Chinese researchers have discovered a new type of "gene therapy" that can delay aging
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 8th (Reporter Wei Mengjia) How many aging-regulating genes are in the human genome?
What is the molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of aging?
Can these genes be "manipulated" at the molecular level to delay the body's aging?
A recent achievement by Chinese researchers has given new insights into these important issues in the field of aging.
A research team composed of Liu Guanghui's group and Qu Jing's group from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhang Weiqi's group from the Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Peking University's Tang Fuchou's group. After more than 6 years of hard work, the whole genome CRISPR/Cas9 Screening technology identifies new aging regulatory genes and develops a new type of "gene therapy", which provides important intervention targets and new strategies for delaying aging and preventing aging-related diseases.
This result was published online in the authoritative journal "Science and Translational Medicine" on the 7th.
Cellular senescence is the basis of organ and individual aging, and its process is affected by many complicated factors such as heredity and environment.
For a long time, the scientific community has not been clear about the specific molecular mechanisms regulating aging, and there is also a lack of systematic research on the gene-targeted manipulation methods of aging-regulating genes that interfere with the aging process of individuals.
According to Zhang Weiqi, a researcher at the Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research team has identified more than 100 new human cell senescence-promoting genes and verified the functions of the top 50 genes, confirming that knocking out these genes can delay the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells senescence.
Among them, the gene encoding histone acetyltransferase KAT7 is the highest-ranked candidate gene.
Studies have found that KAT7 is up-regulated in physiologically and pathologically aging human mesenchymal stem cells. Knockout of KAT7 can effectively delay cell senescence, while overexpression of KAT7 will promote cell senescence.
Studies have found that intravenous injection of a lentiviral vector targeting KAT7 knockout can reduce the proportion of senescent cells in the liver of aging mice, improve the health of the mice, and extend the lifespan of physiologically aging mice and mice with progeria.
The results show that "gene therapy" based on single factor inactivation is expected to extend the lifespan of mammals.
In addition, studies have also found that knocking out KAT7 or using KAT7 inhibitors can delay human hepatocyte senescence and reduce the expression and secretion of aging-related inflammatory factors, suggesting the potential application value of this intervention in human aging translational medicine.