SUMMARY Many genes that affect replicative lifespan (RLS) in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae also affect aging in other organisms such as C. elegans and M. musculus. We performed a systematic analysis of yeast RLS in a set of 4,698 viable single-gene deletion strains. Multiple functional gene clusters were identified, and full genome-to-genome comparison demonstrated a significant conservation in longevity pathways between yeast and C. elegans. Among the mechanisms of aging identified, deletion of tRNA exporter LOS1 robustly extended lifespan. Dietary restriction (DR) and inhibition of mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) exclude Los1 from the nucleus in a Rad53-dependent manner. Moreover, lifespan extension from deletion of LOS1 is non-additive with DR or mTOR inhibition, and results in Gcn4 transcription factor activation. Thus, the DNA damage response and mTOR converge on Los1-mediated nuclear tRNA export to regulate Gcn4 activity and aging.

Specific point mutations in lamin A gene have been shown to accelerate aging in humans and mice. Particularly, a de novo mutation at G608G position impairs lamin A processing to produce the mutant protein progerin, which causes the Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome. The premature aging phenotype of Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome is largely recapitulated in mice deficient for the lamin A-processing enzyme, Zmpste24. We have previously reported that Zmpste24 deficiency results in genomic instability and early cellular senescence due to the delayed recruitment of repair proteins to sites of DNA damage. Here, we further investigate the molecular mechanism underlying delayed DNA damage response and identify a histone acetylation defect in Zmpste24 −/− mice. Specifically, histone H4 was hypoacetylated at a lysine 16 residue (H4K16), and this defect was attributed to the reduced association of a histone acetyltransferase, Mof, to the nuclear matrix. Given the reversible nature of epigenetic changes, rescue experiments performed either by Mof overexpression or by histone deacetylase inhibition promoted repair protein recruitment to DNA damage sites and substantially ameliorated agingassociated phenotypes, both in vitro and in vivo. The life span of Zmpste24 −/− mice was also extended with the supplementation of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate, to drinking water. Consistent with recent data showing age-dependent buildup of unprocessable lamin A in physiological aging, aged wild-type mice also showed hypoacetylation of H4K16. The above results shed light on how chromatin modifications regulate the DNA damage response and suggest that the reversal of epigenetic marks could make an attractive therapeutic target against laminopathybased progeroid pathologies. E ukaryotic cells are equipped with a surveillance machinery to orchestrate the rapid detection and repair of DNA damage. When DNA damage occurs, chromatin surrounding the doublestrand breaks (DSBs) is altered and histones are modified to facilitate access for repair proteins (1). As a rapid response to DSB induction, the histone H2A variant, H2AX, is phosphorylated at Ser139 (γ-H2AX), which in turn interacts with MDC1, a DSB repair mediator, to facilitate the further recruitment of DNA repair proteins, such as 53BP1 and BRCA1 (2-4). Interestingly, γ-H2AX accumulation has been documented both in human senescent cells and in the fibroblasts of aged mice and primates (5-8). It has been proposed that these age-associated γ-H2AX foci contain nonrepairable DSBs and may have a role in initiating aging, especially because DSBs are very toxic and are one of the most lethal forms of DNA damage. Direct evidence for nonrepairable DNA damage as an inducer of premature aging has been obtained from mouse models that lack DNA repair proteins, such as ATM, Ku70, Ku80, DNA ligase IV, and Ercc1, as well as from humans with premature aging syndromes (9, 10). Together, these studies support the idea that the inability to recruit repair proteins to sites of DNA les...

BackgroundT-helper (Th) 22 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The roles of Th22 cells in the pathophysiological of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain unsettled. So we examined the frequencies of Th22 cells, Th17 cells and Th1 cells in peripheral blood (PB) from patients with AS and patients with RA compared with both healthy controls as well as patients with osteoarthritis.Design and MethodsWe studied 32 AS patients, 20 RA patients, 10 OA patients and 20 healthy controls. The expression of IL-22, IL-17 and IFN-γ were examined in AS, RA, OA patients and healthy controls by flow cytometry. Plasma IL-22 and IL-17 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsTh22 cells, Th17 cells and interleukin-22 were significantly elevated in AS and RA patients compared with OA patients and healthy controls. Moreover, Th22 cells showed positive correlation with Th17 cells as well as interleukin-22 in AS and RA patients. However, positive correlation between IL-22 and Th17 cells was only found in AS patients not in RA patients. In addition, the percentages of both Th22 cells and Th17 cells correlated positively with disease activity only in RA patients not in AS patients.ConclusionsThe frequencies of both Th22 cells and Th17 cells were elevated in PB from patients with AS and patients with RA. These findings suggest that Th22 cells and Th17 cells may be implicated in the pathogenesis of AS and RA, and Th22 cells and Th17 cells may be reasonable cellular targets for therapeutic intervention.

Abnormal splicing of LMNA gene or aberrant processing of prelamin A results in progeroid syndrome. Here we show that lamin A interacts with and activates SIRT1. SIRT1 exhibits reduced association with nuclear matrix (NM) and decreased deacetylase activity in the presence of progerin or prelamin A, leading to rapid depletion of adult stem cells (ASCs) in Zmpste24(-/-) mice. Resveratrol enhances the binding between SIRT1 and A-type lamins to increases its deacetylase activity. Resveratrol treatment rescues ASC decline, slows down body weight loss, improves trabecular bone structure and mineral density, and significantly extends the life span in Zmpste24(-/-) mice. Our data demonstrate lamin A as an activator of SIRT1 and provide a mechanistic explanation for the activation of SIRT1 by resveratrol. The link between conserved SIRT1 longevity pathway and progeria suggests a stem cell-based and SIRT1 pathway-dependent therapeutic strategy for progeria.