Lifespan extension and increased resistance to environmental stressors by N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:This study was performed to determine the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a modified sulfur-containing amino acid that acts as a strong cellular antioxidant, on the response to environmental stressors and on aging in C. elegans.METHOD:The survival of worms under oxidative stress conditions induced by paraquat was evaluated with and without in vivo N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment. The effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on the response to other environmental stressors, including heat stress and ultraviolet irradiation (UV), was also monitored. To investigate the effect on aging, we examined changes in lifespan, fertility, and expression of age-related biomarkers in C. elegans after N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment.RESULTS:Dietary N-acetyl-L-cysteine supplementation significantly increased resistance to oxidative stress, heat stress, and UV irradiation in C. elegans. In addition, N-acetyl-L-cysteine supplementation significantly extended both the mean and maximum lifespan of C. elegans. The mean lifespan was extended by up to 30.5% with 5 mM N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment, and the maximum lifespan was increased by 8 days. N-acetyl-L-cysteine supplementation also increased the total number of progeny produced and extended the gravid period of C. elegans. The green fluorescent protein reporter assay revealed that expression of the stress-responsive genes, sod-3 and hsp-16.2, increased significantly following N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment.CONCLUSION:N-acetyl-L-cysteine supplementation confers a longevity phenotype in C. elegans, possibly through increased resistance to environmental stressors.

Artemisia annua increases resistance to heat and oxidative stresses, but has no effect on lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a sulfur-containing cysteine derivative with an acetyl group attached to the nitrogen of cysteine, has anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activity (Cai et al, 1999;Yedjou & Tchounwou, 2007). Survival of worms after heat shock or UV irradiation significantly increases by pre-treatment with 5 mM N-acetyl-L-cysteine (Dh et al, 2015). Dur data showed that A. annua can specifically modulate the response to heat stress, however has no effect on resistance to UV irradiation.…”

“…There was about 1.89 fold increase in expression of sod-3 in worms treated with 100% A. annua extract, compared to the untreated worms (p < 0.001) (Figure 4b). A recent study shows that dietary supplementation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine results in extended survival time under heat-and oxidative-stress conditions, as well as reduced susceptibility to stresses that accompany the up-regulation of stress-responsive genes (Dh et al, 2015). Gene expression data obtained here support our hypothesis that supplementation of A. annua extract confers increased resistance to heat and oxidative stress in vivo and suggests that the underlying mechanisms may be involved with the induction of stress-responsive genes, including heat shock proteins and anti-oxidant genes.…”

“…Supplementation with anti-oxidants also modulates the response to oxidative stress and lifespan in model organisms. Supplementation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine confers increased resistance to various environmental stressors and longevity phenotype in C. elegans (Dh et al, 2015). Interestingly, worms grown in media prepared with electrolyzed reduced water, known to have a strong anti-oxidant activity, have increased resistance to oxidative stress and extended lifespan (Park et al, 2012;Park & Park, 2013).…”

Supplementation of S-allyl cysteine improves health span in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…Extracts from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem shows a suppressive effect on oxidative DNA damage and increased survival under oxidativestress conditions (PARK et al, 2014). Interestingly, NAC, the other cysteine derivative, has strong antioxidant activity in vivo and induces the expression of anti-oxidant gene (OH et al, 2015). Therefore, further studies should focus on revealing underlying cellular mechanisms involved in increased resistance to oxidative stress by these cysteine derivatives.…”

“…Coenzyme Q 10 promotes the recovery of heart tissue after aerobic stress and the contractile function after cardiac surgery (ROSENFELDT et al, 2002). A recent study reports that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a cysteine derivative having a strong anti-oxidant activity, can improve health span by increasing resistance to oxidative, heat, and ultraviolet (UV) stresses (OH et al, 2015).…”