It turns out that mice transplanted with longevity genes possessed by naked mole rats can actually extend their lifespan, suggesting the possibility of helping human longevity and health
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A research team at the University of Rochester has reported that transplanting genes that are thought to be involved in longevity in naked mole rats living underground into mice improved the health of the mice and extended their lifespan.
Increased hyaluronan by naked mole-rat Has2 improves healthspan in mice | Nature
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06463-0
Naked Mole Rat's Longevity Gene Gives Mice a Longer Life – ScienceSwitch
Longevity gene from naked mole rats extends lifespan of mice : News Center
Naked mole rats, native to East Africa, are rodents with a body length of about 10 to 13 cm, and basically live underground. Naked mole rats have an exceptional lifespan compared to rodents of the same size, and are believed to live about 40 years, almost ten times as long as rodents of the same size.
And unlike other animals, naked mole rats rarely suffer from age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cancer.
Research teams such as Vera Gorbunova and Andrey Seruanov of the University of Rochester have conducted decades of research on the mechanisms by which naked mole rats protect themselves from aging and disease. Previous studies have reported that naked mole rats have a higher amount of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) than other mammals.
According to the research team, compared to other mice and humans, naked mole rats store about 10 times more HMW-HA in their bodies. Previous studies have shown that removal of HMW-HA from naked mole rat cells increased the risk of developing cancer cells.
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The research team speculates that HMW-HA holds the key to the longevity of naked mole rats. Therefore, the research team transplanted the hyaluronan synthase 2 gene, a gene involved in the production of HMW-HA, from naked mole rats to mice.
Mice transplanted with the naked mole rat gene showed elevated HMA-HA levels and lived an average of 4.4% longer than normal mice. In addition, it has been reported that gene-rewritten mice have a lower incidence of cancer, reduced age-related inflammation, and improved intestinal barrier function.
According to Gorbunova, HMW-HA in gene-implanted mice directly modulates the mouse's immune system and protects cells from oxidative damage. As a result, it has been suggested that the lifespan of mice may have been extended. Our mouse results demonstrate that the naked mole rat longevity gene may be transplantable into other species.
Mr. Gorbunois said, ``It took about 10 years from the discovery that the amount of HMW-HA was high in naked mole rats to the results of this experiment in mice,'' and ``Our next goal is to It is to apply the results of this experiment to humans.'
According to the research team, when applying the naked mole rat longevity gene to humans, there are two options: ``delay the age-related degradation of HMW-HA'' or ``strengthen the synthesis of HMW-HA in the body''. It is said that there is.
“Our research team has already identified molecules that slow down the breakdown of hyaluronic acid and tested them in preclinical studies ,” Seruanov said. I hope it will,' he said.
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