Deletion of Nrf2 shortens lifespan in C57BL6/J male mice but does not alter the health and survival benefits of caloric restriction

Free Radic Biol Med. 2020 May 20:152:650-658. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.01.005. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Abstract

Caloric restriction (CR) is the leading non-pharmaceutical dietary intervention to improve health- and lifespan in most model organisms. A wide array of cellular pathways is induced in response to CR and CR-mimetics, including the transcriptional activator Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which is essential in the upregulation of multiple stress-responsive and mitochondrial enzymes. Nrf2 is necessary in tumor protection but is not essential for the lifespan extending properties of CR in outbred mice. Here, we sought to study Nrf2-knockout (KO) mice and littermate controls in male C57BL6/J, an inbred mouse strain. Deletion of Nrf2 resulted in shortened lifespan compared to littermate controls only under ad libitum conditions. CR-mediated lifespan extension and physical performance improvements did not require Nrf2. Metabolic and protein homeostasis and activation of tissue-specific cytoprotective proteins were dependent on Nrf2 expression. These results highlight an important contribution of Nrf2 for normal lifespan and stress response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caloric Restriction*
  • Longevity* / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics

Substances

  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2