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Credit: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/scientists-could-delay-aging-in-humans-in-a-major-breakthrough

We’re one step closer to delaying aging say scientists studying aging paths

July 28, 2020

Scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) have studied yeast cells to understand how different cells age
The researchers discovered two routes of aging that determine cell behavior until decline and die
The team also identified the molecular processes that underly each aging path
The scientists believe that by modeling the aging landscape they can create novel aging paths to extend human lifespan

Most people accept that getting old is unavoidable. But a team of scientists at the University of California San Diego may be just a little bit closer to delaying aging and dramatically extending human lifespan. The group conducted their studies in yeast cells which are easy to manipulate. The goal of the experiments was to understand how different cells age and why. What intrigued the researchers was that cells made of the same genetic material and living in the same environment could age in dramatically different ways. The findings of the study were published in Science. The UCSD group found that some yeast cells underwent a decline with age because of gradual changes in the nucleolus, a large, round body in the cell nucleus that makes ribosomes (RNA and proteins found in living cells). The scientists used computer modeling and microfluid techniques to aid their discoveries. Interestingly, the team found that the other half of yeast cells aged because of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria are membrane-bound cell organelles that generate energy. The scientists said that cells choose one of the two aging paths, nucleolar or mitochondrial, early in life and continue on that route until they undergo decline and death. The researchers then performed further experiments to understand cell behavior. “To understand how cells make these decisions, we identified the molecular processes underlying each aging route and the connections among them, revealing a molecular circuit that controls cell aging, analogous to electric circuits that control home appliances,” says Nan Hao, senior study author and associate professor at the UCSD division of biological sciences’ molecular biology section. By modeling the landscape of aging, the researchers were able to manipulate and optimize the process. They used computer simulations to modify DNA and re-program the master circuit to create a new aging route that resulted in a significantly longer lifespan. The group believes these findings bring us one step closer to delaying human aging. “This is an aging path that never existed, but because we understand how it is regulated, we can basically design or regulate a new aging path,” says Hao. “Our study raises the possibility of rationally designing gene or chemical-based therapies to reprogram how human cells age, with a goal of effectively delaying human aging and extending human healthspan,” Hao adds. The team plans to test their model in more complex cells and organisms, and ultimately, in human cells. They also want to test how different combinations of drugs and therapeutics can improve longevity. “Aging is a fundamental biological question. We know very little about the aging process,” Hao said. “When it comes to medical relevance, aging is related to many diseases, so if we can help slow aging or promote longevity, it will be beneficial for society.”

References: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/21/health/slow-aging-intl-scli-scn/index.html

We’re one step closer to delaying aging say scientists studying aging paths

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