Researchers on the Verge of Unveiling a 'Fountain of Youth' - Free from Cancer
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the University of Rochester and its Wilmot Cancer Institute have transferred the gene responsible for producing high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) from naked mole rats to mice. This gene, a key factor in the naked mole rat's exceptional cancer resistance and extended lifespan, has shown promising results in extending the lifespan of the recipient mice and improving their resilience against cancer.
The study, led by Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D., and Andrei Seluanov, Ph.D., focused on the naked mole rat, a remarkable rodent that can live up to 41 years and is resistant to age-related illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Naked mole rats have about 10 times the amount of HMW-HA in their bodies compared to humans and mice.
The researchers aimed to find out if the gene responsible for making HMW-HA could be successfully transferred from naked mole rats to mice. Their findings, published in the journal Nature, indicate that the gene transfer may contribute to longevity and cancer resistance in the recipient animals.
Gorbunova, a member of Wilmot's Genetics, Epigenetics and Metabolism (GEM) research program, leads the Rochester Aging Research Center at the UR Medical Center. She and her team have spent decades studying why naked mole rats are resistant to cancer and aging ailments.
The study's results add to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of HMW-HA in longevity and cancer resistance. HMW-HA helps prevent cancer by enabling cells to sense overcrowding, triggering growth arrest and preventing tumor formation. Transferring the gene that synthesizes HMW-HA essentially confers this protective mechanism to other mammals.
However, direct gene transfer into humans remains complex and currently unachieved. The process would require safe and efficient gene delivery methods, thorough testing for safety and efficacy, and overcoming ethical and regulatory hurdles. The study's goal is to eventually translate these findings for human cancer resistance and lifespan extension, but further research is needed to fully understand the implications of the gene transfer and its potential benefits for human health.
The study's findings could potentially lead to new treatments for age-related illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Institutions such as the University of Rochester and its Wilmot Cancer Institute are leading such comparative biology studies to understand longevity genes across species. Their work fosters collaboration, data sharing, and advances in aging research, aiming to eventually apply findings to human health and disease prevention.
For more details about the study, readers can refer to the full press release by the University of Rochester and the full study published in Nature. [Link to press release] [Link to study in Nature]
- The groundbreaking study, led by Vera Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov, demonstrates that the transfer of the gene responsible for producing high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) from naked mole rats to mice may contribute to longevity and cancer resistance in the recipient animals, suggesting potential new treatments for medical-conditions like cancer.
- HMW-HA, a key factor in the naked mole rat's exceptional cancer resistance and extended lifespan, could revolutionize health-and-wellness by fostering new age-related illnesses treatments, as evidenced by the promising results from the University of Rochester and its Wilmot Cancer Institute's study on gene transfer and naked mole rat gene syntheses.
