A joint group of scientists from the Japanese universities of Osaka, Hokkaido and Chiba has made good progress towards learning how to prevent aging and ensure permanent youth. A representative of the research group, Professor Issei Komuro, told reporters here today.
“There are still a lot of difficulties in the practical application of our developments,” he said. “However, a result has been obtained that brings us one step closer to realizing the dream of humanity - preventing aging.”
In the course of long-term research, scientists have established that the C1q protein is directly related to aging. In particular, the experimental mouse at the age of 2.5 years had five times more than in the mouse at the age of two months. The same protein is found in the human body. The reasons for its increase with aging are still unknown.
However, Japanese scientists, it seems to them, have accurately determined that it is C1q that is responsible for the aging of human cells. It used to be thought that, like other proteins of the human complement system, it was intended only to protect the body from the action of foreign agents and to form the human immune system.
Now it has been found that C1q affects proteins located on the surface of all cells in the body in such a way that it contributes to their aging. In this case, abnormalities occur in the process of cell reproduction.
In the course of experiments, Japanese researchers managed to stop the production of C1q protein in the body by means of genetic intervention. After that, the regeneration of cell tissue noticeably revived. Results have been achieved in preventing the hardening of blood vessel walls, in preventing heart disease, diabetes, which are believed to be largely the result of aging.
However, this discovery has a downside - by stopping the production of the C1q protein and slowing down the aging process, you can seriously undermine the immune system. Scientists have not yet been able to influence protein in such a way as to preserve both youth and the body's natural shield.
