Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila AKK ONE improves aging-related phenotypes and increases lifespan in zebrafish models

Abstract

Background: Aging is a biological process characterized by progressive compositional and functional alterations in the gut microbiota. Akkermansia muciniphila, a commensal bacterium of the human intestine, has been shown to confer significant metabolic and health benefits, particularly in the context of aging-associated physiological decline. 

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to further evaluate the potential anti-aging effects of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila AKK ONE using aged zebrafish models. 

Methods: Three aging models were established in zebrafish through exposure to aluminum chloride hexahydrate, D-galactose, and hydrogen peroxide, respectively. Behavioral and physiological parameters were assessed, including light-dark transition time difference, total locomotor distance, movement distance within the blue region, telomere length, relative expression of the spns1 gene, and survival rate. 

Results: Administration of pasteurized AKK ONE significantly improved mobility as indicated by enhanced light-dark transition time difference and increased total moving distance. Additionally, after pasteurized AKK ONE treatment, the moving distance in the blue region of aged zebrafish rose compared to that of the normal control group, showing substantial improvements in learning and memory. At the epigenetic level, both telomere length and the relative expression of the spns1 gene were significantly improved after administration of pasteurized AKK ONE. Noteworthy is the increased survival rate in the pasteurized AKK ONE group. 

Conclusions: Pasteurized AKK ONE effectively ameliorated aging-related phenotypes in aspects of mobility, cognition, and epigenetics, and remarkably increased lifespan in aged zebrafish models. 

Keywords: pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila AKK ONE, zebrafish, lifespan, aging, mobility, cognition, telomere, spns1 gene.