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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: May 18, 2022
Dolutegravir-induced growth and lifespan effects in Caenorhabditis elegans
Shin-Huei Kuo1,2,3, Wen-Li Hsu4,5, Ching-Ying Wu4,6
1Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80145, Taiwan.
Background:
Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTIs)-based combination antiretroviral treatment in people living with HIV (PLWH) has been reportedly correlated with several adverse effects, such as weight gain, fetal defects or psychiatric disorders.
Methods:
To comprehensively understand the adverse effect of INSTIs, our study utilized Caenorhabditis Elegans (C. elegans) as a model to investigate how dolutegravir (DTG) affected its life cycle, growth, reproduction and lifespan.
Results:
Our results indicated that DTG enhanced body growth at the early stage of treatment, but no change was detected for long-term treatment. The treatment also influenced the reproductive system, decreased egg-hatching but had no effect on egg-laying. Besides, DTG resulted in lifespan reduction, which is dependent on increased levels of reactive oxidative species (ROS) accumulation. Treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in worms restrained intracellular ROS accumulation and improved DTG-induced lifespan reduction.
Conclusions:
Our study demonstrates for the first time the effect of DTG treatment on life cycle. DTG-induced adverse effects are potentially associated with intracellular ROS accumulation. Quenching ROS accumulation might provide a novel strategy for dealing with the adverse effects of INSTIs.
