Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that deficient immune modulation and microbial infections underline neurodegeneration, but the mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we show that the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) SRBC-48, which belongs to the class BC serpentine receptors, has a protective role in Caenorhabditis elegans dendrite degeneration caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Our results indicate that SRBC-48 functions in a cell-autonomous manner in AWC neurons to protect against infection-associated dendrite degeneration. The absence of SRBC-48 results in a reduced lifespan caused by a pathogen infection early in life that induces dendrite degeneration. The decreased longevity in animals deficient in SRBC-48 is due to uncontrolled activation of immune genes, particularly those regulated by the FOXO family transcription factor DAF-16 that is part of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor homolog DAF-2. These results reveal how an infection early in life can not only induce dendrite degeneration but also reduce lifespan.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 107662 |
Journal | Cell Reports |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 19 2020 |
Keywords
- Caenorhabditis elegans
- DAF-16
- G-protein-coupled receptor
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- SRBC-48
- infection
- inflammation
- longevity
- neurodegeneration
- pathogens
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology