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An antidepressant that extends lifespan in adult Caenorhabditis elegans

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Petrascheck

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA)

  • Xiaolan Ye

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA)

  • Linda B. Buck

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA)

Abstract

A long life but a happy one? A large-scale screen for lifespan-enhancing chemicals in Caenorhabditis elegans has come up with a surprise: mianserin, used as an antidepressant in humans, increases the 3-week lifespan of the nematode by almost a third. In humans, this drug blocks signalling by the neurotransmitter serotonin, and the life-prolonging effect in C. elegans also involves serotonin receptors, and shows similarities to lifespan extension by dietary restriction. One possibility is that mianserin induces a state of perceived — rather than real — starvation. Intriguingly, appetite stimulation is a side effect of mianserin in humans, raising the possibility of linkage between appetite and lifespan.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Petrascheck & Xiaolan Ye & Linda B. Buck, 2007. "An antidepressant that extends lifespan in adult Caenorhabditis elegans," Nature, Nature, vol. 450(7169), pages 553-556, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:450:y:2007:i:7169:d:10.1038_nature05991
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05991
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    Cited by:

    1. Hillary A. Miller & Shijiao Huang & Elizabeth S. Dean & Megan L. Schaller & Angela M. Tuckowski & Allyson S. Munneke & Safa Beydoun & Scott D. Pletcher & Scott F. Leiser, 2022. "Serotonin and dopamine modulate aging in response to food odor and availability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.

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