LncRNA GUARDIN suppresses cellular senescence through a LRP130-PGC1α-FOXO4-p21-dependent signaling axis

The long noncoding RNA GUARDIN functions to protect genome stability. Inhibiting GUARDIN expression can alter cell fate decisions toward senescence or apoptosis, but the underlying molecular signals are unknown. Here, we show that GUARDIN is an essential component of a transcriptional repressor complex involving LRP130 and PGC1α. GUARDIN acts as a scaffold to stabilize LRP130/PGC1α heterodimers and their occupancy at the FOXO4 promotor. Destabilizing this complex by silencing of GUARDIN, LRP130, or PGC1α leads to increased expression of FOXO4 and upregulation of its target gene p21, thereby driving cells into senescence. We also found that GUARDIN expression was induced by rapamycin, an agent that suppresses cell senescence. FOS-like antigen 2 (FOSL2) acts as a transcriptional repressor of GUARDIN, and lower FOSL2 levels in response to rapamycin correlate with increased levels of GUARDIN. Together, these results demonstrate that GUARDIN inhibits p21-dependent senescence through a LRP130-PGC1α-FOXO4 signaling axis, and moreover, GUARDIN contributes to the anti-aging activities of rapamycin.