The researchers show how the interaction between nutrition, metabolism, immunity involved in the aging process -
UCL researchers (University College London) have shown how an interaction between nutrition, metabolism and immunity is involved in the aging process.
two new studies, supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), could help to improve our immunity to disease through dietary intervention and help make the existing system more immune therapies effective.
As we age our immune systems decline. Older people suffer from an increased incidence and severity of infections and cancer. In addition, the vaccination becomes less effective with increasing age.
In previous work funded BBSRC, the group of Professor Arne Akbar at UCL has shown that aging in cells of the immune system called "T cells" was controlled by a molecule called 'p38 MAPK' which acts as a brake to prevent certain cellular functions.
They found that this braking action could be reversed by using an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, suggesting the possibility of rejuvenating old T cells using drug treatment.
in a new study published today in Nature Immunology group showed that p38 MAPK is activated by low levels of nutrients, coupled with signals associated with aging, or senescence in the cell.
He was suspected for a long time that nutrition, metabolism and immunity are related and this document provides a mechanism prototype of how nutrients and senescence signals converge to regulate the function of lymphocytes T.
the study also suggests that the old T cell function could be restored by blocking one of several molecules involved in the process. The research was conducted at UCL alongside colleagues Hospitalario Complejo de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
The second paper, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, showed that blocking p38 MAPK stimulated the ability of cells that had shown signs of aging; improving the function of mitochondria (cell batteries) and to strengthen their ability to divide.
extra energy to fracture the cell was generated by the recycling of intracellular molecules, a process known as autophagy name. This highlights the existence of a common signaling channel in the old cell / T senescent that control immune function and metabolism, which further underlines the close association between aging and metabolism of T lymphocytes
This study was conducted by researchers from UCL, Cancer Research UK, Oxford University and the University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Professor Arne Akbar said :. "Our life expectancy at birth is now twice as long as 150 years ago and our lives are on the rise. the health care costs of aging are huge and there will be increasing numbers of older people in our population which will have a reduced quality of life due in part to declining immune. It is therefore essential to understand the reasons why the immunity decreases and it is possible to counteract some of these changes.
"An important question is whether this knowledge can be used to enhance immunity in aging. Many pharmaceutical companies have already developed p38 inhibitors in attempts to treat inflammatory diseases. A new possibility for their use is that these compounds could be used to enhance immunity in the elderly. another possibility is that the power supply instead of the drug action could be used to improve immunity since metabolism and senescence are two sides of the same coin. "
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