HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Resveratrol Supports Telomere Health

Study Abstract

Various protein factors, including telomerase and WRN helicase, are involved in telomere maintenance. Resveratrol (Rsv), a polyphenol that extends the lifespan of diverse species is an activator of SIRT1, a NAD(+) dependent deacetylating enzyme in mammalian cells. Here, we examined the changes in gene expressions and promoter activities of WRN helicase and telomerase after Rsv treatment. This treatment increased the amount of WRN transcript and protein product by activating its promoter and telomerase promoter activity and gene expression. However cell proliferation was not changed. This suggests that Rsv induces telomere maintenance factors like WRN helicase without affecting cell proliferation.

Study Information

Uchiumi F, Watanabe T, Hasegawa S, Hoshi T, Higami Y, Tanuma S.
The effect of resveratrol on the Werner syndrome RecQ helicase gene and telomerase activity.
Curr Aging Sci.
2011 February
Department of Gene Regulation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.