SIRT1, a known regulator of cellular senescence, is a therapeutic target for age related disorders and its upregulation is a strategy to improve the cell therapeutic potentials of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs). Knockdown of natural antisense transcripts via small activating RNAs (RNAa) is an emerging approach for safe and locus specific gene regulation. We have recently identified a natural antisense transcript at human SIRT1 locus (SIRT1-NAT), the expression of which shows a negative correlation with that of SIRT1. To test the hypothetic upregulation of SIRT1 via knockdown of SIRT1-NAT, in this study we designed a single stranded oligonucleotide (SIRT1-antagoNAT) against the antisense transcript, transfection of which efficiently knocked down the SIRT1-NAT and induced SIRT1 transcription in human MSCs. In addition, activation of SIRT1 transfection via knockdown of SIRT1-NAT in human MSCs enhanced their proliferation and differentiation potentials, reduced senescence associated β-galactosidase activity and reversed the senescence associated molecular alterations. Our findings introduce an RNAa mediated approach for epigenetic induction of endogenous SIRT1 and the consequent attenuation of senescence. Further studies should evaluate the therapeutic potentials of this approach against various age related disorders.

SIRT1, a known regulator of cellular senescence, is a therapeutic target for age related disorders and its upregulation is a strategy to improve the cell therapeutic potentials of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs). Knockdown of natural antisense transcripts via small activating RNAs (RNAa) is an emerging approach for safe and locus specific gene regulation. We have recently identified a natural antisense transcript at human SIRT1 locus (SIRT1-NAT), the expression of which shows a negative correlation with that of SIRT1. To test the hypothetic upregulation of SIRT1 via knockdown of SIRT1-NAT, in this study we designed a single stranded oligonucleotide (SIRT1-antagoNAT) against the antisense transcript, transfection of which efficiently knocked down the SIRT1-NAT and induced SIRT1 transcription in human MSCs. In addition, activation of SIRT1 transfection via knockdown of SIRT1-NAT in human MSCs enhanced their proliferation and differentiation potentials, reduced senescence associated β-galactosidase activity and reversed the senescence associated molecular alterations. Our findings introduce an RNAa mediated approach for epigenetic induction of endogenous SIRT1 and the consequent attenuation of senescence. Further studies should evaluate the therapeutic potentials of this approach against various age related disorders.