A state of diminished activity or reduced expression of the Sirtuin family of proteins, which are NAD+-dependent deacetylases crucial for regulating cellular metabolism, DNA repair, stress resistance, and epigenetic stability. Downregulation of this pathway is strongly associated with accelerated cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the loss of adaptive capacity characteristic of biological aging. It represents a failure in a primary longevity mechanism.
Origin
The concept is a core element of aging research, following the discovery of sirtuins (SIRT1-7) and their critical role in mediating the longevity effects of caloric restriction and energy stress. ‘Downregulation’ signifies a clinical state where the necessary activation signals or co-factors (NAD+) are insufficient, leading to a measurable decline in the pathway’s protective and regulatory functions. This decline is a key target for longevity interventions.
Mechanism
Sirtuin Pathway Downregulation is primarily driven by declining intracellular NAD+ levels, which are essential co-factors for sirtuin activity, often occurring due to age-related increase in NAD+ consumption or reduced synthesis. This lack of activity compromises the sirtuins’ ability to deacetylate target proteins, which are necessary for DNA repair and mitochondrial biogenesis. The functional consequence is increased genomic instability and reduced cellular energy efficiency, directly accelerating the aging phenotype and contributing to systemic fidelity loss.
We use cookies to personalize content and marketing, and to analyze our traffic. This helps us maintain the quality of our free resources. manage your preferences below.
Detailed Cookie Preferences
This helps support our free resources through personalized marketing efforts and promotions.
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, improving user experience and website performance.
Personalization cookies enable us to customize the content and features of our site based on your interactions, offering a more tailored experience.