Aging and the control of the insulin-FOXO signaling pathway].

Anne Brunet

Département de génétique, Stanford University, 94305 Stanford, CA, États-Unis. abrunet1@stanford.edu

Médecine sciences : M/S 2012 Mar

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Aging is a complex process that is accompanied by the onset of a series of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Aging is controlled by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Among the genes that regulate aging, the insulin-FOXO signaling pathway plays a central role, as this pathway regulates lifespan in multiple species, such as worms, flies, and mice. In humans, exceptional longevity - being a centenarian - is also associated with genetic variation in this insulin-FOXO pathway. Recent evidence indicates that the FOXO family of transcription factors plays a key role in the self-renewal of adult and embryonic stem cells, which could contribute to tissue regeneration. Understanding the mechanisms underlying aging should help better prevent and treat age-dependent diseases. © 2012 médecine/sciences – Inserm / SRMS.