Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139; email:
Annu Rev Genet. 2013;47:233-46. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genet-111212-133352.
The molecular genetic analysis of longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans has yielded fundamental insights into evolutionarily conserved pathways and processes governing the physiology of aging. Recent studies suggest that interactions between C. elegans and its microbial environment may influence the aging and longevity of this simple host organism. Experimental evidence supports a role for bacteria in affecting longevity through distinct mechanisms--as a nutrient source, as a potential pathogen that induces double-edged innate immune and stress responses, and as a coevolved sensory stimulus that modulates neuronal signaling pathways regulating longevity. Motivating this review is the anticipation that the molecular genetic dissection of the integrated host immune, stress, and neuroendocrine responses to microbes in C. elegans will uncover basic insights into the cellular and organismal physiology that governs aging and longevity.
秀丽隐杆线虫的长寿分子遗传学分析为衰老生理学的进化保守途径和过程提供了基本的见解。最近的研究表明，秀丽隐杆线虫与其微生物环境之间的相互作用可能会影响这个简单宿主生物的衰老和寿命。实验证据支持细菌通过不同的机制影响寿命的作用——作为营养源，作为潜在的病原体，诱导双重先天免疫和应激反应，以及作为共同进化的感觉刺激，调节调节寿命的神经元信号通路。促使这篇综述的原因是，人们期望对秀丽隐杆线虫中微生物的宿主免疫、应激和神经内分泌反应的综合分子遗传学分析将揭示控制衰老和寿命的细胞和机体生理学的基本见解。
