Review: SUMOylation as a metabolic stress sensor in aging and age-related disorders
This review describes SUMOylation, a reversible protein modification, as an adaptive network linking metabolic stress to tissue-specific aging processes and discusses possible therapeutic approaches. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review describes SUMOylation as a reversible modification coordinating cellular responses to metabolic stress during aging. [1]
According to the review, SUMO-dependent regulation is remarkably tissue-specific, including skeletal muscle, liver, brain and immune cells. [1]
The review evaluates translational approaches such as pharmacological modulation of SUMO enzymes, caloric restriction and exercise. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Review (abstract only)
- Population / context
- Aging-relevant tissues and cells discussed in a review, including skeletal muscle, liver, brain and immune cells
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 10, 2026
SUMOylation as a stress-responsive network in aging
The review states that SUMOylation is a reversible post-translational modification increasingly recognized for coordinating cellular responses to metabolic stress during aging. According to the authors, it goes beyond a conventional modification and acts as an adaptive, stress-responsive regulatory network that integrates metabolic, oxidative, inflammatory and proteotoxic signals. Rather than acting on isolated pathways, this network tunes mitochondrial function, proteostasis, genome maintenance, immune balance and epigenetic regulation.
Supporting source [1]
Tissue-specific roles across muscle, liver, brain and immune cells
The review reports that SUMO-dependent regulation shows remarkable tissue specificity. In skeletal muscle it is described as supporting mitochondrial adaptation and contractile integrity; in the liver it shapes lipid and glucose metabolism; in the brain it modulates proteotoxic stress and neuronal resilience; and in immune cells it contributes to differentiation and to chronic low-grade inflammation during aging. The authors also emphasize interplay with other modifications such as ubiquitination and acetylation.
Supporting source [1]
Translational approaches discussed, not tested here
The review evaluates emerging translational approaches, from pharmacological modulation of SUMO enzymes to lifestyle interventions such as caloric restriction and exercise, and highlights both opportunities and challenges of targeting SUMO-regulated stress responses in aging. It presents a framework for understanding how SUMOylation links metabolic stress to tissue-specific aging trajectories and therapeutic potential. These are discussed prospects, not demonstrated treatments.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract of a review; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no primary data, sample sizes, follow-up or effect estimates, and the discussed interventions are prospects rather than demonstrated treatments.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Liu X, Chen S, Liu D, Zou S, Deng L, Gao Y, Xu W, Xie Y, Peng J, Hao L. · europepmc.org · September 10, 2026