Chinese scientists develop a gene therapy that can delay aging
The specific treatment used was the first of its kind in the world.
Archives
Scientists in the Chinese capital, Beijing, have developed a new gene therapy that can neutralize some of the effects of aging in mice and extend their life, results that may one day contribute to a similar treatment for humans.
The method, detailed in a paper published in the Journal of Science Translation Medicine, includes disabling a gene called Cat7, which scientists discovered contributes to cell aging.
"The specific treatment they used and the results were the first of its kind in the world," said the project's co-supervisor, Professor Zhou Jing, 40, who specializes in geriatrics and regenerative medicine, from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"After a period of six to eight months, these mice show a general improvement in appearance and grip strength, and most importantly, their lifespan by about 25%," she added.
The team of biologists of the Chinese Academy has used a method to screen thousands of genes for those that are particularly powerful drivers of cellular aging, the term used to describe cellular aging.
"They identified 100 genes out of about 10,000, and Cat7 was the most effective in contributing to aging in cells," Professor Chu said.
This gene is one of tens of thousands of genes found in mammalian cells.
The researchers inhibited it in the livers of mice, using a method called a "slow viral vector."
Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news