title: Mitochondrial hormesis links low-dose arsenite exposure to lifespan extension.
abstract: Arsenite is one of the most toxic chemical substances known and is assumed to exert detrimental effects on viability even at lowest concentrations. By contrast and unlike higher concentrations, we here find that exposure to low-dose arsenite promotes growth of cultured mammalian cells. In the nematode C. elegans, low-dose arsenite promotes resistance against thermal and chemical stressors and extends lifespan of this metazoan, whereas higher concentrations reduce longevity. While arsenite causes a transient increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in C. elegans, co-exposure to ROS scavengers prevents the lifespan-extending capabilities of arsenite, indicating that transiently increased ROS levels act as transducers of arsenite effects on lifespan, a process known as mitohormesis. This requires two transcription factors, namely DAF-16 and SKN-1, which employ the metallothionein MTL-2 as well as the mitochondrial transporter TIN-9.1 to extend lifespan. Taken together, low-dose arsenite extends lifespan, providing evidence for nonlinear dose-response characteristics of toxin-mediated stress resistance and longevity in a multicellular organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Nutrition, University of Jena, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmeisser
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmeisser
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weimer
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priebe
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fazius
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuhlow
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pick
authors.forename: Jürgen W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Einax
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guthke
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Platzer
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarse
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ristow
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D018053:Arsenites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D059165:Hormesis; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013723:Teratogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018053:Arsenites; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C557624:MTL-2 protein, C elegans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013723:Teratogens; D014157:Transcription Factors; C108831:daf-16 protein, C elegans; C073702:skn-1 protein, C elegans; D008668:Metallothionein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C015001:arsenite