Research FoxO gene promises eternal youth

Researchers reveal mystery of the Eternal Life Gene

11/16/2012

The pursuit of immortality and eternal youth has occupied people for millennia. Now, researchers at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel (CAU) have discovered the genetic key for this in the freshwater polyp Hydra. The tiny cnidarians are known as an organism that shows no aging processes and is potentially immortal.

Due to their immortality, the freshwater creatures Hydra are of particular interest for the aging research. The Kiel scientists have investigated this special property of the animals and came across the transcription factor Forkhead Box O (FoxO). This is also found in the human organism and known as Longevity gene. „In search of the gene responsible for the immortality of Hydra“, According to the doctoral student at the CAU and first author of the new study, Anna-Marei Böhm, the researchers are completely „unexpectedly just met the so-called FoxO gene.“ Their results have the scientists in the renowned trade magazine „Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences“ (PNAS).

Immortal organism in a finite world
The „The supposed paradox of an immortal organism in a world in which all life is finite has a relatively simple biological explanation: in these animals the reproduction takes place exclusively asexually by budding“, explain the researchers in the current press release of Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel. However, this form of reproduction presupposes, „that every individual polyp contains stem cells that can constantly divide.“ If these stem cells were lost, the tiny animals could no longer multiply. Therefore, the researchers wondered how the freshwater polyp Hydra sustain the function of stem cells permanently. Together, the scientists of the CAU and the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) went in search and discovered the FoxO gene.

FoxO gene relevant to aging
In humans, aging progresses incessantly as stem cells progressively lose their ability to form new cells. The aging tissue can regenerate worse and worse. The influence of the FoxO gene in this context has not been conclusively clarified. Based on the immortal freshwater polyps Hydra, the researchers have now examined the function of the FoxO gene in more detail. The scientists tested the effects of shutting down the gene on the polyp organism. They compared ordinary hydras with genetically modified freshwater polyps where the FoxO gene was either off or enhanced. The elimination of the gene meant that the animals had significantly fewer stem cells and grew more slowly, write the Kiel researchers. In addition, the immune system has changed. „Similarly drastic changes in the immune system as in the genetically modified Hydren we know of people in old age“, emphasized Professor Philip Rosenstiel from the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein.

Further investigations of the immortal polyps planned
Study leader Professor Thomas Bosch of the Zoological Institute of the CAU explained that for the first time the research group was able to show directly that there is a direct correlation between the FoxO gene and aging. „Since particularly active Foxo has already been detected in over one hundred year old people, it is most likely a crucial factor in aging - even in humans“, Prof. Bosch continued. However, humans could of course not carry out any genetic experiments. „How the longevity gene works in detail and what impact the environment has on FoxO“, must therefore first be further investigated at Hydra. However, the current findings are already an important step in the deciphering of the mystery of aging in humans.

Preservation of stem cells and immune system crucial for aging
According to the researchers, the study results allow two „essential scientific conclusions“First, they confirm Foxo's pivotal role in preserving stem cells and thus determining the individual lifespan of both the original cnidarian and human. On the other hand, they make it clear that "the aging process and the longevity of an organism depend significantly on the preservation of the stem cells and the maintenance of a functional immune system", the conclusion in the current communication from the CAU. (Fp)

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Picture: At Hydra the longevity gene was investigated. The animal is about 1 cm tall, Copyright / Photo: CAU / Fraune.