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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Metabolic Aging: A Drosophila Perspective
Denise Vecchie'1, Victoria G Faber1, Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni2
1Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Biomolecules
|October 29, 2025
Summary
Aging involves metabolic decline. Inhibiting the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) with ACE inhibitors like lisinopril may promote healthy aging by targeting metabolic rate and energy utilization.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Metabolism
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Aging is a progressive decline in physiological function, increasing disease vulnerability.
- Metabolic alterations, including lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function, are key to age-related decline.
- The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is a potential therapeutic target for aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ACE inhibitors on aging and metabolism.
- To explore the utility of Drosophila melanogaster as a model for studying ACE inhibition and aging.
- To disentangle systemic and cellular effects of ACE inhibition on intermediary metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Drosophila melanogaster, expressing two ACE orthologs (Ance and Acer), as a model organism.
- Administered lisinopril to assess its impact on metabolic rates and aging phenotypes.
- Examined sex-, age-, and genetic background-specific effects of lisinopril.
Main Results:
- Lisinopril demonstrated sex-, age-, and genetic background-specific effects on metabolic rates in Drosophila.
- Observed impacts on aging-related organismal phenotypes in response to lisinopril treatment.
- Highlighted the conserved nature of cellular processes for translational studies.
Conclusions:
- ACE inhibition via lisinopril shows potential for modulating aging processes.
- Drosophila serves as a valuable model for studying RAS inhibition's effects on metabolism and aging.
- Further integration of preclinical and clinical data is crucial for therapeutic development.
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