Zombie genes make elephants insensitive to cancerous tumors

Why do elephants get no cancer??

Researchers have now discovered that elephants carry a gene that makes them virtually immune to cancer. The rare gene LIF6 is also referred to by the experts as a zombie gene and is dead or inoperable in almost every other mammal on the planet.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found in their current research that a special gene in elephants protects the animals from cancer. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Cell Reports".

The Gene LIF6 protects elephants from cancer. Can it protect people from the deadly disease in the future? (Image: donvanstaden / fotolia.com)

What does the LIF6 gene do??

The gene called LIF6 fights cancerous mutations in elephants. The life-saving LIF6 gene attacks cells that are about to mutate into cancer cells. It then forces such cells to die and this saves the elephant from the deadly disease, explain the experts. The scientists hope that drugs that mimic the effects of the LIF6 gene could in the future lead to revolutionary new treatments for cancer patients.

Which genetic basis causes cancer resistance in elephants?

The more cells an animal has, the more possibilities there should be for a tumor to develop. Despite its enormous size, this rule does not apply to elephants. Therefore, physicians now wanted to find out which genetic basis for this cancer resistance is responsible. It was found that elephants and their relatives have many non-functioning copies of the so-called LIF gene, but that elephants themselves have found a way to reactivate one of these copies (LIF6), study author Dr. Vincent Lynch from the University of Chicago. This is also the reason why the researchers nicknamed the gene zombie gene.

Dangerous mutant cells died in elephants

In laboratory experiments, the scientists found that the potentially lethal mutations die when elephant cells suffer from cancer-causing DNA damage. This life-saving defense system is triggered by the presence of LIF6, one of several copies of the leukemia-inhibiting factor (LIF) gene, explain the physicians.

LIF6 also protected other animals from cancer

When scientists artificially blocked LIF6 activity in the animal, the damaged cells survived and eventually became cancerous. When the gene was introduced into animals that were normally absent, such as mice, they also became resistant to cancer. LIF6 produces a protein that drills holes in the mitochondria. This results in the injured cells experiencing a form of programmed suicide known as apoptosis, the experts explain. When the gene is triggered by damaged DNA, it quickly kills that cell. The gene has previously been activated by another well-known tumor-suppressing gene (p53) which is itself activated by cancer-causing DNA damage.

Can humans artificially activate their LIF gene??

Scientists are now planning the elephant's ability to resist cancer, applying it to human biology. Perhaps ways can be found to develop drugs that mimic the behavior of LIF6 in elephants or induce cancer cells to turn on their existing zombie versions of the LIF gene. Lynch.

Other animals are protected from cancer

Elephants are not the only animals that have developed a natural resistance to cancer. Even whales, bats and nacktmulle are protected despite the absence of LIF6 against cancer, explain the doctors. This suggests that there are many ways in which animals can fight cancer, adds dr. Lynch added. (As)