The comprehensive analysis of chromatin changes in various cell types in both mice and human studies reveals common pathways that regulate how people mature as they grow old and age. This cell process was found to be predictable across different life stages, and the findings demonstrated potential for addressing age-related diseases.
“By analysing molecular datasets from both people and mice and then comparing different age groups over time, we investigated the activity of genes involved in both developmental and ageing processes,” said Dr. Christian Nefzger from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience who led the study.
The Master Regulator
“Master controller genes regulate which genes are turned on or off in each of our cells, making sure that each cell does its specific job, just as a conductor directs musicians to produce different sounds,” said Nefzger. “We followed the activity of the master regulator Activator Protein 1 or AP-1 and found that it progressively activated adult genes, whilst the activity of ‘early-life’ genes involved in development were dialled down, and this process was shared across cell types.”
“It was ongoing in adulthood, likely because AP-1 is also activated by a number of stress and inflammatory processes as well as by a protein in our blood that increases with age,” Dr. Marina Naval-Sanchez said. “This further dampens genes most active early in life, which may drive many of the predictable changes of ageing.”
Extending Quality Of Life
“By pinpointing AP-1 as a master controller linked to ageing across cell types, we can now study the effects of drugs that reduce its activity to extend quality of life,” said Dr. Ralph Patrick.
Dr. Nefzger points out that the goal of this research is to prevent related diseases from escalating or even better from occurring in the first place by targeting the underlying processes to allow people to live healthier for as long as possible.
Anti-aging research such as this focuses on the fundamental processes driving aging. Around the World researchers are working to develop strategies to enhance and extend human healthspan which could also extend longevity. After all, what is the point of living longer if you are not in good health and unable to enjoy life?
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/06/revealing-master-controller-of-development-and-ageing
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413124002316?via%3Dihub
