Sertraline Promotes Health and Longevity in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> While several antidepressants have been identified as potential geroprotectors, the effect and mechanism of sertraline on healthspan remain to be elucidated. Here, we explored the role of sertraline in the lifespan and healthspan of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The optimal effect concentration of sertraline was first screened in wild-type N2 worms under heat stress conditions. Then, we examined the effects of sertraline on lifespan, reproduction, lipofuscin accumulation, mobility, and stress resistance. Finally, the expression of serotonin signaling and aging-related genes was investigated to explore the underlying mechanism, and the lifespan assays were performed in <i>ser-7</i> RNAi strain, <i>daf-2</i>, <i>daf-16</i>, and <i>aak-2</i> mutants. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Sertraline extended the lifespan in <i>C. elegans</i> with concomitant extension of healthspan as indicated by increasing mobility and reducing fertility and lipofuscin accumulation, as well as enhanced resistance to different abiotic stresses. Mechanistically, <i>ser-7</i> orchestrated sertraline-induced longevity via the regulation of insulin and AMPK pathways, and sertraline-induced lifespan extension in nematodes was abolished in <i>ser-7</i> RNAi strain, <i>daf-2</i>, <i>daf-16</i>, and <i>aak-2</i> mutants. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Sertraline promotes health and longevity in <i>C. elegans</i> through <i>ser-7</i>-insulin/AMPK pathways.