A group from University of Tokyo etc. - To kill "ageing cells" to improve body functioning

Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

「老化細胞」死滅させ体の機能改善へ 東大などのグループ

2021年1月15日 5時09分

加齢に伴う体の衰えや病気などの原因の1つとされる「老化細胞」を死滅させることで、体の機能を改善させることに東京大学などのグループがマウスを使った実験で成功したと発表しました。

この研究は東京大学医科学研究所の中西真教授らのグループが、アメリカの科学雑誌「サイエンス」で発表しました。

加齢などにより分裂が止まった細胞は正常に働かなくなって、体の機能の低下や病気を引き起こすとされ「老化細胞」とも呼ばれています。

グループは、この「老化細胞」は「GLS1」というたんぱく質が働かなくなると死滅することを突き止め、年を取ったマウスにこのたんぱく質の働きを止める薬を投与しました。

その結果、実際にマウスの「老化細胞」が死滅し、血糖値の異常や動脈硬化などの症状が改善することが確認できたということです。

マウスがどれだけの時間、棒につかまっていられるかを調べる実験では

▽若いマウスではおよそ200秒で、

▽年を取ったマウスでは30秒程度でしたが、

▽年をとったマウスに薬を投与すると100秒程度まで伸びたということです。

中西教授は「加齢が原因で起こる健康の問題を一網打尽にして、健康な期間を延ばすことができる可能性がある。老化メカニズムは分かっていないことも多いため引き続き研究を進め、ヒトでの実用化を目指したい」と話しています。

Translation

A group from the University of Tokyo etc. announced their success in an experiment in mice to improve the functioning of the body by killing "ageing cells" which were considered to be one of the causes of aging-related deterioration and illness.

This research was published in the American scientific journal "Science" by Professor Makoto Nakanishi  from the Institute of Medical Science of the University of Tokyo and others as a group.

Cells that had stopped dividing due to aging etc. would do not work normally and were said to cause deterioration of body functioning and illness; they were called "ageing cells".

The group  ascertained the fact that the "ageing cells" would die when the so called "GLS1" protein stopped working, therefore they had tried to give older mice a drug to stop this protein from working.

As a result, it was confirmed that the "ageing cells" of the mouse actually died and symptoms such as abnormal blood sugar level and arteriosclerosis had improved.

In an experiment to find out how long a mouse could hold to a stick

▽ for a young mouse it was about 200 seconds,

▽ for an old mouse was about 30 seconds,

▽ for an older mouse when the drug was administered, it increased to about 100 seconds.

Professor Nakanishi said, "in exhausting the health problems caused by aging, there is a possibility to extend the healthy period. Since the mechanism of aging is unknown in many areas, we will continue our research. I want to aim at practical use in humans. "

              So, the fact that the "ageing cells" would die when the so called "GLS1" protein stopped working is confirmed. We could improve our health condition that is adversely affected due to aging if we stop this protein from working. I look forward to the marketing of this new drug.