Science is slowly but steadily progressing in the field of aging. Now a degree of the highly complex signaling pathways that exist is understood. However, a great portion of these signaling capacities dies out with age. In young and dynamic organisms, health problems are addressed automatically but in older cell and organisms, the story ends else wise.
There are generally two effects to cells as they age. There is either self-destruction (apoptosis) or cells become senescent and reach a “hayflick limit” (cells can no longer divide). Senescent cells are present in tissues and they can leak inflammatory proteins. There are many age related inflammatory pathogenesis such as heart attack, metabolic syndrome, stroke and atherosclerosis.
The accumulation of senescent cells can cause hyper-proliferative (cancer) and degenerative disease. Science is now establishing methods to eliminate senescent cells. An example is MMP inhibitor which is used to eliminate senescent cells.
Peak of the Continua
It is increasingly considered that human as well as other living organisms have dynamic regulatory continua. There is thus a vertex where it becomes difficult to survive as aging occurs. A related example of our dynamic regulatory continuum is the relation with fats, cholesterol as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, 142 alpha-beta plaques or lower is a level considered neuro-protective whereas higher levels are dangerous. The dynamic regulatory continua are our biological measurement to assess aging, also maybe how to alleviate its drawbacks.
Various Signal Pathways
Our understanding of signaling pathways can be metaphorically compared as being more-or-less primitive. The signaling process involves a combination of DNA transcriptions as well as translations. Now research is focusing on mRNA translation and it is highly possible that it is correlated to cancerous events.
However, as cell translation of RNA is highly complex as many signaling pathways are involved it is hard to determine cure and treatments. To show some common signaling cross pathways, we have; TGF-beta pathway insulin pathway, TOR pathway and IGF-1 pathway which, all inter-relates somehow.
Research in inflammation, dynamic regulatory continua and signal pathways is required to unravel some further clues of the aging process or more interestingly, how to treat aging as any other disease.
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Bioscience, Health And Aging
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Bioscience, Health And Aging