Long-term α1B-adrenergic receptor activation shortens lifespan, while α1A-adrenergic receptor stimulation prolongs lifespan in association with decreased cancer incidence

• Published in: AGE 2014, Vol.36 (4), p.9675-9675, Article 9675
• Main Authors: Collette, Katie M., Zhou, Xu Dong, Amoth, Haley M., Lyons, Mariaha J., Papay, Robert S., Sens, Donald A., Perez, Dianne M., Doze, Van A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Life Sciences; Longevity - physiology; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Molecular Medicine; Neoplasms, Experimental - epidemiology; Neoplasms, Experimental - metabolism; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0161-9152; 1574-4647
• DOI: 10.1007/s11357-014-9675-7

The α 1 -adrenergic receptor (α 1 AR) subtypes, α 1A AR and α 1B AR, have differential effects in the heart and central nervous system. Long-term stimulation of the α 1A AR subtype prolongs lifespan and provides cardio- and neuro-protective effects. We examined the lifespan of constitutively active mutant (CAM)-α 1B AR mice and the incidence of cancer in mice expressing the CAM form of either the α 1A AR (CAM-α 1A AR mice) or α 1B AR. CAM-α 1B AR mice have a significantly shortened lifespan when compared with wild-type (WT) animals; however, the effect was sex dependent. Female CAM-α 1B AR mice lived significantly shorter lives, while the median lifespan of male CAM-α 1B AR mice was not different when compared with that of WT animals. There was no difference in the incidence of cancer in either sex of CAM-α 1B AR mice. The incidence of cancer was significantly decreased in CAM-α 1A AR mice when compared with that in WT, and no sex-dependent effects were observed. Further study is warranted on cancer incidence after activation of each α 1 AR subtype and the effect of sex on lifespan following activation of the α 1B AR. The implications of a decrease in cancer incidence following long-term α 1A AR stimulation could lead to improved treatments for cancer.