Scientists from the Swedish Karolinska Institute have found that genetic changes in muscles and blood vessels are weakened and accelerating the aging of a vascular system. The discovery can help the treatment of age diseases. The work was published in the Nature Aging magazine.
We are talking about somatic mutations, cell DNA errors that take place throughout their lives, under the influence of effects of external factors or in the division of cells. It is known that they can cause cancer, but their role in other processes has long been disputed.
"We have found that the accumulated mutations in muscle cells and blood vessels undermine their function and the ability to restore. And it is this ability that gradually decreases with age, "said Maria Erickson, the head of the Karolinska Institute.
In 2003, Erickson discovered a rare disease of progerry, children, which is accelerated by aging, genetic cause. His group now has shown that such mutations and progening in relation to them may arise in adult patients with chronic renal disease. Mice-producing cells in mice caused accumulation along vascular walls, causing tissue damage and accelerating vascular aging.
Scientists have also studied how the same mutations affect muscles. It turned out that the muscles worsened along with the accumulation of mutations, smaller in size and mass, and the force of catching significantly decreases significantly. It is the somatic mutations that can accelerate the aging process and reduce the function of the tissue.
"Understanding how mutations affect various organs will help create new biomarkers and therapies against age diseases. In addition, our results show the value of the study of rare diseases. They can offer ways to treat more common diseases, "Erickson said.
Translation of: Euromedia24.com
