Autophagy can increase longevity and improve health

Using mice as a model, mice with improved levels of autophagy will live longer and healthier

Based on 20 years of in-depth research,  Beth Levine, director of the  Autophagy Research Center  at  the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern), and the team have made it  clear that cell autophagy can increase longevity and improve health.

Using mice as a model, they found that mice with increased levels of autophagy live longer and healthier. "Specifically, their life span has been extended by about 10%, and age-related  spontaneous cancer ,  heart disease and other diseases are unlikely to occur," Beth Levine said.

Autophagy

Autophagy is a protective mechanism. When there are wastes such as senescent proteins and damaged organelles in the cells, the autophagic vesicles wrap them up and send them to the lysosomes for degradation and recycling. This ensures the metabolic demands of the cells themselves and certain organelles. Update.

Two decades ago, Beth Levine and colleagues discovered a key gene beclin 1 in the process of autophagy biology. They also found that autophagy is essential for health, such as preventing neurodegenerative diseases, fighting cancers and infections.

In 2003, Beth Levine team confirmed that the genetic mechanism of autophagy association is crucial for the longevity of long-lived mutant  roundworms.  “From then on,  the view that 'autophagy  is the  key  mechanism for extending lifespan' is particularly hot.” Beth Levine explained, “As we grow older, the cell's autophagic capacity will decline, which may lead to aging.”

Extended life of autophagy

However, one key question remains unanswered: Does increasing autophagy benefit mammals? In other words, can autophagy increase lifespan and improve health?

To find out, Beth Levine and the team constructed a mutant mouse that maintains a high level of autophagy. Specifically, they changed the mouse autophagy protein Beclin 1 gene, thereby inhibiting the binding of Beclin 1 protein to Bcl-2 protein. Under normal  conditions, the latter inhibits  the role of  Beclin 1  in autophagy.

Results As expected by the researchers, high levels of autophagy were maintained in all organs of the mutant mice. Last summer, Dr. Congcong He, who was in Beth Levine's lab published an article in the journal PLOS Genetics, revealing that these mutations reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in mice to some extent.

Now, the latest article further reveals that mice with powerful autophagy are more durable and healthier. Moreover, this increased level can protect mice from premature death. .

In addition, the study also revealed a specific target that enhances autophagy by inhibiting the binding of Beclin 1 to Bcl-2. Drugs based on this mechanism  are expected to improve  health and prolong  life.Beth Levine believes that enhancing the cell's "clean" system is expected to delay aging and defense against aging-related diseases.  These studies have important  implications for human  health and  drug development.