microRNA-252 and FoxO repress inflammaging by a dual inhibitory mechanism on Dawdle mediated TGF-β pathway in Drosophila
Abstract Inflammaging refers to low-grade, chronically activated innate immunity that has deleterious effects on healthy lifespan. However, little is known about the intrinsic signaling pathway that elicits innate immune genes during aging. Here using Drosophila melanogaster, we profile the microRNA targetomes in young and aged animals, and reveal Dawdle (Daw), an activin-like ligand of the TGF-β pathway, as a physiological target of microRNA-252 (miR-252). We show that miR-252 cooperates with Forkhead box O (FoxO), a conserved transcriptional factor implicated in aging, to repress Daw. Unopposed Daw triggers hyper activation of innate immune genes coupled with a decline in organismal survival. Using adult muscle tissues, single-cell sequencing analysis describes that Daw and its downstream innate immune genes are expressed in distinct cell types, suggesting a cell non-autonomous mode of regulation. We further determine the genetic cascade by which Daw signaling leads to increased Kenny/IKKγ protein, which in turn activates Relish/NF-κB protein and consequentially innate immune genes. Finally, transgenic increase of miR-252 and FoxO pathway factors in wild-type Drosophila extends lifespan and mitigates the induction of innate immune genes in aging. Together, we propose that miR-252 and FoxO promote healthy longevity by cooperative inhibition on Daw mediated inflammaging.