Supplemental cellular protection by a carotenoid extends lifespan via Ins/IGF-1 signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans.
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.
Department of Health Science, Daito Bunka University School of Sports and Health Science, Iwadono 560, Higashi-matsuyama, Saitama 355-8501, Japan.
Koumei
K
Yazaki
Chinatsu
C
Yoshikoshi
Satoru
S
Oshiro
Sumino
S
Yanase
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009154:Mutation; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007328:Insulin; D014157:Transcription Factors; D024341:Xanthophylls; C108831:daf-16 protein, C elegans; D013481:Superoxides; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C005948:astaxanthine; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C100662:AGE-1 protein, C elegans