In the 2010s, the content of the gut microbiota come to be regarded as a determinant of lifespan and aging process. By this, human aging and health are considered in the contest of a metaorganism with the complex of three genomes - nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and gut microbiome (1). Composition of the gut microbiome can influence on longevity, reproductive capacity, fitness, and tissue regeneration (for example, wound healing).
Investigations of Italian and Chinese centenarians reviled differences in the species composition and metabolic signatures in their intestinal microbiome compared to elderly. The sequencing analysis showed that the diversity and amount of different bacteria phyla differs between the gut of centenarians and elderlies (for example, the abundance of Roseburia and Escherichia is higher in centenarians). Additionally, these parameters are dependent on age and diet (particularly, percentage of fibers, fat, carbohydrates) (2). Centenarians are characterized by higher levels of phenylacetylglutamine (PAG), p-cresol-sulfate (PCS), and 2-Hydroxybenzoate (2-HB) compared to elderly. Such changes represent the modification of the metabolism of amino acids and proteins, and the suppression of inflammation (3). These data demonstrate that longevity phenotype is associated with significant changes in the gut microbiome, and the aging process is mediated by the perturbations in the microflora content and functioning. It is possible to regulate the gut microflora by the balanced diet. For instance, the high-fiber diet (cereals, vegetables) has a possible favorable action on the human longevity (2).
The link between aging and microbiome content is proved by results of experiments of model organisms – from nematodes and flies (4, 5) to rodents. Correction of the intestinal microbiota affords the favorable action on health and aging. In the experiments with mice, treatment with bifidobacteria LKM512 sufficiently suppressed inflammation, prolonged life, and delayed memory impairment (6). Disruption of the gut microbiota can influences the lifespan and fitness. In the study of the termite microbiome (7), it was demonstrated that alterations of the microbial population in the insect gut induced by the antibiotic consumption are associated with prolonged reductions in longevity and reproduction functioning. Additionally, perturbations of the microbial content condition the development of different pathologies, including aging-dependent diseases. For example, the link between gut microbiota and hypertension was demonstrated using the Dahl rat model (8).
- 1)https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/560340/
- 2)http://www.jmb.or.kr/journal/viewJournal.html?doi=10.4014/jmb.1410.10014
- 3)http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0056564
- 4)http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(13)00267-5
- 5)http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1016/j.febslet.2014.06.041/abstract
- 6)http://www.nature.com/articles/srep04548
- 7)http://aem.asm.org/content/77/13/4303.long
- 8)http://physiolgenomics.physiology.org/content/47/6/187.long
