Effects of aging and caloric restriction on the gene expression of Foxo1, 3, and 4 (FKHR, FKHRL1, and AFX) in the rat skeletal muscles

✍ Scribed by Tatsuo Furuyama; Hitoshi Yamashita; Kazuko Kitayama; Yoshikazu Higami; Isao Shimokawa; Nozomu Mori

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 258 KB
• Volume: 59
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1059-910X
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.10213

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

In C. elegans, insulin‐like hormone signal pathway plays a significant role in longevity. In particular, daf‐16 gene product is indispensable factor for this lifespan‐extension. This signal pathway is critical for dauer formation, which is a similar state to hibernation in mammals. We examined the expression level of mammalian daf‐16 homologues, Foxo 1,3, and 4 (FKHR, FKHRL1, and AFX) mRNAs in the rat skeletal muscles during aging and in 30% caloric restricted of ad libitum fed. The expression level of AFX mRNA was significantly higher at 6 and 12 months than at 3 and 26 months, and FKHRL1 expression was significantly higher at 6 months than at 3 and 26 months but FKHR expression showed no significant change with age. We observed a characteristic expression of AFX and FKHR mRNAs to be significantly higher in the second day in caloric restriction by every‐other‐day feeding than in ad libitum fed. This suggests that caloric restriction may increase the expression of FKHR‐family genes and prevent the aging process in the skeletal muscles. Microsc. Res. Tech. 59:331–334, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.