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Aging Markers Found in CellsAllow determination ofpeoples molecular age andprovide

new targets for longevity treatmentsBetterhumans Staff 11/5/2004 3:08 PMA newjiiscpvery will allow people to celebrate :;>,*.-:*,.their molecular, rather than chronological age-| V-f andpossibly do something to reverse it.US researchers including -Pfmnt tbe LiuebergeT Comprehensive Cancer -.. of theDttivereit> of Xorth aro't iaa.jit C : :.. - el 1'.. - . have

discovered flat the -piauqtion of two proteins lNIC4a Iand'fjARF, ifc imtcaly increas/ascells and tissues *age=-4r.:

: morethan a hundredfold in some tissues. - \ \Credit: The Journal of uimcal InvestigationSign of the times: increased "At the very least, our worksuggests that production of two proteins has been looking

at the expression of one or both linked to aging, as shownin these proteins will make a great biomarker of agingyoung (left) and old (right) cellsa ...itool to clinically deterniine the actualmolecular age of people, as opposed to just theirchronological age," says Sharpless, senior author of thestudy."We all know people that_weconsider_to be a: young: 65,and we believe they: won't demonstrate as much|pi6INK^a.'oriARF'.expressioryas others of the sameage,J!"Says' Sharpless.iCancer, calorie connection

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| Injxhjjiingly, both|pi6INK4afandiARF-gre; potent tumorsuppressors that)halt tumor cell< growth; This reinforces previous findings suggesting "

"_____ _ ~Thefproteins' anticancer functions, which limit cell growth\might play an important role [in aging."Proliferation of ceils is important in thereps' i_and' regrowtbo< tiss ues. In fact, we grow ota m part Because our bodies'abiiijv to "regenerate ~;i - ases" as we age." saysSharpless. "We believe an untoward effect of increase^?6TNIU&anaAR^expressiori outside of canqer, is a

decrease, .pi e ilular prohterationTneededTtb "sustain "this'regeneration." J; |.>Q MC^, Further supporting the proteins' involvement in aging, theresearchers found that their ^production is inhibitedjoy ,which is known to extend healthy lifespan."Our results suggest that going on a short-term diet will notreverse-the aging process; . only Jong-term

restrictionsfjappeared to hgye an effect onfpi6INK4a * andARFexpression." says Sharpless. Clinical implicationsBesides providing \imr.rker for determining people'smolecular age.ithe findings also have implicationsfofjclinical treatments.^*^^-.. In theloaurlerm, the markers provide a target torfantiaginginterventions^and a Way to : gauge what interventions havean effect; at the cellular level.The research is reported in