Bacterial RNA promotes proteostasis through inter-tissue communication in C. elegans

Life expectancy has been increasing over the last decades, which is not matched by an increase in healthspan(definition). Besides genetic composition, environmental and nutritional factors influence both health- and lifespan. Diet is thought to be a major factor for healthy ageing. Here, we show that dietary RNA species improve proteostasis(definition) in C. elegans. Inherent bacterial-derived double stranded RNA reduces protein aggregation in a C. elegans muscle proteostasis model. This beneficial effect depends on low levels of systemic selective autophagy(definition), the RNAi machinery in the germline, even when the RNA is delivered through ingestion in the intestine and the integrity of muscle cells. Our data suggest a requirement of inter-organ communication between the intestine, the germline and muscles. Our results demonstrate that bacterial-derived RNAs elicit a systemic response in C. elegans, which protects the animal from protein aggregation during ageing, which might extend healthspan.