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Zhang A, Meecham-Garcia G, Nguyen Hong C, Xie P, Kern CC, Zhang B, Chapman H, Gems D. Characterization of Effects of mTOR Inhibitors on Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2024; 79:glae196. [PMID: 39150882 PMCID: PMC11374883 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glae196] [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: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway with rapamycin can extend lifespan in several organisms. Although this includes the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, effects in this species are relatively weak and sometimes difficult to reproduce. Here we test effects of drug dosage and timing of delivery to establish the upper limits of its capacity to extend life, and investigate drug effects on age-related pathology and causes of mortality. Liposome-mediated rapamycin treatment throughout adulthood showed a dose-dependent effect, causing a maximal 21.9% increase in mean lifespan, but shortening of lifespan at the highest dose, suggesting drug toxicity. Rapamycin treatment of larvae delayed development, weakly reduced fertility and modestly extended lifespan. By contrast, treatment initiated later in life robustly increased lifespan, even from Day 16 (or ~70 years in human terms). The rapalog temsirolimus extended lifespan similarly to rapamycin, but effects of everolimus were weaker. As in mouse, rapamycin had mixed effects on age-related pathologies, inhibiting one (uterine tumor growth) but not several others, suggesting a segmental antigeroid effect. These findings should usefully inform future experimental studies with rapamycin and rapalogs in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aihan Zhang
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gadea Meecham-Garcia
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Chiminh Nguyen Hong
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peiyun Xie
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Carina C Kern
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Bruce Zhang
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hannah Chapman
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Gems
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
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Blagosklonny MV. Towards disease-oriented dosing of rapamycin for longevity: does aging exist or only age-related diseases? Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:6632-6640. [PMID: 37477535 PMCID: PMC10415559 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Both individuals taking rapamycin, an anti-aging drug, and those not taking it will ultimately succumb to age-related diseases. However, the former, if administered disease-oriented dosages for a long time, may experience a delayed onset of such diseases and live longer. The goal is to delay a particular disease that is expected to be life-limiting in a particular person. Age-related diseases, quasi-programmed during development, progress at varying rates in different individuals. Rapamycin is a prophylactic anti-aging drug that decelerates early development of age-related diseases. I further discuss hyperfunction theory of quasi-programmed diseases, which challenges the need for the traditional concept of aging itself.
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Sills ES, Harrity C, Wood SH, Tan SL. mTOR Inhibition via Low-Dose, Pulsed Rapamycin with Intraovarian Condensed Platelet Cytokines: An Individualized Protocol to Recover Diminished Reserve? J Pers Med 2023; 13:1147. [PMID: 37511761 PMCID: PMC10381109 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071147] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
No major breakthroughs have entered mainstream clinical fertility practice since egg donation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection decades ago, and oocyte deficits secondary to advanced age continue as the main manifestation of diminished ovarian reserve. In the meantime, several unproven IVF 'accessories' have emerged including so-called ovarian rejuvenation which entails placing fresh autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) directly into ovarian tissue. Among cellular responses attributed to this intervention are reduced oxidative stress, slowed apoptosis and improved metabolism. Besides having an impact on the existing follicle pool, platelet growth factors might also facilitate de novo oocyte recruitment by specified gene upregulation targeting uncommitted ovarian stem cells. Given that disordered activity at the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been shown to exacerbate or accelerate ovarian aging, PRP-discharged plasma cytokines combined with mTOR suppression by pulsed/cyclic rapamycin represents a novel fusion technique to enhance ovarian function. While beneficial effects have already been observed experimentally in oocytes and embryos with mTOR inhibition alone, this proposal is the first to discuss intraovarian platelet cytokines followed by low-dose, phased rapamycin. For refractory cases, this investigational, tailored approach could amplify or sustain ovarian capacity sufficient to permit retrieval of competent oocytes via distinct but complementary pathways-thus reducing dependency on oocyte donation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Scott Sills
- Plasma Research Section, Regenerative Biology Group/CAG, San Clemente, CA 92673, USA
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Palomar Medical Center, Escondido, CA 92029, USA
| | - Conor Harrity
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, D02 HC66 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Samuel H Wood
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Palomar Medical Center, Escondido, CA 92029, USA
- Gen 5 Fertility Center, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Seang Lin Tan
- OriginElle Fertility Clinic, Montreal, QC H4A 3J3, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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Culig L, Chu X, Bohr VA. Neurogenesis in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 78:101636. [PMID: 35490966 PMCID: PMC9168971 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are generated in certain areas of the adult brain, declines in an age-dependent manner and is one potential target for extending cognitive healthspan. Aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and, as lifespans are increasing, these health challenges are becoming more prevalent. An age-associated loss in neural stem cell number and/or activity could cause this decline in brain function, so interventions that reverse aging in stem cells might increase the human cognitive healthspan. In this review, we describe the involvement of adult neurogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases and address the molecular mechanistic aspects of neurogenesis that involve some of the key aggregation-prone proteins in the brain (i.e., tau, Aβ, α-synuclein, …). We summarize the research pertaining to interventions that increase neurogenesis and regulate known targets in aging research, such as mTOR and sirtuins. Lastly, we share our outlook on restoring the levels of neurogenesis to physiological levels in elderly individuals and those with neurodegeneration. We suggest that modulating neurogenesis represents a potential target for interventions that could help in the fight against neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Culig
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Xixia Chu
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Lian D, Liu J, Han R, Jin J, Zhu L, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Wang X, Xian S, Chen Y. Kakonein restores diabetes-induced endothelial junction dysfunction via promoting autophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome degradation. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:7169-7180. [PMID: 34180143 PMCID: PMC8335672 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In diabetes‐induced complications, inflammatory‐mediated endothelial dysfunction is the core of disease progression. Evidence shows that kakonein, an isoflavone common in Pueraria, can effectively treat diabetes and its complications. Therefore, we explored whether kakonein protects cardiovascular endothelial function by inhibiting inflammatory responses. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were injected with streptozocin to establish a diabetes model and treated with kakonein or metformin for 7 days. The protective effect of kakonein on cardiovascular endothelial junctions and NLRP3 inflammasome activation was verified through immunofluorescence and ELISA assay. In addition, the regulation of autophagy on the NLRP3 inflammasome was investigated through Western blot, immunofluorescence and RT‐qPCR. Results showed that kakonein restored the function of endothelial junctions and inhibited the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Interestingly, kakonein decreased the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome protein by not reducing the transcriptional levels of NLRP3 and caspase‐1. Kakonein activated autophagy in an AMPK‐dependent manner, which reduced the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, kakonein inhibited both hyperglycaemia‐induced cardiovascular endothelial junction dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, similar to autophagy agonist. Our findings indicated that kakonein exerts a protective effect on hyperglycaemia‐induced chronic vascular disease by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome through autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Lian
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Postdoctoral Research Station, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,School of Pharmaceutical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaying Liu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruifang Han
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Stomatology, The School of Dental Medicine, Jinan University First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoxiang Xian
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Postdoctoral Research Station, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Selvarani R, Mohammed S, Richardson A. Effect of rapamycin on aging and age-related diseases-past and future. GeroScience 2021; 43:1135-1158. [PMID: 33037985 PMCID: PMC8190242 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-020-00274-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2009, rapamycin was reported to increase the lifespan of mice when implemented later in life. This observation resulted in a sea-change in how researchers viewed aging. This was the first evidence that a pharmacological agent could have an impact on aging when administered later in life, i.e., an intervention that did not have to be implemented early in life before the negative impact of aging. Over the past decade, there has been an explosion in the number of reports studying the effect of rapamycin on various diseases, physiological functions, and biochemical processes in mice. In this review, we focus on those areas in which there is strong evidence for rapamycin's effect on aging and age-related diseases in mice, e.g., lifespan, cardiac disease/function, central nervous system, immune system, and cell senescence. We conclude that it is time that pre-clinical studies be focused on taking rapamycin to the clinic, e.g., as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramasamy Selvarani
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sabira Mohammed
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Arlan Richardson
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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The potential of rapalogs to enhance resilience against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduce the severity of COVID-19. LANCET HEALTHY LONGEVITY 2021; 2:e105-e111. [PMID: 33665645 PMCID: PMC7906698 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(20)30068-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 disproportionately affects older people, with likelihood of severe complications and death mirroring that of other age-associated diseases. Inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has been shown to delay or reverse many age-related phenotypes, including declining immune function. Rapamycin (sirolimus) and rapamycin derivatives are US Food and Drug Administration-approved inhibitors of mTORC1 with broad clinical utility and well established dosing and safety profiles. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence, a strong case can be made for immediate large-scale clinical trials to assess whether rapamycin and other mTORC1 inhibitors can prevent COVID-19 infection in these populations and also to determine whether these drugs can improve outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19.
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KABAKLIOĞLU M, ERÖZ R, KAYA M. Evaluation of the Effects of Rapamycin Treatment on Antioxidant Enzyme Changes and AgNOR in Testicular Torsion. KONURALP TIP DERGISI 2021. [DOI: 10.18521/ktd.845245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Blagosklonny MV. Rapamycin for longevity: opinion article. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:8048-8067. [PMID: 31586989 PMCID: PMC6814615 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
From the dawn of civilization, humanity has dreamed of immortality. So why didn't the discovery of the anti-aging properties of mTOR inhibitors change the world forever? I will discuss several reasons, including fear of the actual and fictional side effects of rapamycin, everolimus and other clinically-approved drugs, arguing that no real side effects preclude their use as anti-aging drugs today. Furthermore, the alternative to the reversible (and avoidable) side effects of rapamycin/everolimus are the irreversible (and inevitable) effects of aging: cancer, stroke, infarction, blindness and premature death. I will also discuss why it is more dangerous not to use anti-aging drugs than to use them and how rapamycin-based drug combinations have already been implemented for potential life extension in humans. If you read this article from the very beginning to its end, you may realize that the time is now.
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Fasting and rapamycin: diabetes versus benevolent glucose intolerance. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:607. [PMID: 31406105 PMCID: PMC6690951 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1822-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Rapamycin (Sirolimus) slows aging, extends life span, and prevents age-related diseases, including diabetic complications such as retinopathy. Puzzlingly, rapamycin can induce insulin sensitivity, but may also induce insulin resistance or glucose intolerance without insulin resistance. This mirrors the effect of fasting and very low calorie diets, which improve insulin sensitivity and reverse type 2 diabetes, but also can cause a form of glucose intolerance known as benevolent pseudo-diabetes. There is no indication that starvation (benevolent) pseudo-diabetes is detrimental. By contrast, it is associated with better health and life extension. In transplant patients, a weak association between rapamycin/everolimus use and hyperglycemia is mostly due to a drug interaction with calcineurin inhibitors. When it occurs in cancer patients, the hyperglycemia is mild and reversible. No hyperglycemic effects of rapamycin/everolimus have been detected in healthy people. For antiaging purposes, rapamycin/everolimus can be administrated intermittently (e.g., once a week) in combination with intermittent carbohydrate restriction, physical exercise, and metformin.
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