Increased Autophagy Improves Stem Cell Activity and Restores Bone Loss in Mice

Researchers here provide evidence for increased autophagy, achieved via targeting mTOR to mimic some of the response to calorie restriction, to improve stem cell function in old mice. As a result some of the loss of bone mass and strength that occurs with age was reversed. Autophagy is the collection of maintenance processes responsible for clearing out broken proteins and structures in the cell, but like most of our biochemistry it declines in effectiveness with age. Increased levels of autophagy have been shown to be necessary for the gains in health and longevity provided by calorie restriction in short-lived species, and mTOR is one of the regulatory genes through which the calorie restriction response works. It is not surprising to find that inhibiting mTOR improves autophagy, and thus also improves the function of many systems in the body that benefit from having less garbage and breakage in their cells. The overall slowing of aging produced by calorie restriction touches on all aspects and measures of aging, and that includes a reduction in the usual rate of decline in stem cell activity in old age. So the study here illustrates that calorie restriction, stem cell activity, autophagy, and mTOR all link together nicely. Unfortunately, we should not expect the same size of effect in humans as is observed in mice: calorie restriction is very good for health, but it certainly doesn't extend human life span by 40%, as is the case in mouse studies. This is generally t...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs