Dehydroepiandrosterone, molecular chaperones and the epigenetics of primate longevity

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating adrenal steroid hormones. The plasma level of DHEAS correlates with longevity in primates and varies during human development with a maximum in early adulthood and a marked decline during aging. DHEA promotes the expression of molecular chaperones which are housekeeping stress response proteins essential for the processes of folding, translocation, maintenance and repair of proteins, RNA and DNA, as well as for homeostasis, immune response and cancer resistance. The level of chaperone expression correlates with longevity and shows a decline during aging. DHEA-induced promotion of chaperone expression could contribute to the epigenetic evolution of primate longevity.