From: Julian Assange (proff@iq.org)
Date: Thu Sep 07 2000 - 08:02:44 MDT
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_170613.htm
Scientists have found a drug that increases the normal lifespan of
the nematode worm, paving the way for a drug to stop ageing. A
study in this week's journal Science by researchers at the Buck
Institute found that worms treated with a drug that mimics natural
antioxidant systems lived around 50% longer than untreated
nematodes. "Further studies on higher organisms in the near future
will allow us to answer whether or not we have to reconsider aging
as an inevitability," says lead author Dr Simon Melov. The
anti-ageing drug developed by the researchers is made up of
synthetic versions of superoxide dismutase and catalase, two
enzymes involved in converting cell-damaging free radicals into
water. The researchers were also able to normalise lifespan in a
mutant nematode strain with a shortened life span linked to
oxidative stress. It appears that oxidative stress is a major
determinant of life span and that it can be counteracted by
pharmacological intervention, they say, adding their next priority
is to move these compounds towards clinical trials. "It has
already been shown that fruit fly and nematodes can be genetically
engineered to live longer by increasing the number of genes
responsible for these enzymes," comments University of Queensland
biochemist, Dr Paul Ebert. "But the idea that a pill could have the
same effect is new". Nematodes have been used for many years to
study biological processes relevant to other species including
humans. "We're not much different from nematodes," says Dr
Ebert."At a certain age, our mitochondria screw up and free
radicals increase", although he adds there has been some debate
about whether free radicals are the major determinant of ageing.
Dr Ebert's work includes studying insects which have grown
resistant to the ageing process by repeated exposure to the
pesticide phosphine which kills insects by causing them to undergo
a rapid ageing process. Asked about possible negative impacts of
drugs that mimic antioxidants, Dr Ebert said that other parts of
the body, for example, the immune system, used free radicals to
fight diseases. While the Science study ruled out negative impacts
of prolonged life on fertility or growth rate, there was no
apparent investigation of immune system effects. The Buck
Institute is co-operating with Eukarion Inc., a private
biopharmaceutical company located in Massachusettes which holds
five US patents for technology of this kind and has been awarded
over $2 million in grants from the US National Institutes of
Health.
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