Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Aging in Germany discovered that giving mice the drug rapamycin, which is widely used in cancer treatment, can extend their lives. Research results published In the journal Nature Aging.
Rapamycin is an immunosuppressive drug used to prevent organ rejection during transplantation and to treat cancer. In the study, scientists administered the drug to laboratory mice to evaluate its potential to extend lifespan.
The results showed that rapamycin indeed has anti-aging properties. Animals given the drug showed better immune function in old age and were able to fight bacterial infections more effectively. Reducing the risk of various diseases is the key to healthy aging and long life.
According to researchers, the use of this drug reduces the activity of a protein called S6K in mice. The scientists explained that inhibition of S6K affects endolysosomes, which are cellular organelles that play a key role in protein turnover, cell homeostasis, and the breakdown of cellular structures that have become unnecessary for the cell and must be eliminated.
Inhibition of S6K by administration of rapamycin has been suggested to improve endolysosomal function and prevent age-related increases in inflammation in the body, which is a factor in many diseases.
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Source: Gazeta
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