31 replies to this topic

[Kevnzworld]

EMBO Mol Med. 2012 May 15. doi: 10.1002/emmm.201200245. [Epub ahead of print]
Telomerase gene therapy in adult and old mice delays aging and increases longevity without increasing cancer.
Bernardes de Jesus B, Vera E, Schneeberger K, Tejera AM, Ayuso E, Bosch F, Blasco MA.
Source
Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
A major goal in aging research is to improve health during aging. In the case of mice, genetic manipulations that shorten or lengthen telomeres result, respectively, in decreased or increased longevity. Based on this, we have tested the effects of a telomerase gene therapy in adult (1 year of age) and old (2 years of age) mice. Treatment of 1- and 2-year old mice with an adeno associated virus (AAV) of wide tropism expressing mouse TERT had remarkable beneficial effects on health and fitness, including insulin sensitivity, osteoporosis, neuromuscular coordination and several molecular biomarkers of aging. Importantly, telomerase-treated mice did not develop more cancer than their control littermates, suggesting that the known tumorigenic activity of telomerase is severely decreased when expressed in adult or old organisms using AAV vectors. Finally, telomerase-treated mice, both at 1-year and at 2-year of age, had an increase in median lifespan of 24 and 13%, respectively. These beneficial effects were not observed with a catalytically inactive TERT, demonstrating that they require telomerase activity. Together, these results constitute a proof-of-principle of a role of TERT in delaying physiological aging and extending longevity in normal mice through a telomerase-based treatment, and demonstrate the feasibility of anti-aging gene therapy. See accompanying article http://dx.doi.org/10.../emmm.201200246

Edit: fixed link.

Edited by niner, 05 June 2012 - 12:22 AM.

[hav]

Not to change the subject, but what studies show that silymarin is generally good for liver health?

I've seen studies indicating that it's protective when animals are exposed to known hepatotoxins, but nothing indicating that it's of any use chronically. If you have come across any such studies, they would be of interest.

Yes, whenever I've seen silymarin studies, they generally characterize it as protective. Here's a good summary paper: http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2692696/ which I found interesting because it not only covers liver health issues but also prostate and ovarian as well.

Howard