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The media perpetuate the obsession of youth and the idea of being ageless is pursued by individuals from generation to generation, especially those who are at the edge of their mature age and those who reach the age of 50 years. Scientists have focused on delaying aging rather than improving the aging process because we are naturally addressing it.
Researchers from the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California have decided to take this unique approach and have focused on the key process responsible for aging humans. "To drink from the fountain of youth, you need to know where the Fountain of Youth is and what the Fountain of Fountain does," said Nick Graham, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.
The lead author, Alireza Delfarah, a graduate student working for him at the Graham Lab, decided to study the process in which cells stop proliferating, called senescence. When senescence occurs, it can manifest itself in a host of diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disorders.
"Senescent cells are actually the opposite of stem cells, which have an unlimited potential for self-renewal or division. Senescent cells can never be divided again. It's a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest, "said Delfarah in a press release issued by the University.
The team found that senescent cells did not produce a group of chemicals called nucleotides, which are essential for DNA formation. They forcibly stopped the production of nucleotides to check this in the young cells and found that it was true.
"This means that the production of nucleotides is essential to keep the cells young. It also means that if we could stop cells from losing nucleotide synthesis, they could age more slowly, "said Delfarah. The study was recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and studied the phenomenon of senescence from different angles.
When Scott Fraser, Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, took 3D images of the cells, he surprisingly discovered that the senescent cells had two nuclei and that the two did not synthesize and synthesize the cells. DNA.
The other difference between this study and the others on senescent cells is that the process has been studied in cells called fibroblasts, while this study has examined the appearance of senescence in epithelial cells. However, scientists had to take certain precautions to prevent cancer.
Why? If senescence is disrupted, the cancer may develop. When the body's cells are damaged due to cancerous properties, they enter a state of senescence as a defense mechanism preventing cancer from spreading. Graham said: "The goal was not to completely prevent senescence, as this could release cancer cells. But on the other hand, we would like to find a way to remove senescent cells to promote healthy aging and better functioning. "
Graham and his team are currently experimenting with drugs to help people age better in a new area of research called senolysis. Until now, studies in mice have shown that by removing senescent cells, mice become younger and can lead a more functional life.
Although clinical trials in humans are still in their infancy, it was important to understand the uniqueness of a senescent cell so that drugs do not negatively affect non-senescent cells and do not cause side effects.
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