As mice age, there is a downregulation of Dicer and miRNA processing in adipose tissue resulting in decreases of multiple miRNAs. The decline in Dicer with age occurs also in C. elegans. Dicer decline is prevented by dietary restriction in both species. Dicer decreases also in preadipocytes from elderly humans. Dicer knockdwon results in premature senescence. In nematode Dicer loss-of-function mutations reduces lifepan, while intestine overexpression confers stress resistance [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413112003282].
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