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Signals from the reproductive system regulate the lifespan of C. elegans

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  • Honor Hsin

    (University of California at San Francisco)

  • Cynthia Kenyon

    (University of California at San Francisco)

Abstract

Understanding how the ageing process is regulated is a fascinating and fundamental problem in biology. Here we demonstrate that signals from the reproductive system influence the lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. If the cells that give rise to the germ line are killed with a laser microbeam, the lifespan of the animal is extended. Our findings suggest that germline signals act by modulating the activity of an insulin/IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) pathway that is known to regulate the ageing of this organism. Mutants with reduced activity of the insulin/IGF-1-receptor homologue DAF-2 have been shown to live twice as long as normal1,2,3, and their longevity requires the activity of DAF-16, a member of the forkhead/winged-helix family of transcriptional regulators1,2,4,5. We find that, in order for germline ablation to extend lifespan, DAF-16 is required, as well as a putative nuclear hormone receptor, DAF-12 (refs 6, 7). In addition, our findings suggest that signals from the somatic gonad also influence ageing, and that this effect requires DAF-2 activity. Together, our findings imply that the C. elegans insulin/IGF-1 system integrates multiple signals to define the animal's rate of ageing. This study demonstrates an inherent relationship between the reproductive state of this animal and its lifespan, and may have implications for the co-evolution of reproductive capability and longevity.

Suggested Citation

  • Honor Hsin & Cynthia Kenyon, 1999. "Signals from the reproductive system regulate the lifespan of C. elegans," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6734), pages 362-366, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6734:d:10.1038_20694
    DOI: 10.1038/20694
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    Cited by:

    1. Weilin Kong & Guoli Gu & Tong Dai & Beibei Chen & Yanli Wang & Zheng Zeng & Mintie Pu, 2024. "ELO-6 expression predicts longevity in isogenic populations of Caenorhabditis elegans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Nan Wu & Yi-Cheng Ma & Xin-Qian Gong & Pei-Ji Zhao & Yong-Jian Jia & Qiu Zhao & Jia-Hong Duan & Cheng-Gang Zou, 2023. "The metabolite alpha-ketobutyrate extends lifespan by promoting peroxisomal function in C. elegans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Debbie McLaggan & Maria R Amezaga & Eleni Petra & Andrew Frost & Elizabeth I Duff & Stewart M Rhind & Paul A Fowler & L Anne Glover & Cristina Lagido, 2012. "Impact of Sublethal Levels of Environmental Pollutants Found in Sewage Sludge on a Novel Caenorhabditis elegans Model Biosensor," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Carina C. Kern & Shivangi Srivastava & Marina Ezcurra & Kuei Ching Hsiung & Nancy Hui & StJohn Townsend & Dominik Maczik & Bruce Zhang & Victoria Tse & Viktoras Konstantellos & Jürg Bähler & David Gem, 2023. "C. elegans ageing is accelerated by a self-destructive reproductive programme," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Zi Wang & Lina Zou & Yiyan Zhang & Mengnan Zhu & Shuxian Zhang & Di Wu & Jianfeng Lan & Xiao Zang & Qi Wang & Hanxin Zhang & Zixing Wu & Huanhu Zhu & Di Chen, 2023. "ACS-20/FATP4 mediates the anti-ageing effect of dietary restriction in C. elegans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Carlos A. Vergani-Junior & Raíssa De P. Moro & Silas Pinto & Evandro A. De-Souza & Henrique Camara & Deisi L. Braga & Guilherme Tonon-da-Silva & Thiago L. Knittel & Gabriel P. Ruiz & Raissa G. Ludwig , 2024. "An Intricate Network Involving the Argonaute ALG-1 Modulates Organismal Resistance to Oxidative Stress," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Shengjie Fan & Yingxuan Yan & Ying Xia & Zhenyu Zhou & Lingling Luo & Mengnan Zhu & Yongli Han & Deqiang Yao & Lijun Zhang & Minglv Fang & Lina Peng & Jing Yu & Ying Liu & Xiaoyan Gao & Huida Guan & H, 2023. "Pregnane X receptor agonist nomilin extends lifespan and healthspan in preclinical models through detoxification functions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-23, December.

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