By studying the role of certain proteins in a cell, researchers have highlighted a key mechanism that can slow aging and preserve cellular health.
Protein homeostasis plays a central role in the proper functioning of cells. This process ensures that proteins are correctly produced, folded, degraded, and eliminated. A disruption of this balance can lead to the aggregation of defective proteins, a major factor in diseases like Alzheimer's. Maintaining this homeostasis is therefore essential to prevent these pathologies.
Researchers at McMaster University studied how certain protective proteins, highlighted in this illustration by purple and yellow dots, are expressed in the translucent worms C. elegans. They discovered that these proteins were found in structures associated with lifespan, showing that these proteins keep cells healthier so they can function better and longer. Scientists have recently identified a protein, called MANF, as a key player in this process. Researchers at McMaster University have shown that this protein could play an essential role in managing cellular stress, a factor contributing to aging. By studying C. elegans worms, they observed that MANF helps eliminate abnormal proteins that accumulate in cells.
When misfolded proteins pile up, the cell experiences stress and signals the endoplasmic reticulum to stop their production. When this stress becomes chronic, it can damage cells, leading to their death and neurodegenerative diseases. MANF appears to protect cells by reducing this stress and facilitating the elimination of these proteins, thus helping to maintain cellular balance.
The study showed that increasing MANF in worms enhanced their lifespan and reduced protein aggregates. This has paved the way for research on using MANF to treat human age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Although the study was conducted on worms, researchers believe these findings are applicable to other species, including humans.
The researchers now aim to better understand the exact mechanisms underlying this protective action of MANF. In particular, they are focusing on its interactions with other proteins to determine how to manipulate these processes to develop new treatments.
Activating natural cellular cleaning systems through MANF could prolong the lifespan of cells and reduce damage related to aging. This research thus offers a new perspective for developing anti-aging therapies and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
The researchers continue their investigations to test this approach in more complex models. The goal is to apply these discoveries to human medicine. Although further studies are needed, the initial results are promising for the development of innovative treatments against age-related diseases.
These discoveries highlight the importance of understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of aging to better prevent age-associated diseases. Research on protective proteins could thus represent a turning point in regenerative medicine.
What is protein homeostasis and why is it essential?
Protein homeostasis refers to the set of mechanisms that regulate the quantity, quality, and proper functioning of proteins in cells. This includes their production, folding, maintenance, and elimination. "Folding" refers to the process by which a protein takes its correct three-dimensional shape to become functional. If this folding fails, the protein becomes dysfunctional and can cause cellular problems.
A disruption of this balance can result in the accumulation of misfolded or damaged proteins, leading to cellular stress. This phenomenon, often associated with aging, is linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, where the aggregation of abnormal proteins becomes a factor in neuronal degeneration.
To maintain this balance, cleaning mechanisms, such as the degradation of defective proteins by lysosomes or autophagy, are essential. When these mechanisms fail, cells suffer damage that can become irreversible, promoting the onset of serious pathologies.
Research on proteins like MANF, which help to maintain this balance, opens doors to developing treatments against these diseases. Restoring protein homeostasis could thus offer new therapeutic strategies for combating aging-related disorders.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND