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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : February 4, 2013 2:20 PM IST
'18 till I die'is a dream that probably all of us wish came true and it may just soon become a reality. Imagine injecting a longevity gene in your body that helps you live life young by reversing the ageing process. Getting old may well be a thing of the past as researchers have found a way to reverse the ageing process by injecting a longevity gene, SIRT3, thus rejuvenating the stem cells' regenerative potential.
A study done by biologists at the University of California-Berkeley represents a major advancement in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind ageing, paving way for the development of targeted treatments for age-related degenerative diseases. They found that infusing SIRT3 in the blood stem cells of old mice boosted the formation of new blood cells, evidence of a reversal in the age-related decline in the old stem cells' function.
The researchers first observed the blood system of mice that had the gene for SIRT3 disabled. Surprisingly, among young mice, the absence of SIRT3 made no difference. It was only when the mice got old that things changed. By the age of two, the SIRT3-deficient mice had significantly fewer blood stem cells and decreased ability to regenerate new blood cells compared to regular mice of the same age.
This study is a first demonstrating that sirtuins (a class of protein) can reverse aging-associated degeneration and opens many exciting possibilities to potential treatment for age-related degenerative diseases.
With inputs from IANS
