Medicosnext
Sirtuins are a family of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+) dependent enzymes that are the principal regulators of the lifespan in lower life. There are seven different sirtuins in mammals—SIRT1 through SIRT7—which have a broad range of cell functions concerning energy balance, stress resistance to the cells, genomic stability, and aging. Among them, SIRT6 is involved in DNA repair, telomere maintenance, glycolysis, and inflammation, all of which are related to the aging process. Sirtuin levels decline with age.
Now, a research team from Israel’s Bar Ilan-University and US National Institutes of Health has reported increasing the life expectancy of mice by 23 percent by increasing the supply of SIRT6. They also reported that the mice were more youthful and less susceptible to cancer. According to Prof. Haim Cohen of Bar-Ilan University, the changes seen in mice may be translatable to humans, and that, an equivalent jump in human life expectancy would have us living on average for almost 120 years!
Cohen first succeeded in increasing levels in mice in 2012, which resulted in them living 15 percent longer. Interestingly, this impact was only seen in male mice, and not in the females. However, in the recent studies, jump in life expectancy was seen among both, with the male and female mice living 30% and 15% longer, respectively, than their control group counterparts. They also were able to run faster, had less cholesterol, and had less incidence of cancer.
While stating that boosting SIRT6 levels could potentially slow aging, the researchers also added that currently the tools don’t exist to translate the advance to humans. The SIRT6 levels in mice could easily be boosted by genetically modifying them, but to do the same in humans would require drugs. Cohen’s lab is working on identifying drugs that could boost SIRT6 protein levels safely in humans, and they believe that they may be successful in two to three years.
