Telomerase gene therapy prolonged life time

Gene therapy prolonged the life of mice

05/17/2012

The desire for eternal life has been described time and again in stories, treatises and records since the founding of human history. Even today, the life expectancy of the inhabitants in the western industrialized countries is higher than ever. Researchers on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry are working worldwide on life-prolonging remedies and therapies. If the initial spark were to be found, pharmaceutical manufacturers would be guaranteed a billion in revenue.

Scientists of the Spanish National Cancer Center, according to their own first breakthrough succeeded. Treatment with the telomerase gene was able to significantly increase the life of adult mice in laboratory experiments. „The animals did not suffer from any type of cancer and showed best health“, so the research team.

In the experiment, they treated mice, which are usually about 36 months old, at the age of 12 or 24 months with a „ Adeno associated virus“. The virus was manipulated and contained as carrier the telomerase gene injected into the mice.

Telomerase is considered a rejuvenating gene
Telomerase is an enzyme that is not active in most cells of the body. The enzyme was discovered in the year of 1985 by researchers around Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol Greider in Eyelash Animals. Soon after, the rejuvenating enzyme advanced to become a shooting star of regenerative research. However, the gene is also interesting because it ensures in stem, immune and cancer cells that chromosome ends, the telomeres, remain intact. This is not the case with a natural aging process.

In the course of the study, the additional administration of the enzymes showed the mice improved insulin sensitivity, increased bone strength, better body coordination and a good general condition, as the team in the science magazine said „EMBO Molecular Medicine“ in the study report. The results showed that the average life span was increased by 24 percent if the animals were vaccinated against the manipulated virus at one year of age. The life span of the animals receiving the telomerase gene at the age of 24 months increased by about 13 percent.

No increase in cancer
Cancer risk did not increase, as in previous studies, the researchers said. Again and again, serious side effects have been seen in previous trials with the telomerase gene. The animals showed a significantly increased susceptibility to the development of malignant tumors. This circumstance has always been considered an insurmountable factor in gene therapies to extend life expectancy. „The treated mice showed the same incidence of cancer as the animals without gene therapy“, write the authors.

It remains unclear whether the therapy is also transferable to humans. It is not excluded that further, yet unknown side effects can occur. Therefore, further research is needed. (Sb)

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