Sirtuin3 (SIRT3) is an important member of the sirtuin family of protein deacetylases that is localized to mitochondria and linked to lifespan extension in organisms ranging from yeast to humans. As aged cells have less regenerative capacity and are more susceptible to oxidative stress, we investigated the effect of ageing on SIRT3 levels and its correlation with antioxidant enzyme activities. Here, we show that severe oxidative stress reduces SIRT3 levels in young human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (hMSCs). Overexpression of SIRT3 improved hMSCs resistance to the detrimental effects of oxidative stress. By activating manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT), SIRT3 protects hMSCs from apoptosis under stress. SIRT3 expression, levels of MnSOD and CAT, as well as cell survival showed little difference in old versus young hMSCs under normal growth conditions, whereas older cells had a significantly reduced capacity to withstand oxidative stress compared to their younger counterparts. Expression of the short 28 kD SIRT3 isoform was higher, while the long 44 kD isoform expression was lower in young myocardial tissues compared with older ones. These results suggest that the active short isoform of SIRT3 protects hMSCs from oxidative injury by increasing the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The expression of this short isoform decreases in cardiac tissue during ageing, leading to a reduced capacity for the heart to withstand oxidative stress.

Objective To examine the relationship between the Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) expression and the clinical indicators/prognosis of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The mRNA level of SIRT3 was detected by real-time PCR, while the protein level was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results The expression of SIRT3 was significantly higher in NSCLC tissue than in adjacent tissue. The SIRT3 level was correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage of NSCLC patients. Moreover, univariate analysis showed that the expression of SIRT3, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, degree of differentiation, and clinical stage were correlated with the prognosis of NSCLC patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that lymph node metastasis, the tumor size, and SIRT3 expression were independent prognostic factors for NSCLC patients. Conclusions SIRT3 is associated with the development and progression of NSCLC. The SIRT3 expression can be used as an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC patients and help identify prognosis of NSCLC. Therefore, SIRT3 has the potential to become a new factor for prognosis prediction and personalized treatment of NSCLC.

Sirtuin3 (SIRT3) is associated with oxidative stress and lifespan. However, the possible mechanisms underlying its influence are unknown. We hypothesized that SIRT3 increases the antioxidant capacity of aged cells and improves the efficacy of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) therapy for ischaemic heart diseases in aged patients. In vitro, the antioxidant capacity of old hMSCs (O‐hMSCs) was increased after SIRT3 overexpression using a gene transfection technique, while the antioxidant capacity of young hMSCs (Y‐hMSCs) was decreased by SIRT3 silencing. The levels of forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) in the nucleus, and antioxidant enzymes Mn‐superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT) increased in SIRT3‐overexpressed O‐hMSCs while they decreased in SIRT3‐silenced Y‐hMSCs after oxidative stress. Following myocardial infarction in adult rats in vivo, infarct size decreased and cardiac function was significantly enhanced after cell transplantation with SIRT3 overexpressed O‐hMSCs. The number of apoptotic cells decreased and the survival rate of transplanted cells increased following SIRT3 overexpression in O‐hMSCs. SIRT3 protects aged hMSCs against oxidative stress by positively regulating antioxidant enzymes (MnSOD and CAT) via increasing the expression of FoxO3a in the nucleus. The efficacy of aged hMSC transplantation therapy for ischaemic heart diseases can be improved by SIRT3 overexpression.