Social isolation shortens lifespan through oxidative stress in ants

Akiko Koto (), Makoto Tamura, Pui Shan Wong, Sachiyo Aburatani, Eyal Privman, Céline Stoffel, Alessandro Crespi, Sean Keane McKenzie, Christine Mendola, Tomas Kay and Laurent Keller ()
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Akiko Koto: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Makoto Tamura: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America
Pui Shan Wong: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Sachiyo Aburatani: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Eyal Privman: University of Haifa, Institute of Evolution, Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology
Céline Stoffel: University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution
Alessandro Crespi: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Sean Keane McKenzie: University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution
Christine Mendola: University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution
Tomas Kay: University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution
Laurent Keller: University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Social isolation negatively affects health, induces detrimental behaviors, and shortens lifespan in social species. Little is known about the mechanisms underpinning these effects because model species are typically short-lived and non-social. Using colonies of the carpenter ant Camponotus fellah, we show that social isolation induces hyperactivity, alters space-use, and reduces lifespan via changes in the expression of genes with key roles in oxidation-reduction and an associated accumulation of reactive oxygen species. These physiological effects are localized to the fat body and oenocytes, which perform liver-like functions in insects. We use pharmacological manipulations to demonstrate that the oxidation-reduction pathway causally underpins the detrimental effects of social isolation on behavior and lifespan. These findings have important implications for our understanding of how social isolation affects behavior and lifespan in general.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41140-w

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