Adult Disruption of Growth Hormone Receptor in Mice Produces Improved Health and Longevity

Genetic engineering of mouse lineages to produce life-long disruption of growth hormone metabolism, either growth hormone itself or growth hormone receptor, extends life. Animals are smaller, more challenged in maintaining body temperature, have more fat tissue, yet enhanced insulin sensitivity, and exhibit as much as a 70% longer life span. The present record for engineered mouse longevity has been held since 2003 by growth hormone receptor knockout (GHRKO) mice. That this record still stands in 2021 might be taken as a sign that the research and development community are not yet trying hard enough to produce therapies capable of meaningful rejuvenation and extension of healthy life span. It is an interesting question as to how much of the longevity of GHRKO and similar mice results from the disruption of growth hormone metabolism during development. To pick just one example, a smaller body size can produce a broad range of effects, such as lowered risk of cancer. In today's open access paper, researchers report on their use of an inducible gene knockout mouse lineage to remove growth hormone receptor expression at six months of age, roughly equivalent to a mid-30s human. The mice thus had a normal development, allowing for a better assessment of growth hormone metabolism as a target for therapies intended to slow the progression of aging. I am not that optimistic that meaningful therapies will result from this line of work. Changes in metabolism that operate f...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs