Resveratrol rescues mutant polyglutamine cytotoxicity in nematode and mammalian neurons.

We report that Sir2 activation through increased sir-2.1 dosage or treatment with the sirtuin activator resveratrol specifically rescued early neuronal dysfunction phenotypes induced by mutant polyglutamines in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. These effects are dependent on daf-16 (Forkhead). Additionally, resveratrol rescued mutant polyglutamine-specific cell death in neuronal cells derived from HdhQ111 knock-in mice. We conclude that Sir2 activation may protect against mutant polyglutamines.