SIRT1: new avenues of discovery for disorders of oxidative stress

INTRODUCTION: The sirtuin SIRT1 is expressed throughout the body, has broad biological effects and can significantly affect both cellular survival and longevity during acute and long-term injuries, which involve both oxidative stress and cell metabolism. AREAS COVERED: SIRT1 has an intricate role in the pathology, progression, and treatment of several disease entities, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, tumorigenesis, cardiovascular disease with myocardial injury and atherosclerosis, metabolic disease, and aging-related disease. New areas of study in these disciplines, with discussion of the cellular biology, are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION: Novel signaling pathways for SIRT1, which can be targeted to enhance cellular protection and potentially extend lifespan, continue to emerge. Investigations that can further determine the intracellular signaling, trafficking and post-translational modifications that occur with SIRT1 in a variety of cell systems and environments will allow us to further translate this knowledge into effective therapeutic strategies that will be applicable to multiple systems of the body.