Open AccessA steroid hormone that extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Broué Florence,
Liere Philippe,
Kenyon Cynthia,
Baulieu EtienneEmile
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
aging cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1474-9726
pISSN - 1474-9718
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2006.00268.x
Subject(s) - caenorhabditis elegans , biology , germline , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
Summary Removing the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans extends lifespan. This lifespan extension requires the nuclear receptor DAF‐12 and the cytochrome P450 DAF‐9, suggesting that a lipophilic hormone is involved. Here we show that C. elegans contains several hormonal steroids that are also present in humans, including pregnenolone (3β‐hydroxy‐pregn‐5‐en‐20‐one; PREG) and other pregnane and androstane derivatives. We find that PREG can extend the lifespan of C. elegans . Moreover, PREG levels rise when the germline is removed in a daf‐9‐ dependent fashion. PREG extends the lifespan of germline‐defective daf‐9 mutants dramatically, but has no effect on daf‐12 mutants. Thus, germline removal may extend lifespan, at least in part, by stimulating the synthesis of PREG.