Induction of autophagy by spermidine promotes longevity

Eisenberg T, Knauer H, Schauer A, Buettner S, Ruckenstuhl C, Carmona-Gutierrez D, Ring J, Schroeder S, Magnes C, Antonacci L, Fussi H, Deszcz L · 2009 · Nat Cell Biol · Atlas ID EIS2009

What this study shows

The opening paper of the caloric-restriction-mimetic branch: a natural polyamine whose level falls with human age extends lifespan in yeast, flies, worms and human immune cells, and the effect depends on autophagy. In ageing yeast this works through inhibition of histone acetyltransferases, which raises autophagy gene expression. The paper did not measure mTOR, so whether this route bypasses mTOR is not tested here. Boundary: no mammalian lifespan data in this paper.

Abstract

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Ageing results from complex genetically and epigenetically programmed processes that are elicited in part by noxious or stressful events that cause programmed cell death. Here, we report that administration of spermidine, a natural polyamine whose intracellular concentration declines during human ageing, markedly extended the lifespan of yeast, flies and worms, and human immune cells. In addition, spermidine administration potently inhibited oxidative stress in ageing mice.

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At a glance

Evidence type	A Animal model Marked A because it is an animal intervention or observation study measuring an organismal outcome (model: Yeast, Drosophila, C. elegans, mice, human immune cells); the code names the system studied -- animal work can be rigorous and still not be human data.
Study type	4 - Animal Study
Model system	Yeast, Drosophila, C. elegans, mice, human immune cells
Journal	Nat Cell Biol
Year	2009
Peer reviewed	Yes
Record last updated	2026-09-23
Source	DOI 10.1038/ncb1975 · PMID 19801973

Cite this paper

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Eisenberg, T., Knauer, H., Schauer, A., Buettner, S., Ruckenstuhl, C., Carmona-Gutierrez, D., Ring, J., Schroeder, S., Magnes, C., Antonacci, L., Fussi, H., Deszcz, L., Hartl, R., Schraml, E., Criollo, A., Megalou, E., Weiskopf, D., Laun, P., Heeren, G., Breitenbach, M., Grubeck-Loebenstein, B., Herker, E., Fahrenkrog, B., Froehlich, K. U., Sinner, F., Tavernarakis, N., Minois, N., Kroemer, G., & Madeo, F. (2009). Induction of autophagy by spermidine promotes longevity. Nat Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1975

@article{EIS2009,
  author       = {Eisenberg, T. and Knauer, H. and Schauer, A. and Buettner, S. and Ruckenstuhl, C. and Carmona-Gutierrez, D. and Ring, J. and Schroeder, S. and Magnes, C. and Antonacci, L. and Fussi, H. and Deszcz, L. and Hartl, R. and Schraml, E. and Criollo, A. and Megalou, E. and Weiskopf, D. and Laun, P. and Heeren, G. and Breitenbach, M. and Grubeck-Loebenstein, B. and Herker, E. and Fahrenkrog, B. and Froehlich, K. U. and Sinner, F. and Tavernarakis, N. and Minois, N. and Kroemer, G. and Madeo, F.},
  title        = {{Induction of autophagy by spermidine promotes longevity}},
  journal      = {Nat Cell Biol},
  year         = {2009},
  doi          = {10.1038/ncb1975},
  note         = {PMID: 19801973},
}

Cite this Atlas record

The record is the Atlas's own work — the evidence label, the extracted findings and the links. It is cited as part of the dataset, not as the paper.

Barton, O. (2026). Oliver's mTOR Atlas (record EIS2009) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/EIS2009/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_EIS2009,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record EIS2009},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/EIS2009/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}