Pyrroloquinoline quinone enhances the resistance to oxidative stress and extends lifespan upon DAF-16 and SKN-1 activities in C. elegans

J Z Wu; J H Huang; R Khanabdali; B Kalionis; S J Xia; W J Cai

doi:10.1016/j.exger.2016.04.008

Pyrroloquinoline quinone enhances the resistance to oxidative stress and extends lifespan upon DAF-16 and SKN-1 activities in C. elegans

Exp Gerontol. 2016 Jul:80:43-50. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2016.04.008. Epub 2016 Apr 14.

Authors

J Z Wu¹, J H Huang², R Khanabdali³, B Kalionis³, S J Xia⁴, W J Cai⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Medicine and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
² Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Medicine and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
³ Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre, University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville 3052, Australia.
⁴ Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. Electronic address: xiashijinhd@163.com.
⁵ Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Medicine and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. Electronic address: caiwaijiao@126.com.

PMID: 27090484
DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2016.04.008

Abstract

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is linked to fundamental biological processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis and lipid metabolism. PQQ may also function as an essential micronutrient during animal development. Recent studies have shown the therapeutic potential of PQQ for several age-related diseases due to its antioxidant capacity. However, whether PQQ can promote longevity is unknown. Here, we investigate the effects of PQQ on oxidative stress resistance as well as lifespan modulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that PQQ enhances resistance to oxidative stress and extends the lifespan of C. elegans at optimal doses. The underlying molecular mechanism involves the increased activities of the primary lifespan extension transcriptional factors DAF-16/FOXO, the conserved oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2, and upregulation of daf-16, skn-1 downstream targets including sod-3, hsp16.2, gst-1 and gst-10. Our findings uncover a novel role of PQQ in longevity, supporting PQQ as a possible dietary supplement for overall health improvement.

Keywords: C. elegans; IIS signalling; Lifespan; Oxidative stress; Pyrroloquinoline quinone.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aging / physiology*
Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
Longevity / physiology*
Oxidative Stress*
PQQ Cofactor / pharmacology*
RNA, Messenger / genetics
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
DNA-Binding Proteins
Forkhead Transcription Factors
RNA, Messenger
Reactive Oxygen Species
Transcription Factors
daf-16 protein, C elegans
skn-1 protein, C elegans
PQQ Cofactor
Sod-3 protein, C elegans
Superoxide Dismutase