HDAC inhibitors: A new promising drug class in anti-aging research

In the last years, epigenetic regulation of gene expression is regarded as an important factor involved in a broad spectrum of aging-associated processes including loss of physical activity, frailty and genomic instability, and in development of various pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, cancer, immune deficits and neurodegenerative diseases. Accordingly, inhibitors of the members of superfamilies of histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been proposed, among other drugs targeting epigenetic pathways, as a promising type of therapeutics that is able to combat aging and its manifestations. The main focus of this article is a review of the literature describing the healthspan-promoting and life-extending effects of inhibitors of HDAC activity in both animal and clinical studies.