Authors: Yazaki K; Yoshikoshi C; Oshiro S; Yanase S
Abstract: Astaxanthin (AX), which is produced by some marine animals, is a type of carotenoid that has antioxidative properties. In this study, we initially examined the effects of AX on the aging of a model organism C. elegans that has the conserved intracellular pathways related to mammalian longevity. The continuous treatments with AX (0.1 to 1 mM) from both the prereproductive and young adult stages extended the mean lifespans by about 16-30% in the wild-type and long-lived mutant age-1 of C. elegans. In contrast, the AX-dependent lifespan extension was not observed even in a daf-16 null mutant. Especially, the expression of genes encoding superoxide dismutases and catalases increased in two weeks after hatching, and the DAF-16 protein was translocated to the nucleus in the AX-exposed wild type. These results suggest that AX protects the cell organelle mitochondria and nucleus of the nematode, resulting in a lifespan extension via an Ins/IGF-1 signaling pathway during normal aging, at least in part.
Keywords: Animals; Antioxidants/*pharmacology; Caenorhabditis elegans/*drug effects; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/analysis/genetics/metabolism; Catalase/metabolism; Cell Nucleus/metabolism; Insulin/metabolism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism; Longevity/*drug effects; Mutation; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics/metabolism; Signal Transduction/*drug effects; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism; Superoxides/metabolism; Transcription Factors/analysis/genetics/metabolism; Xanthophylls/pharmacology|
Journal: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity Volume: 2011 Pages: 596240 Date: Oct. 21, 2011 PMID: 22013497 |
Yazaki K, Yoshikoshi C, Oshiro S, Yanase S (2011) Supplemental cellular protection by a carotenoid extends lifespan via Ins/IGF-1 signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2011: 596240.
Comment on This Data Unit