科學家們離延緩衰老又近了一步

科學家們離延緩衰老又近了一步

Getting old is inevitable, but scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) may be one step closer to being able to delay the aging process.

變老是不可避免的，但加州大學圣地亞哥分校(UCSD)的科學家們可能向延緩衰老進程又邁進了一步。

A team of scientists studied aging in yeast -- chosen because its cells are easily manipulated -- to try to understand if different cells age at the same rate, and for the same reason.

一組科學家研究了酵母的老化——之所以選擇酵母是因為它的細胞易于操縱——試圖了解不同的細胞是否以相同的速度和相同的原因老化。

What they found was intriguing. Even cells made of the same genetic materials and within the same environment aged in "strikingly distinct ways," according to the scientists, who published their findings in the journal Science.

他們的發(fā)現很有趣。科學家們在《科學》雜志上發(fā)表了他們的研究結果，他們說，即使是由相同的遺傳物質構成的細胞，在相同的環(huán)境中，也會以“截然不同的方式”衰老。

About half of the yeast cells aged because of a gradual decline in the nucleolus, a round body located in the nucleus of a cell, the scientists learned, by using techniques including microfluidics and computer modeling.

通過使用微流體和計算機建模等技術，科學家們了解到，大約一半的酵母細胞由于核仁的逐漸減少而老化。核仁是一個位于細胞核中的圓形物體。

However, the other half aged because of a dysfunction of mitochondria, which produce a cell's energy.

然而，另一半衰老是因為產生細胞能量的線粒體功能障礙。

Scientists said that the cells go down one of two paths -- nuclear or mitochondrial -- early in life, and they continue with the aging route until they ultimately decline and die.

科學家們說，這些細胞在生命早期會沿著兩種途徑之一(核途徑或線粒體途徑)繼續(xù)衰老，直到最終衰老并死亡。

Researchers performed further tests to understand how the cells behaved.

研究人員進行了進一步的測試以了解這些細胞的行為。

"To understand how cells make these decisions, we identified the molecular processes underlying each aging route and the connections among them, revealing a molecular circuit that controls cell aging, analogous to electric circuits that control home appliances," said Nan Hao, senior author of the study.

“為了了解細胞是如何做出這些決定的，我們確定了每一條老化路徑背后的分子過程以及它們之間的聯(lián)系，揭示了一個控制細胞衰老的分子電路，類似于控制家用電器的電路，”該研究的高級作者南浩說。

The team of researchers found they could manipulate -- and optimize -- the process of aging, using computer simulations to reprogram the master circuit and modify its DNA.

研究小組發(fā)現他們可以操縱并優(yōu)化老化過程，利用計算機模擬重新編程主電路并修改其DNA。

They were then able to create a "novel aging route," with a dramatically extended lifespan. This, researchers believe, could ultimately lead to the possibility of delaying human aging.

然后他們就能創(chuàng)造出一種“新奇的老化途徑”，顯著延長壽命。研究人員相信，這最終有可能延緩人類衰老。

"This is an aging path that never existed, but because we understand how it is regulated, we can basically design or regulate a new aging path," Hao told CNN.

浩在接受CNN采訪時表示:“這是一條從未存在過的衰老路徑，但因為我們了解它是如何被調節(jié)的，所以我們基本上可以設計或調節(jié)一條新的衰老路徑。”

"Our study raises the possibility of rationally designing gene or chemical-based therapies to reprogram how human cells age, with a goal of effectively delaying human aging and extending human healthspan," Hao said in a statement.

浩教授在一份聲明中說：“我們的研究提出了合理設計基因或化學療法來重新規(guī)劃人類細胞衰老的可能性，目的是有效地延緩人類衰老，延長人類的健康壽命。”。

Scientists said that they plan to test their model in complex cells, organisms, and eventually, humans, as well as testing how combinations of therapeutics and drugs could lead to further longevity.

科學家們表示，他們計劃在復雜的細胞、有機體，并最終在人類身上測試他們的模型，同時測試療法和藥物的結合如何能進一步延長壽命。

"Aging is a fundamental biological question. We know very little about the aging process," Hao told CNN. When it comes to medical relevance, he said, "aging is related to many diseases so if we can help slow aging or promote longevity, it will be beneficial for society."

衰老是一個基本的生物學問題。我們對衰老過程知之甚少，”浩告訴CNN。當談到醫(yī)學相關性時，他說，“衰老與許多疾病有關，所以如果我們能夠幫助減緩衰老或促進長壽，這將對社會有益。”