Rapamycin increases lifespan and inhibits spontaneous tumorigenesis in inbred female mice

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Vladimir N Anisimov1, Mark A Zabezhinski, Irina G Popovich

  • 1Department of Carcinogenesis and Oncogerontology, N.N.Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, St. Petersburg, Russia. aging@mail.ru

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|November 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Lifelong intermittent rapamycin administration extended lifespan in female mice. This study demonstrates rapamycin

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and Molecular Biology
  • Cellular and organismal aging research
  • Nutrient-sensing pathways

Background:

  • The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates aging.
  • Rapamycin, a TOR inhibitor, has shown lifespan extension in various model organisms.
  • Lifespan extension in normal inbred mice using rapamycin has not been previously demonstrated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of lifelong intermittent rapamycin administration on lifespan in female 129/Sv mice.
  • To evaluate rapamycin's impact on aging rate, age-related weight gain, and cancer incidence.
  • To establish rapamycin as a potential anti-aging intervention in normal inbred mice.

Main Methods:

  • Lifelong intermittent administration of rapamycin (2 weeks on/2 weeks off) starting at 2 months of age.
  • Monitoring lifespan, aging rate, body weight, and spontaneous cancer development in control and rapamycin-treated female 129/Sv mice.
  • Statistical analysis of survival data and other health parameters.

Main Results:

  • Rapamycin treatment significantly extended lifespan, particularly in the oldest mice.
  • Intermittent rapamycin administration inhibited age-related weight gain and decreased the overall aging rate.
  • Rapamycin delayed the onset of spontaneous cancer and increased the survival rate of the last survivors by 22.9% compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Lifelong intermittent rapamycin administration is effective in extending lifespan in normal female inbred mice.
  • Rapamycin demonstrates potential as an anti-aging therapeutic by mitigating key aging hallmarks.
  • Further research into optimal rapamycin dosing and scheduling is warranted for anti-aging applications.

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