A gutsy way to extend longevity.

Aging is a complex biological process characterized by declining physiological functions. One of the most prominent age-associated declines is a loss of mitochondrial function. Progressive loss of mitochondrial activity and biogenesis negatively affects longevity whereas preservation of mitochondrial biogenesis results in life span extension (Guarente, 2008; Cho et al., 2011). For instance, beneficial effects and longevity extension associated with dietary restriction are closely related to increased mitochondrial biogenesis in a variety of species (Guarente, 2008). The PGC-1 family of transcription coactivators promotes mitochondrial biogenesis through coactivation of nuclear transcription factors (Scarpulla, 2011). Together, they induce expression of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins to enhance mitochondrial activity. The recent publication by Rera et al. (2011) offers additional evidence for the role of mitochondrial biogenesis in aging. They found an age related decrease in the levels of dPGC-1 (Drosophila PGC-1 or spargel) mRNA and investigated if an increase in dPGC-1 levels in the whole body or in a tissue specific manner could affect fly longevity. While overexpression of dPGC-1 in the whole body increases mitochondrial activity, it also decreases fly life span. However, overexpression of dPGC-1 specifically in the Drosophila midgut promotes intestinal homeostasis and extends fly longevity. Their findings indicate a key role for mitochondrial biogenesis in intestinal stem cell (ISC) homeostasis and longevity and provide the link between two important areas of aging research, ISCs, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Midgut maintenance and homeostasis has recently emerged as an important determinant of fly life span (Biteau et al., 2010). The Drosophila midgut is maintained by multipotent ISC activity. ISCs undergo asymmetric division, giving rise to an identical daughter ISC and an immature enteroblast (EB) with differentiation potential (Micchelli and Perrimon, 2006; Ohlstein and Spradling, 2006). In old flies, ISCs hyper-proliferate, but ISC daughter cells do not differentiate, which results in the accumulation of misdifferentiated ISC daughter cells, a phenotype thought to contribute to gut aging. For instance, genetic or environmental manipulations that prevent tissue maintenance have been associated with accumulation of ISCs, irregular ISC proliferation and differentiation patterns, and shorter lifespan (Biteau et al., 2010). Likewise, genetic manipulations that preserve ISCs homeostasis extend longevity (Biteau et al., 2010). Rera et al. (2011) demonstrated that the age related decline in mitochondrial activity observed in the midgut epithelia may be a key component in the loss of ISCs homeostasis. The authors showed that increasing levels of dPGC-1, specifically in the immature cells and their progeny in the midgut is sufficient to extend longevity. The transcription factor escargot (esg) is a marker for ISCs and EBs. They used the esgGal4/dPGC-1/UAS and the 5691GeneSwitch/dPGC-1 UAS system, to drive expression of dPGC-1 in esg-positive cells. dPGC-1 overexpression in esg-positive cells resulted in preservation of mitochondrial membrane potential and increased activity of mitochondrial complexes I and II.