Cellular Aging: Study (Photo : Twitter/@PlanetGreen)
A major breakthrough involving the mechanics behind cellular aging has been achieved recently.
A study conducted by Salk Institute and Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed what causes a condition called Werner Sydrome, as per UT San Diego.
Werner syndrome is a condition characterized by the intense, fast appearance of features linked with normal aging. It is estimated to affect 1 out of 200,000 individuals in the United States, according to the Genetics Home Reference.
People affected by this condition usually have normal growth and development until the stage of puberty and characteristics of aging develop in their twenties.
The aged appearance in people with Werner syndrome includes graying and loss of hair, a hoarse voice, and thin, hardened skin. In addition, the condition presents having thin arms and legs, along with a thick trunk due to abnormal deposition of fat.
Research findings reveal that a disrupted DNA storage in a material called heterochromatin continuously damages the DNA in a person with Werner syndrome. It was also discovered by the researchers that the same mechanism happens in normal cells as they age.
In normal physiology, the DNA is kept secured in the heterochromatin. However, repeated use and rebundling cause heterochromatin to lose its structure and this brings changes that leads to abnormal functions. This mechanism has been previously linked with aging in the subject organisms.
The study is led by Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte and his team aims to develop an approach, which allows modifying and reversing the epigenetic changes in the DNA and heterochromatin. This approach will lay the foundation to the treatment of aging-related diseases.
Rolf Bodmer of the Sandfor-Burnham Medical Research Institute said that the study finding is a "groundbreaking" story in understanding the mechanisms of aging at a molecular level.
The results of the research have still yet to develop, but they can be used as the basis of the development of treatment for Werner syndrome, as well as other aging-linked conditions like Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and probably, even aging itself.
