Previous theories regarding the aging process observed the role of accumulated cell damage as the origin of why we age. As an alternative, researchers are looking at the consequences of deteriorating growth pathways crucial to development. This is according to research recently released in the journal Cell. The lead author of the study from Stanford University believes they have come upon a novel method of considering the aging process.
The study consisted of using microarray gene chips in order to evaluate those genes that were expressed in mature and immature C. elegans worms. Researchers located twelve hundred fifty four genes which had different expression levels amid both groups. Nearly all genes were developmental and were required in order to attain optimal skin and intestinal growth in immature worms.
The research team discovered a deposit of three transcription features which had unique expression plateaus in mature worms. Two of those features –known as ELT – 5 and ELT – 6 – were over expressed in the more mature worms. At the same time, these two features stifled the third transcription feature that is known as – ELT – 3. When ELT – 3 was subdued by the two other factors, the twelve hundred fifty four genes were switched off.
As the research team inhibited ELT – 5 and ELT – 6 in their RNA tests, ELT -3 expression increased, the gene expression in the twelve hundred fifty four genes rose and the worms life expectancy increased by a full fifty percent. This may mean that ELT – 3 regulates the ongoing expression of the growth genes and could be the vital connection that relates aging with growth.
The scientists have not yet determined what makes the transcription features lose balance, though their data points to the antagonist NOT being an environmental result of cell damage i.e. oxidative trauma. When immature worms are opened up to severe oxidative pressure it did not result in an over expression of ELT – 5 and ELT – 6. Scientists conducting the study will now be investigating what it is that causes the imbalance in the transcription features to begin with.
Research has been targeting transformation of gene expression as it concerns aging for some time now and the recent research data regarding this particular group of transcription features is a positive step in the right direction. This means that there is a possible working function that causes the modification in gene expression to take place.
Based on the novel theory of this study, oxidative harm to cells continues to happen over an organism’s life span, but this is not the lone reason why aging occurs. Oxidative damage is like the rust building up on an automobile. The new aging theory means that this rust will continue to occur, however the components built inside of the auto such as accelerator and brake pedals begin to wear out. The amount of aging that can be blamed on environmental issues compared to the internal mechanism of actions continues to remain an unknown. Experts believe that raising this latest assumption is the correct thing to do. Many prior investigations were conducted at the organism level. Researchers can now discuss which particular tissues of these genes have an effect on an increase in life extension. Studying specific tissues such as intestinal and epidermal growth will be quite educational.
In addition, the study’s author believes an internal aging function could clarify the existence of some organisms for a period of two weeks like the C. elegans worms, why humans can live for eighty or so years and certain sea turtles up to two hundred years old. Based on the theory brought to light in this study, the growth pathways of various organisms will deteriorate at differing speeds. According to natural selection, this deterioration could begin a lot sooner for certain organisms over others; this could be why certain animals outlive others by so many years.
Tue, Jan 5, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Bioscience, Longevity