Loss of Sirt3 suppresses proinflammatory segments of the SASP in a p53-independent manner.
We previously reported that mitochondrial dysfunction can both drive senescence and suppress proinflammatory aspects of the SASP via AMPK-dependent activation of p53 [15]. However, we observed a notable difference between other inducers of mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of SIRT3. For example, while depletion of p53 allows SIRT3-depleted cells to continue to divide [15], we did not observe a commensurate restoration of IL-6 secretion (Fig. 1A) or RNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL1A, IL1B, or IL6 (Fig. 1B) following loss of both SIRT3 and p53, including in response to ionizing radiation – a robust inducer of senescence and proinflammatory aspects of the SASP - suggesting that SIRT3 has effects that extend beyond the AMPK-p53 axis.
NF-κB is a major mediator of the proinflammatory arm of the SASP [16, 17]. We therefore measured NF-κB activity by luciferase reporter assay. NF-κB activity was elevated in control cells when induced to senesce by IR, contrasted by a strongly reduced NF-κB activity in SIRT3 knockdown cells, regardless of IR treatment (Fig. 1C). Furthermore, western blots revealed a decrease in the phosphorylated forms of three major MAPK signaling proteins: p38MAPK, ERK1/2, and JNK [18, 19] (Fig. 1D). Thus, SIRT3 is required for key stress and inflammatory signaling pathways in senescent cells, and this is independent of p53 status.
Sirt3 is required for activation of the IL-1 signaling pathway
We next sought to determine if SIRT3 was required for cell non-autonomous promotion of the SASP. We therefore co-cultured either mCherry-labeled scramble or shSIRT3 cells with IR-induced senescent cells for 3 days and stained them for interleukin 6 (IL-6) by immunofluorescence. IR-induced senescent cells promoted IL-6 expression in scramble control cells, similar to previous studies [20]. However, shSIRT3 cells did not elevate IL-6 levels in response to co-culture (Figs. 2A-2B), suggesting that SIRT3 is required for cell non-autonomous activation of the SASP.
Since interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling can drive the SASP by autocrine, juxtacrine, and paracrine mechanisms [20, 21], we treated scramble or shSIRT3 cells with recombinant IL-1α or IL-1β (rIL-1A or rIL-1B; 100/pg//mL) and analyzed conditioned media for release of IL-6, a SASP factor induced by the IL-1 signaling pathway. Depletion of SIRT3 significantly lowered IL-6 secretion in response to IL-1 treatment (Fig. 2C).
We also sought to determine if blunted responses are a common feature of multiple forms of MiDAS. We therefore induced MiDAS by rotenone (ROT, 250 nM) or by depleting mitochondrial DNA in the absence of pyruvate (Rho0) and treated cells with rIL-1A (Fig. 2D). Mitochondrial DNA depletion had no effect on IL-6 secretion in response to IL-1, while ROT elevated IL-6 secretion relative to controls, indicating that the observed effects were SIRT3-specific and not a common feature of MiDAS.
The toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway uses a similar signal transduction pathway to the IL-1 receptor. We therefore measured IL-6 secretion following treatment with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a TLR4 agonist (Fig. 2E). LPS induced IL-6 secretion in both shSIRT3 and scramble controls, with shSIRT3 responding even more strongly than scramble controls, similar to previous reports [22].
IL-1 signaling can occur from both secreted forms of IL-1α and IL1β, and also from jutacrine signaling from membrane-bound IL-1α [21]. Notably, IR-induced senescent cells failed to induce IL-6 expression in co-cultured shSIRT3 cells, and shIL1A prevented IR-induced cells from promoting IL-6 positivity, regardless of shSIRT3 status (Fig. 2F-2G). To further test whether loss of SIRT3 disrupts the IL-1 signaling pathway, we treated scramble or shSIRT3 cells with rIL-1A plus calyculin A for 0, 30, or 60 minutes – followed by protein extraction and analysis by western blot (Fig. 2H). Treatment with rIL-1A resulted in increased phosphorylation of IRAK4, IRAK1, TAK1, and MEKK1, along with lowered total IRAK1 and IkBα - all consistent with activation of IL-1 signaling [23], and each of these markers was blunted by loss of SIRT3. Together, these data indicate that SIRT3 is required activation of the IL-1 signaling pathway.
Sirt3 is required for wound healing-promoting features of senescent cells
We previously showed that cells from germline Sirt3-KO mice proliferate normally in culture, whereas depletion of Sirt3 in WT cells resulted in senescence [15]. However, we did not measure the SASP in these cells at the time. We therefore irradiated MEFs from either WT or Sirt3-KO mice and measured expression of multiple SASP factors for qPCR. RNA levels of multiple inflammatory SASP factors including Il1a, Il6, Mmp3, and Ccl2 were diminished in Sirt3-KO mice (Fig. 3A). Additionally, cells from Sirt3-KO mice also showed reduced RNA levels of Pdgfa (Fig. 3B), and accumulation of senescent cells at the site of a wound is known to be beneficial in healing, at least partially due to the secretion of platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA) [24]. We therefore conducted wound healing assays following punch biopsy and measured wound closure over time. Sirt3-KO mice displayed reduced wound healing kinetics (Fig. 3C), in agreement with previous studies [25, 26]. These early kinetics also correlated with the time frame in which elimination of p16-positive cells slows wound healing [24]. Furthermore, Sirt3-KO mice also displayed larger granulation thickness and area compared to WT mice 14 days after wounding (Figs. 3D-3F). These data suggest that Sirt3 is required for features of the SASP that promote regeneration.
Aged Sirt3-KO mice have increased numbers of senescent cells and an altered SASP
Since Sirt3 both promotes senescence and antagonizes elements of the SASP, we sought to determine if it plays a role in the development of senescence or the SASP during chronological aging. We therefore crossed Sirt3-KO mice with p16-3MR mice, which allow detection of p16-positive cells by luminescence [24]. Using these mice, we observed that whole body luminescence was increased at 18 months of age in Sirt3-KO mice relative to WT mice (Fig. 4A), suggesting that more senescent cells were present. Furthermore, gonadal adipose tissue from aged Sirt3-KO mice also had significantly higher levels of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-Bgal) staining relative to WT mice (Figs. 4B and 4C). Despite increases in whole body luminescence, p16 levels were not elevated in adipose tissue from Sirt3-KO mice (Fig. 4D), but adipose tissue from Sirt3-KO mice instead showed higher levels of the senescence markers p21 (Fig. 4E) and p15 (Fig. 4F). In addition, much like in culture and wound healing assays, aged Sirt3-KO mice had greatly altered SASP profiles compared to age-matched WT mice. In Sirt3-KO mice, levels of SASP factors and oxylipin synthases that are common to multiple inducers, such as Gdf15, Serpine1, and Alox15 [27–29] were significantly elevated, but inflammation-associated SASP factors such as Il6, Tnf, and Il1a were significantly decreased (Fig. 4G). Thus, Sirt3 deficient animals, much like cultured cells, have increased senescent cells but display an altered SASP during aging, though it remains unclear what effects this altered senescence phenotype might have on longevity and healthspan. Together, our data elucidate a complex relationship between SIRT3, cellular senescence, and outcomes generated by senescent cells.