Long-lasting geroprotection from brief rapamycin treatment in early adulthood by persistently increased intestinal autophagy

A key challenge for repurposing the licensed drug rapamycin for geroprotection is to avoid side effects from chronic dosing regimens. The authors show in model organisms that a brief administration of the drug early in adulthood has long-lasting beneficial effects that are similar to lifelong treatment. The licensed drug rapamycin has potential to be repurposed for geroprotection. A key challenge is to avoid adverse side effects from continuous dosing. Here we show that geroprotective effects of chronic rapamycin treatment can be obtained with a brief pulse of the drug in early adulthood in female Drosophila and mice. In Drosophila, a brief, early rapamycin treatment of adults extended lifespan and attenuated age-related decline in the intestine to the same degree as lifelong dosing. Lasting memory of earlier treatment was mediated by elevated autophagy in intestinal enterocytes, accompanied by increased levels of intestinal LManV and lysozyme. Brief elevation of autophagy in early adulthood itself induced a long-term increase in autophagy. In mice, a 3-month, early treatment also induced a memory effect, with maintenance similar to chronic treatment, of lysozyme distribution, Man2B1 level in intestinal crypts, Paneth cell architecture and gut barrier function, even 6 months after rapamycin was withdrawn.

Automated summary

One challenge in repurposing the drug rapamycin for prolonging lifespan is to avoid side effects. The study shows that a brief early administration of rapamycin can have long-lasting beneficial effects in model organisms similar to lifelong treatment. This suggests that rapamycin has potential for geroprotection if side effects from continuous dosing can be avoided.