Recent Spindler Paper

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Hi folks:

" Rapid and reversible induction of the longevity, anticancer and

genomic effects of caloric restriction.

Spindler SR.

Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA

92521, USA.

It is widely held that caloric restriction (CR) extends lifespan by

preventing or reducing the age-related accumulation of irreversible

molecular damage. In contrast, our results suggest that CR can act

rapidly to begin life and health span extension, and that its rapid

genomic effects are closely linked to its health effects. We found

that CR begins to extend lifespan and reduce cancer as a cause of

death within 8 weeks in older mice, apparently by reducing the rate

of tumor growth. Further, 8 weeks of CR progressively reproduces

nearly three quarters of the genomic effects of long-term CR (LTCR)

in liver. Fewer of the genomic effects of LTCR are rapidly reproduced

by the initiation of CR in the heart, but the changes produced are

keys to cardiovascular health. Thus, the genomic effects of CR may be

established more rapidly in mitotic than in postmitotic tissues. Most

of the genomic effects of LTCR dissipate 8 weeks after switching to a

control diet. Consistent with these results, others have shown that

acute CR rapidly and reversibly reduces the short-term risk of death

in Drosophila to that of LTCR treated flies. Further, in late

adulthood, acute CR partially or completely reverses age-related

alterations of liver, brain and heart proteins. CR also rapidly and

reversibly mitigates biomarkers of aging in adult rhesus macaques and

humans. These data argue that highly conserved mechanisms for the

rapid and reversible enhancement of life- and health-span exist for

mitotic and postmitotic tissues.

PMID: 15927235 "

Rodney.