SIRT1 and aging related signaling pathways

Aging is a biological phenomenon in which the structure and function of organisms declining with the increasing of age. It has become a major risk factor of human diseases, including diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1(sirtuin1, SIRT1) is an NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase, which has been reported to be involved in the regulation of cellular senescence and aging. The expression of SIRT1 is diminished with aging in mice. By contrast, increased expression of SIRT1 is sufficient to extend lifespan in yeast, caenorhabditis elegans and mice. In this review, the relationship between SIRT1 and aging and various signaling networks associated with aging, including NF-kappa B, AMPK, mTOR, P53, PGC1 alpha, and FoxOs will be discussed. Meanwhile, the potential therapeutic strategies of targeting SIRT1 to anti-aging are also addressed.