In reality, our body would experience phases where aging is accelerating. This invisible upheaval could change everything in our understanding of age … and diseases that result from it.
A specific age during which this process is gaining momentum
For this work, scientists have analyzed the proteins of 76 organ donors, aged 14 to 68, who died of a head trauma. Their samples included tissues from seven systems: cardiovascular, digestive, immune, endocrine, respiratory, induction and musculoskeletal.
A proteomic bank was thus drawn up, revealing the precise changes in age -related proteins.
Their analysis made it possible to highlight a particular phenomenon.
“Based on the protein changes associated with aging, we have developed proteomic clocks specific to tissues and characterized the organs of aging of the organs. Time analysis has revealed an inflection of aging around the age of 50, blood vessels being a fabric that ages early and is clearly sensitive to aging” specifies the scientific team.
The first line aorta in the face of aging
This inflection point does not affect all organs in the same way. As scientists, blood vessels, and more specifically the aorta specify, display the earliest and sharper aging signs of aging. Then come the pancreas and the spleen.
Between 45 and 55 years, the researchers observed a deep upheaval in the protein composition of these tissues, a sign of active cell aging. They have also identified 48 proteins, the expression of which increases with age and which are associated with diseases such as cardiovascular pathologies, tissue fibrosis, hepatic steatosis or certain liver tumors.
To validate these observations, the team has isolated an aging protein from the mouse aorta and injected it to young mice. Result ?
“”The animals treated with the protein had a reduced physical performance, a reduced grip force, lower endurance and a balance and coordination lower than those of untreated mice. They also presented significant markers of vascular aging “ Explain scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Previous research has highlighted two other critical peaks, around 44 and 60 years old. This new work confirms the idea that human aging occurs in stages, affecting each organ differently and at variable rhythms.
A map of aging to better slow it down
The ambition of researchers is now clear: draw up a complete card of organic aging. “Our study is about to build a complete multi-tin atlas covering 50 years of the entire human aging process“They write.
Ultimately, they hope that this work could open the way to targeted therapies to slow down aging and age -related diseases. “Together, our results set the foundations for a systemic understanding of human aging through the prism of proteins“Concludes the team, who hopes to contribute to better health of the elderly.