Exceptional cellular resistance to oxidative damage in long-lived birds requires active gene expression.
Previous studies indicated that renal tubular epithelial cells from some long-lived avian species exhibit robust and/or unique protective mechanisms against oxidative stress relative to murine cells. Here we extend these studies to investigate the response of primary embryonic fibroblast-like cells to oxidative challenge in long- and short-lived avian species (budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, longevity up to 20 years, vs Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, longevity up to 5 years) and short- and long-lived mammalian species (house mouse, Mus musculus, longevity up to 4 years vs humans, Homo sapiens, longevity up to 122 years). Under the conditions of our assay, the oxidative-damage resistance phenotype appears to be associated with exceptional longevity in avian species, but not in mammals. Furthermore, the extreme oxidative damage resistance phenotype observed in a long-lived bird requires active gene transcription and translation, suggesting that specific gene products may have evolved in long-lived birds to facilitate resistance to oxidative stress.
Ogburn
C E
CE
Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Carlberg
K
K
Ottinger
M A
MA
Holmes
D J
DJ
Martin
G M
GM
Austad
S N
SN
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003370:Coturnix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010311:Parrots / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity; D013481:Superoxides / Q000633:toxicity
D000546:Amanitins; D013481:Superoxides; D003609:Dactinomycin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide