Partial reprogramming in C. elegans promotes lifespan extension

While aging is a major risk factor for degenerative diseases, it is difficult to study in humans. The short lifespan and genetic tractability of C. elegans provide a powerful alternative model. Inspired by findings that Yamanaka factors slow aging in mice, we tested whether their expression could extend lifespan in C. elegans. We identified a partial reprogramming regimen that increased lifespan by 50% via Yamanaka factor induction. To investigate the role of the germline in this lifespan extension pathway, we examined germline-deficient mutants and found lifespan extension at similar rates to strains with a germline, indicating that lifespan extension runs independently of the germline. In addition, we examined the multigenerational inheritance of partial reprogramming effects and found that extension was observed only in select generations. Overall, these results show that partial reprogramming extends lifespan under optimized conditions and highlights context-dependent mechanisms.