Release date: 2018-06-25
Recently, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSM) found that increasing the autophagy ability of cells can extend the lifespan of mice by 10% in mouse models, and they are less prone to aging. Caused by cancer and other diseases. The study was published in the latest issue of Nature.
Autophagy is a physiological process by which cells remove unwanted or toxic substances through lysosomes. It can help eliminate bacteria and viruses when the body is infected. At the same time, cells can use the autophagy process to remove damaged proteins or organelles. It is like a regular "cleaning" in cells, which removes the "garbage" accumulated in the cells.
Twenty years ago, Dr. Beth Levine, the head of the study, and her colleagues found that the Becn1 gene encoding the beclin 1 protein is a key gene regulating autophagy. Her team then showed that the autophagy process plays an important role in many aspects related to human health, such as preventing neurodegenerative diseases, fighting cancer and infection. In 2003, Dr. Levine's team found that the genetic mechanisms necessary for autophagy are critical in extending life in animal models.
"The autophagy ability of the human body gradually diminishes with aging, which may be one of the causes of aging," Dr. Levine said. But the key question has not yet been answered: In mammals, can sustained autophagy improve animal life and improve animal health?
To answer this question, Dr. Levine and the Chinese scholar Professor Ming Chang Hu jointly developed a team of mice that have sustained high levels of autophagy. The researchers added a mutation to the autophagy protein beclin 1 that caused its binding to the BCL2 protein to be attenuated, while the BCL2 protein normally inhibits the function of the beclin 1 protein during autophagy. Since birth, this mouse has improved autophagy in all organs. Last year, studies published in PLOS Genetics showed that these mice significantly increased amyloid clearance leading to Alzheimer's disease, prevented cognitive decline, and prolonged mouse life.
The latest results published in Nature show that the mice have an average lifespan of 10%, and their health has improved, kidney and heart pathological changes due to aging, and spontaneous tumorigenesis cut back. The Klotho protein present in the organism is called an anti-aging protein. In the mouse model, if the Klotho protein is deleted, the binding of the beclin 1 protein and the BCL2 protein in the mouse is enhanced, the autophagy ability is weakened, and the mouse is early dead and infertile. . Muc mutations in the Becn1 gene that increase autophagy can rescue these consequences from Klotho protein deletion.
“These studies are important for human health and drug discovery,†Dr. Levine said. “They show that strategies to enhance autophagy may help delay aging and prevent aging-related diseases. The trials show that long-term autophagy Capacity may be safe, it can be used to treat aging-related diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases. More importantly, it provides a specific target for improving autophagy, which is to destroy beclin 1 and BCL2 proteins. The combination."
Currently, Dr. Levine's team is working with Dr. Jef De Brabander of the UTSM Chemistry Department to synthesize these drugs. Based on research published in the journal Nature, these drugs may improve human health and extend human life.
Source: WuXi PharmaTech
Greenhouse Flat Hydroponic System is increasing in popularity among commercial and hobby growers, and with good reason. With the right setup, hydroponic growing system is a cost-effective method to grow high-quality produce with maximum yields.
Greenhouse Flat Hydroponic System is perfect for for start-up
commercial growers. Using the nutrient film technique (NFT), the System
sustains hydroponic agriculture at improved rates and is ideal for growing:
basil, cilantro, parsley, arugula, watercress, fancy lettuce, head lettuce, bok
choy, mizuna, kale, chard, and more.
Greenhouse Flat Hydroponics,Greenhouse Hydroponics,Hydroponic Grow System
JIANGSU SKYPLAN GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD , https://www.skyplantgreenhouse.com