Cysteine reduction rather than methionine restriction promotes immunometabolic fitness to confer survival benefit in aging

Abstract

Elevated sulfur-containing amino acids (SAA; methionine and cystine) are linked to human mortality. While methionine restriction (MR) extends lifespan in animals, it is often ignored that traditional longevity-promoting MR diets also lack cystine. When dietary cystine is eliminated, host redirects substrates from methionine cycle and generates cysteine via cystathionine {gamma}-lyase (CTH) in transsulfuration pathway, leaving it unclear which SAA controls aging. Here, we show that selective cysteine restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans enhanced lifespan and stress survival independently of methionine. Notably, cysteine-free diets (methionine-replete or restricted) in Cth-deficient mice induced pro-metabolic effects, whereas MR with normal cysteine was ineffective. Sustained 70% cysteine reduction in aged Cth-/- mice reprogrammed the immunometabolic axis, conferring healthspan benefits. Thus, lowering cysteine while keeping the methionine pool intact enhances healthy lifespan.