250 "aging genes"
Most of the studies on the genetic aspects of longevity have been conducted on animals with a short lifespan, so it remains unclear how correct it would be to translate their results to humans.
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute on Aging (Leibniz Institute on Aging, Germany) have identified genes that can influence the lifespan and healthy aging of mammals.
Humans have a lot in common with other mammals: 80 to 98% of our genetic information is identical. Nevertheless, the differences in life expectancy are quite noticeable, it has not yet been clarified how much genetics affects it.
Even within the same order, the differences between species are impressive. So, small rodents (mice, rats) live for about two to three years, and larger ones (chinchillas) - up to 30 years, while remaining practically healthy. This variation makes rodents an excellent model for studying the effect of genes on life expectancy and the development of age-related diseases.
Scientists compared 17 rodent species, including the famous naked digger, and found 250 genes that were insufficiently active in long-lived species and excessively active in rodents with a short lifespan. Some of them (RHEBL1, AMHR2, PSMG1 and AGER) have never been attributed to aging genes before, although they have been proven to be associated with some age-related diseases in humans, such as Alzheimer's disease or cancer. 85% of the genotype of long-lived rodents are similar to human, so the results of the analysis can be considered relevant for humans.
Gene expression for many rodent species has already been studied. Based on these data, the authors concluded that the increase in life expectancy in rodents is associated with protection from free radicals, maintenance of iron levels, features of cellular respiration and protein synthesis (translation).
This confirms the theory of a compromise between growth rate and life expectancy: genes responsible for rapid growth at an early age lead to premature aging of an adult. In large rodents, these genes are less active, so they grow slower and live longer.
Identification of the "aging genes" is the first step to create theories and hypotheses that will be tested in further research. Especially promising, according to the authors, is the analysis of genes that are responsible for the development of age-related diseases in humans. It will help to better understand their mechanisms and develop effective treatment methods, as well as prolong a healthy life.
Article by A. Sahm et al. Long-lived rodents reveal signatures of positive selection in genes associated with lifespan published in the journal PLoS Genetics.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of FLI: Old and healthy: Researchers find novel genes for longevity in mammals.