paraquat at a concentration of 1 micromolar. l-theanine extends C. elegans lifespan when applied at concentrations of 100 nM, as well as 1 and 10 micromolar. Conclusions In the model organism C. elegans, l-theanine is capable of promoting paraquat resistance and longevity suggesting that this compound may as well promote healthy lifespan in mammals and possibly humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Zarse
- Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Nutrition, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Linford NJ, Kuo TH, Chan TP, Pletcher SD. Sensory perception and aging in model systems: from the outside in. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2011; 27:759-85. [PMID: 21756108 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-092910-154240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sensory systems provide organisms from bacteria to humans with the ability to interact with the world. Numerous senses have evolved that allow animals to detect and decode cues from sources in both their external and internal environments. Recent advances in understanding the central mechanisms by which the brains of simple organisms evaluate different cues and initiate behavioral decisions, coupled with observations that sensory manipulations are capable of altering organismal lifespan, have opened the door for powerful new research into aging. Although direct links between sensory perception and aging have been established only recently, here we discuss these initial discoveries and evaluate the potential for different forms of sensory processing to modulate lifespan across taxa. Harnessing the neurobiology of simple model systems to study the biological impact of sensory experiences will yield insights into the broad influence of sensory perception in mammals and may help uncover new mechanisms of healthy aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy J Linford
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Klapper M, Ehmke M, Palgunow D, Böhme M, Matthäus C, Bergner G, Dietzek B, Popp J, Döring F. Fluorescence-based fixative and vital staining of lipid droplets in Caenorhabditis elegans reveal fat stores using microscopy and flow cytometry approaches. J Lipid Res 2011; 52:1281-1293. [PMID: 21421847 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d011940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The proportions of body fat and fat-free mass are determining factors of adiposity-associated diseases. Work in Caenorhabditis elegans has revealed evolutionarily conserved pathways of fat metabolism. Nevertheless, analysis of body composition and fat distribution in the nematodes has only been partially unraveled because of methodological difficulties. We characterized metabolic C. elegans mutants by using novel and feasible BODIPY 493/503-based fat staining and flow cytometry approaches. Fixative as well as vital BODIPY staining procedures visualize major fat stores, preserve native lipid droplet morphology, and allow quantification of fat content per body volume of individual worms. Colocalization studies using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, and imaging of lysosome-related organelles as well as biochemical measurement confirm our approaches. We found that the fat-to-volume ratio of dietary restriction, TGF-β, and germline mutants are specific for each strain. In contrast, the proportion of fat-free mass is constant between the mutants, although their volumes differ by a factor of 3. Our approaches enable sensitive, accurate, and high-throughput assessment of adiposity in large C. elegans populations at a single-worm level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maja Klapper
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Research Group Molecular Prevention, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Madeleine Ehmke
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Research Group Molecular Prevention, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Palgunow
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Research Group Molecular Prevention, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Mike Böhme
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Research Group Molecular Prevention, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Jürgen Popp
- Institute of Photonic Technology, Jena, Germany
| | - Frank Döring
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Research Group Molecular Prevention, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Fitzgerald V, Mensack M, Wolfe P, Thompson H. A transfer-less, multi-well liquid culture feeding system for screening small molecules that affect the longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans. Biotechniques 2011; 47:ix-xv. [PMID: 20041852 DOI: 10.2144/000113277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural sciences rely almost entirely on chemical assays to screen the thousands of crop cultivars generated in a crop improvement program for potential human health benefits. This situation exists in part because most animal models are expensive to implement, utilize large amounts of plant material, and require specialized facilities and technical training. A cost-effective, high-throughput animal model to screen crop extracts for small molecules with biological activity related to human health benefits would provide a much-needed resource. Here we introduce a new, relatively high-throughput method incorporating the microscopic Caenorhabditis elegans nematode, which is suitable for screening chemical extracts for bioactivity without the need for robotics. This system was chosen because longevity extension in C. elegans has been previously associated with human health benefits. Through the use of cell culture inserts, C. elegans can be exposed to fresh crop extracts daily throughout their lifespan without mechanical manipulation of the worm, thus minimizing stress and creating an environment suitable for experiments measuring longevity. Additionally, the duration of longevity experiments can be reduced by using type II right censoring in experimental design and survival analyses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Fitzgerald
- Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
|
30
|
Yu YB, Dosanjh L, Lao L, Tan M, Shim BS, Luo Y. Cinnamomum cassia bark in two herbal formulas increases life span in Caenorhabditis elegans via insulin signaling and stress response pathways. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9339. [PMID: 20179756 PMCID: PMC2825258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 01/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Proving the efficacy and corresponding mode of action of herbal supplements is a difficult challenge for evidence-based herbal therapy. A major hurdle is the complexity of herbal preparations, many of which combine multiple herbs, particularly when the combination is assumed to be vitally important to the effectiveness of the herbal therapy. This issue may be addressed through the use of contemporary methodology and validated animal models. Methods and Principal Findings In this study, two commonly used traditional herbal formulas, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (SQDB) and Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan (HLXL) were evaluated using a survival assay and oxidative stress biomarkers in a well-established C. elegans model of aging. HLXL is an eleven herb formula modified from a top-selling traditional herbal formula for the treatment of arthritic joint pain. SQDB consists of ten herbs often used for fatigue and energy, particularly in the aged. We demonstrate here that SQDB significantly extend life span in a C. elegans model of aging. Among all individual herbs tested, two herbs Cinnamomum cassia bark (Chinese pharmaceutical name: Cinnamomi Cortex, CIN) and Panax ginseng root (Chinese pharmaceutical name: Ginseng Radix, GS) significantly extended life span in C. elegans. CIN in both SQDB and HLXL formula extended life span via modulation of multiple longevity assurance genes, including genes involved in insulin signaling and stress response pathways. All the life-span-extending herbs (SQDB, CIN and GS) also attenuated levels of H2O2 and enhanced small heat shock protein expression. Furthermore, the life span-extending herbs significantly delayed human amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced toxicity in transgenic C. elegans expressing human Aβ. Conclusion/Significance These results validate an invertebrate model for rapid, systematic evaluation of commonly used Chinese herbal formulations and may provide insight for designing future evidence-based herbal therapy(s).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young-Beob Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Suo S, Culotti JG, Van Tol HHM. Dopamine suppresses octopamine signaling in C. elegans: possible involvement of dopamine in the regulation of lifespan. Aging (Albany NY) 2009; 1:870-4. [PMID: 20157560 PMCID: PMC2815730 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2009] [Accepted: 10/19/2009] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Amine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, play important roles in the modulation of behaviors and metabolism of animals. InC. elegans, it has been shown that serotonin and octopamine, an invertebrate equivalent of noradrenaline, also regulate lifespan through a mechanism related to food deprivation-mediated lifespan extension. We have shown recently that dopamine signaling, activated by the tactile perception of food, suppresses octopamine signaling and that the cessation of dopamine signaling in the absence of food leads to activation of octopamine signaling. Here, we discuss the apparent conservation of neural and molecular mechanisms for dopamine regulation of octopamine/noradrenaline signaling and a possible role for dopamine in lifespan regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Suo
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X5.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
In a paper by Yadav and colleagues, a novel pathway linking the central nervous system effects of leptin on bone mass and energy expenditure to serotonin signaling in brainstem circuits is described. The data from those studies strengthen the tenet that skeletal remodeling is intimately connected to central regulation of metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clifford J Rosen
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA.
| |
Collapse
|