Portuguese researchers during experiments with mice were able to find out which molecular mechanisms underlie progeria (genetic defect leading to accelerated aging) and "classical" aging. They confirmed that the morphology of aging is due to aneuploidy - a pathological increase in the number of chromosomes in cells. Preventing this process helps to stop aging, scientists said..

To beat aging On their work is reported on BioRxiv. org. Researchers turned their attention to mitosis - the process of cell division, in which chromosomes are equally distributed between two new nuclei. An experiment with mice has shown that the mechanisms providing such a division can be disturbed. The consequence of violations is, for example, the development of progeria, in which there is an abnormally early aging of the skin and internal organs. When the animals artificially violated mitosis, they had a progeria.

In addition, scientists have studied the markers of aging fibroblasts (cells of connective tissue) in people at different stages of life - in infants, in middle-aged people, as well as in the elderly. They found that the process of cell division in the body "fails" because of a decrease in the activity of the Forkhead box M1 protein as the person ages. Reduction of active this protein led to chaotic and anomalously intensive mitosis in the patients they observed.

Thus, experts summarized, it is the disruptions in the processes of normal cell division that make living organisms grow older. "Aneuploidy is a key factor in the development of signs of complete aging," the scientists said in a publication.

They suggested that exposure to the Forkhead box M1 protein, leading to its "reboot" and activation, could be the key to combating aging. Experienced they increased the level of this protein in the cells of the elderly. As a result, abnormal growth of chromosomes ceased, and biological markers of aging of the body became less.

The results of this experiment inspire scientists. In their opinion, the proposed method with the use of Forkhead box M can become a new effective therapy of progeria and aging.

medinfo. ua medinfo. ua.

Keywords:.