‘Molecular habituation’ as a potential mechanism of gradual homeostatic loss with age

We report that constitutive signals can give rise to a ‘molecular habituation’ effect that can prime for a gradual loss of biological function. This is because a constitutive signal in the environment has the potential to reduce the responsiveness of a signalling pathway through the prolonged activation of negative regulators. Additionally, we demonstrate how this phenomenon is likely to occur in different signalling pathways exposed to persistent signals and furthermore at different levels of biological organisation
Source: Mechanisms of Ageing and Development - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research