Volumes 146–148, March 2015, Pages 28–41
- a Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- b Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Received 9 January 2015, Revised 24 March 2015, Accepted 25 March 2015, Available online 27 March 2015
Highlights
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- Caloric restriction slow aging and improve late-life health.
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- Several benefits of caloric restriction on aging are due to sirtuins.
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- Resveratrol and melatonin promote sirtuin 1 protein expression.
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- Melatonin and resveratrol are natural compounds present in several foods.
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- The consumption of these agents in the diet may promote health.
Abstract
Aging
is an inevitable and multifactorial biological process. Free radicals
have been implicated in aging processes; it is hypothesized that they
cause cumulative oxidative damage to crucial macromolecules and are
responsible for failure of multiple physiological mechanisms. However,
recent investigations have also suggested that free radicals can act as
modulators of several signaling pathways such as those related to
sirtuins. Caloric restriction is a non-genetic manipulation that extends
lifespan of several species and improves healthspan; the belief that
many of these benefits are due to the induction of sirtuins has led to
the search for sirtuin activators, especially sirtuin 1, the most
studied. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red grapes, was first known
for its antioxidant and antifungal properties, and subsequently has been
reported several biological effects, including the activation of
sirtuins. Endogenously-produced melatonin, a powerful free radical
scavenger, declines with age and its loss contributes to degenerative
conditions of aging. Recently, it was reported that melatonin also
activates sirtuins, in addition to other functions, such as regulator of
circadian rhythms or anti-inflammatory properties. The fact that
melatonin and resveratrol are present in various foods, exhibiting
possible synergistic effects, suggests the use of dietary ingredients to
promote health and longevity.
Abbreviations
- Aβ, amyloid β protein;
- AMPK, adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase;
- CGNs, cerebellar granule neurons;
- ETC, electron transport chain;
- H2O2, hydrogen peroxide;
- HO-1, heme oxygenase-1;
- LXR, liver X receptor;
- MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase;
- mtDNA, mitochondrial DNA;
- NF-κB, nuclear factor-κ B;
- O2, oxygen;
- O2
−, superoxide;
- OA, osteoarthritis;
- PCa, prostate cancer;
- PGC-1α, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor G coactivator-1α;
- PPAR-γ, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ;
- RNS, reactive nitrogen species;
- ROS, reactive oxygen species;
- SAMP8, senescence-accelerated prone 8 mice;
- SAMR1, senescence-accelerated-resistant 1;
- Sir2, sirtuin 2;
- SIRT1, sirtuin 1
Keywords
- Aging;
- Caloric restriction;
- Melatonin;
- Resveratrol;
- Sirtuins
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