A team of scientists from the University of California in the United States has discovered a protein that can prolong human life, according to Science Blog.
The study lasted nine long years. During this time, scientists from San Francisco set up experiments not only on laboratory mice, but also on humans. The tests were attended by nearly 1.9 thousand people aged 40 to 85 years. The study was conducted in the United States and Norway. Most of the volunteers were diagnosed with heart disease before the experiment.
Scientists were interested in the level of content in their blood of two proteins: myostatin and GDF11. As a result of many years of observation, researchers have come to the conclusion that the more of these proteins in the body, the lower the risk of natural death.
Over the years, the level of these proteins in the blood decreases, and the process occurs at different rates in different people. This explains the scientists that some people age faster than others. They also found that increased GDF11 levels were able to delay the aging process and prolong life.
The conclusion was confirmed when tested in mice. Rodents were injected with a "rejuvenating" protein, which led to an improvement in their physical condition.
The introduction of the drug was especially noticeable in old mice. They lost the thickening of the heart muscle, the so-called ventricular hypertrophy, which can lead to heart failure and death.
Now scientists are looking for a way to create a drug that will help a person slow down the aging process. Two options are being considered. One assumes an artificial increase in the level of GDF11 in the blood.
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An alternative method involves the creation of a drug to block another blood protein - FSTL3. It is believed that over the years, it is he who reduces the concentration of myostatin and GDF11.