Role of gut microbiota in mediating the beneficial effects of rapamycin in delaying female reproductive aging
Dr. Wang’s project investigates how gut microbiota mediate the beneficial effects of the geroprotector rapamycin on female reproductive aging. The ovary is the first organ to undergo age-related decline, affecting fertility, healthspan, and lifespan. While rapamycin has been shown to delay ovarian aging in mice, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Emerging evidence suggests gut microbes influence ovarian function by modulating hormone levels and producing bioactive metabolites. Dr. Wang’s study finds that rapamycin improves ovarian reserve and delays estropause onset in mice with irregular estrous cycles. They further examine ovarian cellular and molecular changes using single-cell RNA sequencing and identify alterations in gut microbiota through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Integrative multi-omics analyses of gut microbiome and metabolomes will be used to identify key microbial species and metabolites involved in mediating rapamycin’s effects. This project aims to uncover how geroprotectors act through the gut–ovary axis and develop microbiota-based strategies for reproductive longevity.
