Aging Gene Could Help Modify Immunity in Humans

Scientists have discovered that study of a gene called DAF-16, which is found in many animals, including humans, could provide new ways for altering aging, immunity, and resistance in humans. DAF-16 is strongly involved in determining the rate of aging and average lifespan of the nematode (roundworm) Caenorhabditis elegans and its close evolutionary cousins.

Dr. Robin May, from the University of Birmingham (UK), and the lead researcher of the study, said, "Aging is a process that all organisms experience, but at very different rates. We know that, even between closely related species, average life spans can vary enormously. We wanted to find out how normal aging is being governed by genes and what effect these genes have on other traits, such as immunity. We looked at a gene that we already knew to be involved in the aging process, called DAF-16, to see how it may determine the different rates of ageing in different species.”

Dr. May and colleagues compared longevity, stress resistance, and immunity in four related species of the nematode. They also looked for differences in the activity of DAF-16 in each of the four species and discovered that they were all quite distinct in this respect. Moreover, importantly, the differences in DAF-16 corresponded to differences in longevity, stress resistance, and immunity between the four species-in general higher levels of DAF-16 activity correlated with longer life, increased stress resistance, and better immunity against some infections.

Dr. May continued, "DAF-16 is part of a group of genes that drive the biologic processes involved in aging, immunity and responses to physical or environmental stresses. The fact that subtle differences in DAF-16 between species seem to have such an impact on aging and health is very interesting and may explain how differences in lifespan and related traits have arisen during evolution.”

The researchers are now examining the way in which DAF-16 coordinates a complex network of genes in order to balance the differing needs of an individual's immune system over time.

The research was published the April 2010 issue of the journal PLoS ONE.

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