Laboratory for Nutrition in Prevention and Therapy, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Biomolecules. 2022 Oct 24;12(11):1550. doi: 10.3390/biom12111550.
The study of aging is an important topic in contemporary research. Considering the demographic changes and the resulting shifts towards an older population, it is of great interest to preserve youthful physiology in old age. For this endeavor, it is necessary to choose an appropriate model. One such model is the nematode (), which has a long tradition in aging research. In this review article, we explore the advantages of using the nematode model in aging research, focusing on bioenergetics and the study of secondary plant metabolites that have interesting implications during this process. In the first section, we review the situation of aging research today. Conventional theories and hypotheses about the ongoing aging process will be presented and briefly explained. The second section focuses on the nematode and its utility in aging and nutrition research. Two useful genome editing methods for monitoring genetic interactions (RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9) are presented. Due to the mitochondria's influence on aging, we also introduce the possibility of observing bioenergetics and respiratory phenomena in . We then report on mitochondrial conservation between vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we explain why the nematode is a suitable model for the study of mitochondrial aging. In the fourth section, we focus on phytochemicals and their applications in contemporary nutritional science, with an emphasis on aging research. As an emerging field of science, we conclude this review in the fifth section with several studies focusing on mitochondrial research and the effects of phytochemicals such as polyphenols. In summary, the nematode is a suitable model for aging research that incorporates the mitochondrial theory of aging. Its living conditions in the laboratory are optimal for feeding studies, thus enabling bioenergetics to be observed during the aging process.
衰老研究是当代研究的一个重要课题。考虑到人口结构的变化以及由此导致的人口老龄化趋势，在老年时期保持年轻的生理机能是非常重要的。为此，有必要选择一个合适的模型。其中一个模型是线虫（），它在衰老研究中有着悠久的传统。在这篇综述文章中，我们探讨了在衰老研究中使用线虫模型的优势，重点关注生物能量学和次生植物代谢物的研究，这些研究在这个过程中具有有趣的意义。在第一节中，我们回顾了当今衰老研究的情况。将介绍和简要解释关于正在进行的衰老过程的传统理论和假设。第二节重点介绍线虫及其在衰老和营养研究中的应用。介绍了两种用于监测遗传相互作用的有用的基因组编辑方法（RNAi 和 CRISPR/Cas9）。由于线粒体对衰老的影响，我们还介绍了观察线虫生物能量学和呼吸现象的可能性。然后我们报告了脊椎动物和无脊椎动物之间线粒体的保守性。在这里，我们解释了为什么线虫是研究线粒体衰老的合适模型。在第四节中，我们重点介绍了植物化学物质及其在当代营养科学中的应用，特别是在衰老研究中。作为一个新兴的科学领域，我们在第五节中总结了几项专注于线粒体研究和植物化学物质（如多酚）作用的研究。总之，线虫是一个适合衰老研究的模型，它包含了线粒体衰老理论。它在实验室中的生活条件非常适合喂养研究，因此可以在衰老过程中观察到生物能量学。
