Rapamycin improves healthspan but not inflammaging in nfκb1−/− mice

Abstract

Increased activation of the major pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway leads to numerous age-related diseases, including chronic liver disease (CLD). Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR, extends lifespan and healthspan, potentially via suppression of inflammaging, a process which is partially dependent on NF-κB signalling. However, it is unknown if rapamycin has beneficial effects in the context of compromised NF-κB signalling, such as that which occurs in several age-related chronic diseases. In this study, we investigated whether rapamycin could ameliorate age-associated phenotypes in a mouse model of genetically enhanced NF-κB activity (nfκb1−/−) characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and CLD. We found that, despite showing no beneficial effects in lifespan and inflammaging, rapamycin reduced frailty and improved long-term memory, neuromuscular coordination and tissue architecture. Importantly, markers of cellular senescence, a known driver of age-related pathology, were alleviated in rapamycin-fed animals. Our results indicate that, in conditions of genetically enhanced NF-κB, rapamycin delays aging phenotypes and improves healthspan uncoupled from its role as a suppressor of inflammation.