Delaying the effects of aging it has been one of the goals of medical science. Branches such as the medicine, the genetics and the biology They try to answer questions such as why degenerative and chronic diseases are more common over the years.
Scientists and students of the Medicine School from San Francisco de Quito University (USFQ) turned their attention to the mitochondrial mechanisms that influence aging.
The study group is leading it Andres Caicedo, Research Professor at the USFQ School of Medicine, specialist in biomedical and regenerative medicine.
Caicedo emphasizes that his group is a pioneer in Latin America in the application of mitochondrial therapy and so they can take the next step and investigate the reasons for the energy loss of the mitochondria, as a reason for aging and some diseases
In fact only in Chili some progress had been made at the University of Los Andes, in Santiago. They have made progress in developing the immunoregulation, which is the act of transplanting mitochondria to cells of the immune system to induce cell regeneration.
But given the achievements of the USFQ group, the Chileans have decided to join and collaborate with the Ecuadorians in tracking down the mutations of the mitochondrial genes and its relationship with aging.
In countries such as the US and Germany there was an approach to the mitochondria made for regenerative purposes, but they didn’t deepen it.
Caicedo says we all age, the problem is that in this process our own cells can promote the development of chronic and degenerative diseases, such as hypertension, arthritis …
The researchers found that a gene in mitochondria can be linked to the maintenance of health and longevity. The mitochondria are an organelle of the cell, it is responsible for processing fats and carbohydrates to convert these components into energy, he says. Veronica Castañeda, engineer in biotechnological processes, expert in bioinformatics and cell culture, and a member of the research team. It sums up that mitochondria are the body’s powerhouse.
To reduce the risk of chronic and degenerative disease, it is important to maintain a good level of cellular energy.
The groundbreaking project in Latin America look for changes in the Mitochondrial DNA
The main goal was to locate the genetic variants that help mitochondria maintain adequate energy production. By doing this, the ones that work best can be distinguished and transplanted into the bloodstream damaged tissues for the time. In this way it is possible to rejuvenate their function and return properties to them.
The team found that it contains human populations China, Japan and Turkey who have more lifespanThese people have variants of mitochondrial genes. The USFQ researchers identified a gene that repeats in members of these groups.
This has eight variantsTherefore, it was decided to focus research on which of these modifications allow aging to be delayed.
It was found that three of the eight genetic capabilities may interact favorably with the mitochondrial proteins around them.
The work developed by the USFQ team of researchers was accepted for presentation at the conference of the International Society for Regenerative Cell Therapy, which will take place in New Orleans, USA, since May 20, 2021. This is one of the most important scientific events in regenerative medicine in the world.
Another member of the group, Ivonne Salinas details that the variants of the analyzed gene interact specifically with the metabolism and the appearance of degenerative and chronic diseases. This is especially important in Ecuador due to the prevalence of pathologies such as obesity and atherosclerosis.
Caicedo recalls that 10 years ago, transplanting mitochondria into tissues sounded like science fiction. At the moment, this therapy is already being applied in the USFQ itself, op veterinary patients, to help them heal their various wounds.