Anti-oxidants in nematodes

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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