Genes behind aging and cancer resistance identified.Byline: ANI Washington, Nov 15 (ANI): Researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) have found that two genes, called p16(Ink4a) and Arf, play a major role in aging and offer resistance to cancer. Led by Dr. Kenneth Dorshkind, the researchers found that the two genes sensitise lymphoid progenitor cells to the effects of aging, and confer resistance to leukemogenesis leu·ke·mo·gen·e·sis n. Induction, development, and progression of a leukemic disease. leukemogenesis the process of generation of myeloid cell lines in bone marrow and extramedullary sites; a critical feature in myeloproliferative . The development of blood cells, a process called Hematopoiesis Hematopoiesis The process by which the cellular elements of the blood are formed. The three main types of cells are the red cells (erythrocytes), which serve to carry oxygen, the white cells (leukocytes), which function in the prevention of and recovery from involves two main pathways: myelopoiesis (the formation of the red and white myeloid myeloid /my·eloid/ (mi´e-loid) 1. medullary; pertaining to, derived from, or resembling bone marrow or the spinal cord. 2. having the appearance of myelocytes, but not derived from bone marrow. cells) and lymphopoiesis lym·pho·poi·e·sis n. The formation of lymphocytes. lym  pho·poi·et (the formation of B- and
T-cells).
While myelopoiesis remains constant throughout life, lymphopoiesis declines with age. The researchers showed that older B lymphoid progenitor cells preferentially express p16(Ink4a) and Arf, which regulate cell cycle progression to effectively mediate senescence senescence /se·nes·cence/ (se-nes´ens) the process of growing old, especially the condition resulting from the transitions and accumulations of the deleterious aging processes. se·nes·cence n. and tumor suppression in these aged cells. On the other hand, myeloid progenitor cells consistently expressed much lower levels of these proteins. In the study, the scientists showed that p16(Ink4a) and Arf contribute to the age-related decline in B-cell lymphopoiesis. They also demonstrated that inhibition of p16(Ink4a) and Arf in B-cell progenitors rejuvenates their growth potential and facilitates the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia acute lymphoblastic leukemia n. Abbr. ALL Lymphoblastic leukemia occurring mainly in older adults, characterized by rapid onset and progression of symptoms. Also called acute lymphocytic leukemia. . The finding provides genetic insight into the high incidence of lymphoid leukemias in younger patients, as well as brings to light the fact that adult leukemias generally involve the myeloid cell lineages. The authors said: "In addition to providing a basis for understanding the clinical presentation of lymphoid leukemias, these results raise the possibility that p16Ink4a and Arf may be potential therapeutic targets for rejuvenating the aged immune system". The study is published in the latest issue of G and D. (ANI) Copyright 2008 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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