Caenorhabditis elegans or C. elegans is often used in studies related to aging because the worms are transparent, making cellular activity easier to view, and they have a short lifespan. But most importantly, they are a simple organism with specific types of metabolic genes that are similar to mammals.
A review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2019 noted that several studies have reported that select probiotics may “exert anti-ageing effects in nematodes by acting on common molecular pathways, such as insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IIS) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK).
“In this perspective, C. elegans appears to be advantageous for shedding light on key mechanisms involved in host pro-longevity in response to probiotics supplementation.”
New data published in Frontiers in Nutrition indicated that the fermented pickles-origin Pediococcus acidilactici may again exert lifespan-extending benefits via the promotion of insulin/IGF-1 signaling and JNK/MAPK signaling.
In addition, scientists from University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) and the Beijing Beike Institute of Precision Medicine and Health Technology reported that P. acidilactici may also reduce fat accumulation in the worms.
The study also found that the probiotic also impacted chloride ion-associated genes linked to inflammation in the nematodes, which may impact lifespan.
“Therefore, it is speculated that the [P. acidilactici] might play an important role in the anti-aging activities via the modulation of chloride ion-related genes, providing a new perspective to explore the lifespan extending effect,” wrote the researchers.
“Besides, the study has a vital referential significance for other probiotics screening and provides the theoretical basis for its future application.”
Mining centenarians for beneficial bugs?
As reported by NutraIngredients-USA in 2021, Chinese scientists reported that four probiotic strains isolated from Centenarians may exhibit anti-aging potential and protect against neuro-inflammation via the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
That data, which was derived from a study with lab mice and published in Frontiers in Immunology, indicated that the combination of Limosilactobacillus fermentum SX-0718, Lacticaseibacillus casei SX-1107, Bifidobacterium longum SX-1326, and B. animalis SX-0582 also upregulated the expression of Sirt 1 to protect neurons in the hippocampal region of the brain.
Additionally, the probiotic combination, which was isolated from the feces of seven centenarians of the Centenarian Village in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, China, was associated with an increase in the expression of molecules that improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier and reduce leaky gut.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition
Published online, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.821685
“Pediococcus acidilactici Promotes the Longevity of C. elegans by Regulating the Insulin/IGF-1 and JNK/MAPK Signaling, Fat Accumulation and Chloride Ion”
Authors: R. Hu et al.