Lifespan extension by preserving proliferative homeostasis in Drosophila.

Authors: Biteau B; Karpac J; Supoyo S; Degennaro M; Lehmann R; Jasper H

Abstract: Regenerative processes are critical to maintain tissue homeostasis in high-turnover tissues. At the same time, proliferation of stem and progenitor cells has to be carefully controlled to prevent hyper-proliferative diseases. Mechanisms that ensure this balance, thus promoting proliferative homeostasis, are expected to be critical for longevity in metazoans. The intestinal epithelium of Drosophila provides an accessible model in which to test this prediction. In aging flies, the intestinal epithelium degenerates due to over-proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and mis-differentiation of ISC daughter cells, resulting in intestinal dysplasia. Here we show that conditions that impair tissue renewal lead to lifespan shortening, whereas genetic manipulations that improve proliferative homeostasis extend lifespan. These include reduced Insulin/IGF or Jun-N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling activities, as well as over-expression of stress-protective genes in somatic stem cell lineages. Interestingly, proliferative activity in aging intestinal epithelia correlates with longevity over a range of genotypes, with maximal lifespan when intestinal proliferation is reduced but not completely inhibited. Our results highlight the importance of the balance between regenerative processes and strategies to prevent hyperproliferative disorders and demonstrate that promoting proliferative homeostasis in aging metazoans is a viable strategy to extend lifespan.

Keywords: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Blotting, Western; Cell Aging; *Cell Proliferation; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/metabolism; Drosophila melanogaster/cytology/genetics/*growth & development; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism; Histones/metabolism; Homeostasis; Intestines/cytology/metabolism; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics/metabolism; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism; *Longevity; Male; Microscopy, Confocal; Mutation; Receptor, Insulin/genetics/metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Signal Transduction; Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism
Journal: PLoS genetics
Volume: 6
Issue: 10
Pages: e1001159
Date: Oct. 27, 2010
PMID: 20976250
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Citation:

Biteau B, Karpac J, Supoyo S, Degennaro M, Lehmann R, Jasper H (2010) Lifespan extension by preserving proliferative homeostasis in Drosophila. PLoS genetics 6: e1001159.


Study Lifespan Factors:
  • Hsp68 Heat shock protein 68
  • Akt1 CG4006 gene product from transcript CG4006-RA
  • bsk basket
  • Jafrac1 thioredoxin peroxidase 1
  • Pi3K92E Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase


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