Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41617890›Full record

ReviewAmino acids2026

Polyamine metabolism as a regulator of cellular and organismal aging.

Takeshi Uemura, Jun Takayama, Akihiro Oguro, Yusuke Terui

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Amino acids, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Takeshi UemuraFaculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama, Japan. t_uemura@josai.ac.jp.
Jun TakayamaFaculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama, Japan.
Akihiro OguroDivision of Physical Fitness, Department of Molecular Physiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 8-3-1 Kokuryo, Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.
Yusuke TeruiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara, 324-8501, Japan.

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 25K14796
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Polyamines - putrescine, spermidine, and spermine - are ubiquitous cationic molecules that are essential for cellular proliferation and homeostasis. Their intracellular concentrations decline with age, contributing to physiological and cognitive deterioration. Recent studies have revealed that spermidine supplementation extends lifespan and improves cognitive and cardiac function in various model organisms, suggesting that maintaining polyamine balance has anti-aging potential. Polyamine metabolism is tightly regulated through biosynthesis, degradation, and transport; however, age-associated upregulation of spermine oxidase (SMOX) and accumulation of its toxic byproduct acrolein promote oxidative damage and cellular senescence. Suppressing SMOX activity or polyamine degradation attenuates senescence markers and DNA damage, highlighting spermine catabolism as a therapeutic target. Polyamines also modulate epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, thereby influencing gene expression and chromatin structure during aging. Moreover, polyamine-dependent hypusination of eIF5A sustains protein synthesis in senescent cells. These multifaceted actions indicate that polyamine metabolism integrates redox control, translational regulation, epigenetic maintenance and autophagy to determine cellular and organismal longevity. While animal studies demonstrate clear anti-aging effects of spermidine and spermine, human clinical evidence remains limited, with variable outcomes likely due to bioavailability and metabolic conversion. Future strategies combining dietary or probiotic polyamine enhancement, enzyme-targeted inhibitors, and personalized metabolic interventions hold promise for extending healthspan. Collectively, maintaining optimal polyamine homeostasis emerges as a key approach to counteract aging and age-related diseases.

Indexed as

AgingCellular SenescencePolyaminesAnimalsEpigenesis, GeneticEukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5AHumansOxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group DonorsPeptide Initiation FactorsPolyamine OxidaseRNA-Binding ProteinsSpermidineEukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5AOxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group DonorsPeptide Initiation FactorsPolyamine OxidasePolyaminesRNA-Binding ProteinsSpermidineAgingAutophagyEpigenetic regulationPolyamine metabolismSenescenceSpermine oxidaseTranslational regulation

Identifiers

PMID41617890
PMCPMC12881085

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.