In the face of current demographic changes, Aging is a serious public health problem: by 2050, the proportion of the global population aged 60 years and over will almost double. Recently, researchers in the Department of Development and Stem Cell Biology of the Pasteur Institute have identified key proteins related to aging and clarified the mechanism of aging, which may help to delay the aging process in humans.
Currently, even in developing countries, most elderly people die from non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, rather than infectious or parasitic diseases. As a result, aging is a major public health issue, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that cause aging will pave the way for a healthier aging eventuality.
Aging refers to the process by which cells are damaged after being subjected to various types of stress, which in turn affects their proliferation. The accumulation of senescent cells in tissues can cause organ degeneration and age-related diseases. Studies in animal models have shown that the clearance of these cells can be accompanied by a delay in the rate of aging and a longer healthy period.
Scientists at the Institut Pasteur and CNRS have demonstrated that the gradual depletion of proteins will cause proliferating cells to enter an irreversible aging state. In addition, this depletion occurs very early and is, therefore, a determinant of cell aging.
This factor, known as “CSB”, is associated with Cockayne Syndrome. The lack of CSB protein or its dysfunction can lead to early aging, photosensitivity, progressive neurological disease and mental retardation in patients with Cockayne syndrome. “We have previously shown that the lack or damage of CSB is also responsible for the abnormal dysfunction of cellular mitochondria.” Dr. Riccetti of the Pasteur Institute said: “This new study reveals similar changes in the process of cellular aging. This process is closely related to physiological aging. ”
The depletion of CSB is driven by epigenetic modifications (reversible and regulatory modifications of gene expression without altering DNA) that prevent their expression at the DNA level. In addition, the molecules previously identified by researchers that can reverse cell defects in patients with Cockayne syndrome can also reduce the aging process of normal cells.
Dr. Ricchetti concluded, “These studies show that there is an important link between accelerated aging and normal aging, and they have also revealed that the CSB protein is a key factor in combating cellular aging.”
Reference
Clément Crochemore, Cristina Fernández-Molina, Benjamin Montagne, Audrey Salles, Miria Ricchetti. CSB promoter downregulation via histone H3 hypoacetylation is an early determinant of replicative senescence. Nature Communications, 2019; 10 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13314-y
