Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2011 Nov 23;2:75. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2011.00075. eCollection 2011.
Hormones regulate growth, development, metabolism, and other complex processes in multicellular animals. For many years it has been suggested that hormones may also influence the rate of the aging process. Aging is a multifactorial process that causes biological systems to break down and cease to function in adult organisms as time passes, eventually leading to death. The exact underlying causes of the aging process remain a topic for debate, and clues that may shed light on these causes are eagerly sought after. In the last two decades, gene mutations that result in delayed aging and extended longevity have been discovered, and many of the affected genes have been components of endocrine signaling pathways. In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the roles of endocrine signaling in the regulation of aging and longevity in various animals. We begin by discussing the notion that conserved systems, including endocrine signaling pathways, "regulate" the aging process. Findings from the major model organisms: worms, flies, and rodents, are then outlined. Unique lessons from studies of non-traditional models: bees, salmon, and naked mole rats, are also discussed. Finally, we summarize the endocrinology of aging in humans, including changes in hormone levels with age, and the involvement of hormones in aging-related diseases. The most well studied and widely conserved endocrine pathway that affects aging is the insulin/insulin-like growth factor system. Mutations in genes of this pathway increase the lifespan of worms, flies, and mice. Population genetic evidence also suggests this pathway's involvement in human aging. Other hormones including steroids have been linked to aging only in a subset of the models studied. Because of the value of comparative studies, it is suggested that the aging field could benefit from adoption of additional model organisms.
激素调节多细胞动物的生长、发育、代谢和其他复杂过程。多年来，人们一直认为激素也可能影响衰老过程的速度。衰老是一个多因素的过程，随着时间的推移，它会导致生物系统崩溃，成年生物体中的功能停止，最终导致死亡。衰老过程的确切潜在原因仍然是一个争论的话题，人们急切地寻找可能揭示这些原因的线索。在过去的二十年中，已经发现了导致衰老延迟和寿命延长的基因突变，许多受影响的基因都是内分泌信号通路的组成部分。在这篇综述中，我们总结了目前关于内分泌信号在调节各种动物衰老和长寿中的作用的知识。我们首先讨论了保守系统（包括内分泌信号通路）“调节”衰老过程的概念。然后概述了主要模式生物：蠕虫、苍蝇和啮齿动物的研究结果。还讨论了非传统模型研究的独特经验：蜜蜂、三文鱼和裸鼹鼠。最后，我们总结了人类衰老的内分泌学，包括激素水平随年龄的变化，以及激素在与衰老相关的疾病中的参与。研究最多、最广泛保守的影响衰老的内分泌途径是胰岛素/胰岛素样生长因子系统。该途径基因的突变会增加蠕虫、苍蝇和老鼠的寿命。群体遗传学证据也表明，该途径参与了人类的衰老。其他激素，包括类固醇，仅在部分研究模型中与衰老有关。由于比较研究的价值，有人建议衰老领域可以从采用更多的模式生物中受益。
