title: Ketone bodies as signaling metabolites.
abstract: Traditionally, the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) has been looked upon as a carrier of energy from liver to peripheral tissues during fasting or exercise. However, βOHB also signals via extracellular receptors and acts as an endogenous inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs). These recent findings support a model in which βOHB functions to link the environment, in this case the diet, and gene expression via chromatin modifications. We review the regulation and functions of ketone bodies, the relationship between ketone bodies and calorie restriction, and the implications of HDAC inhibition by the ketone body βOHB in the modulation of metabolism and in diseases of aging.
authors.affiliation: Gladstone Institutes and University of California San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Gladstone Institutes and University of California San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. Electronic address: everdin@gladstone.ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdin
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: HDAC; acetylation; calorie restriction; epigenetics; longevity