Two blood proteins have been shown by scientists to influence how long and healthy a life we live, by research including ORCADES and Viking Health Study - Shetland data. Image Developing drugs that target these proteins could be one way of slowing the ageing process, according to the largest genetic study of ageing. As we age, our bodies begin to decline after we reach adulthood. This results in age-related health conditions and eventually death. This latest research investigates which proteins could influence the ageing process. Many complex and related factors determine the rate at which we age and die. These include genetics, lifestyle, environment and chance. The study sheds light on the part proteins play in this process. Inheritance Some people naturally have higher or lower levels of certain proteins because of the DNA they inherit from their parents. These protein levels can, in turn, affect a person’s health. University of Edinburgh researchers combined the results of six large genetic studies into human ageing. Each contains genetic information on hundreds of thousands of people, with one of them using information from our studies. Researchers identified two proteins, among 857 studied, that had significant negative effects across various ageing measures. People who inherited DNA that causes raised levels of these proteins were found to be frailer, had poorer self-rated health and were less likely to live a long life than those who did not. Protein roles The first protein found, called apolipoprotein(a) (LPA), is made in the liver. It's thought to play a role in clotting. High levels of LPA can increase the risk of atherosclerosis – a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. Heart disease and stroke are possible outcomes. The second protein, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), is primarily found on the surfaces of endothelial cells – a single-cell layer that lines blood vessels. The protein controls vessels’ expansion and retraction – and function in blood clotting and the immune response. Levels of VCAM1 increase when the body sends signals to indicate it has detected an infection. VCAM1 then allows immune cells to cross the endothelial layer, as seen for people who have naturally low levels of these proteins. Improved ageing The researchers say that drugs used to treat diseases by reducing levels of LPA and VCAM1 could have the added benefit of improving quality and length of life. One such example is a clinical trial that is testing a drug to lower LPA as a way of reducing the risk of heart disease. There are currently no clinical trials involving VCAM1, but studies in mice have shown how antibodies lowering this protein’s level improved cognition during old age. The identification of these two key proteins could help extend the healthy years of life. Drugs that lower these protein levels in our blood could allow the average person to live as healthy and as long as individuals who have won the genetic lottery and are born with genetically low LPA and VCAM1 levels. Doctor Paul TimmersLead researchers, MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh This study showcases the power of modern genetics to identify two potential targets for future drugs to extend lifespan. Professor Jim WilsonViking Genes Principal Investigator and Chair of Human Genetics, at the Usher Institute at University of Edinburgh The paper has been published in the journal Nature Aging, and can be found at the link below: Mendelian randomization of genetically independent aging phenotypes identifies LPA and VCAM1 as biological targets for human aging This article was published on 2024-01-25
