title: Artemisinin mimics calorie restriction to trigger mitochondrial biogenesis and compromise telomere shortening in mice.
abstract: Calorie restriction is known to extend lifespan among organisms by a debating mechanism underlying nitric oxide-driven mitochondrial biogenesis. We report here that nitric oxide generators including artemisinin, sodium nitroprusside, and L-arginine mimics calorie restriction and resembles hydrogen peroxide to initiate the nitric oxide signaling cascades and elicit the global antioxidative responses in mice. The large quantities of antioxidant enzymes are correlated with the low levels of reactive oxygen species, which allow the down-regulation of tumor suppressors and accessory DNA repair partners, eventually leading to the compromise of telomere shortening. Accompanying with the up-regulation of signal transducers and respiratory chain signatures, mitochondrial biogenesis occurs with the elevation of adenosine triphosphate levels upon exposure of mouse skeletal muscles to the mimetics of calorie restriction. In conclusion, calorie restriction-triggered nitric oxide provides antioxidative protection and alleviates telomere attrition via mitochondrial biogenesis, thereby maintaining chromosomal stability and integrity, which are the hallmarks of longevity.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Institute, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Da-Ting
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Institute, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Si-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Institute, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Institute, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Zeng
keywords: Artemisinin; BRCA1; Calorie restriction; Hydrogen peroxide; Nitric oxide; Telomere