Mifepristone, a drug commonly used for terminating early pregnancies and treating Cushing’s disease, has demonstrated the potential to extend lifespan by enhancing mitophagy, according to new research from USC Dornsife. The study, published in the journal Fly, compared mifepristone's effects to those of rapamycin, a drug known for its lifespan-extending properties in various animals.
The research team, led by John Tower, professor of biological sciences at USC Dornsife, found that both mifepristone and rapamycin independently extended the lifespan of fruit flies. Interestingly, combining the two drugs did not provide additional benefits and slightly reduced lifespan, suggesting they operate through the same biological pathway.
Mitophagy and Lifespan Extension
To understand the mechanism by which mifepristone and rapamycin extend lifespan, the researchers focused on mitophagy, a cellular process that removes damaged mitochondria. Impaired mitophagy is associated with aging and age-related diseases, while increased mitophagy is linked to rapamycin's life-extending effects.
For the first time, the researchers were able to noninvasively measure mitophagy in fruit flies. They discovered that mifepristone increased mitophagy to the same extent as rapamycin, indicating a potential link between enhanced mitochondrial health and lifespan extension. "The noninvasive in vivo mitophagy assay is novel, and our findings suggest that enhancing mitochondrial health could be central to how both drugs extend lifespan," Tower said.
Potential for Anti-Aging Therapies
The fact that mifepristone, an already approved drug, can boost mitophagy suggests its potential as an anti-aging treatment. Because it is already approved for various medical uses, repurposing mifepristone for anti-aging clinical trials could be faster, potentially accelerating the development of new longevity therapies. Tower's previous research has also indicated anti-aging benefits from the drug.
Future Research
Future research will need to determine whether the effects observed in fruit flies can be replicated in humans. If so, mifepristone might provide a relatively accessible and safe way to reduce age-related cellular decline, paving the way for other therapies that enhance mitochondrial health to support longevity.
The study was funded by National Institute on Aging grant R01AG057741.
