Longevity and stress resilience require precise coordination of gene expression programs across tissues. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of the chromatin reader bet-1 specifically in neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans promotes organismal longevity and stress resistance via cell-nonautonomous signaling. Neuronal bet-1 elicits a neurotransmitter-dependent signal that activates the conserved stress-responsive transcription factor HSF-1 in the intestine, enhancing proteostasis, oxidative stress resistance, metabolic remodeling, and immune defense. Life span extension by neuronal bet-1 requires both hsf-1 and daf-16 in neurons but only requires hsf-1 in peripheral tissues. Using bulk RNA sequencing, we reveal distinct prolongevity pathways that include enhanced heat-shock response, proteostasis, increased actin stability, and resistance to pathogens, which likely together coordinate the prolongevity effects of neuronal bet-1 Our findings establish BET-1 as a potent nonautonomous regulator of aging and stress response, highlighting chromatin readers as upstream modulators of intertissue signaling and systemic resilience.
Neuronal expression of bromodomain proteins alters neuronal health and peripheral protein homeostasis to promote longevity.
TL;DR
Longevity and stress resilience require precise coordination of gene expression programs across tissues. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of the chromatin reader bet-1 specifically in neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans promotes organismal longevity and stress resistance via cell-nonautonomous signaling. Neuronal bet-1 elicits a neurotransmitter-dependent signal that activates the conserved stress-responsive transcription factor HSF-1 in the intestine, enhancing proteostasis, oxidative str
Credibility Assessment
Preliminary — 38/100
Study Design
Rigor of the research methodology
5/20
Sample Size
Whether the study was sufficiently powered
7/20
Peer Review
Review status and journal reputation
10/20
Replication
Has this finding been independently reproduced?
6/20
Transparency
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10/20
Overall
Sum of all five dimensions
38/100
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