Aging has been studied extensively. Conversely, longevity, and particularly human longevity, has been neglected (1). Hundreds of theories are available on aging, indicating that scientists are still far from understanding the biological and cultural basis of this process. To this long list of theories, we have added a new one, based on the consideration that the maintenance of soma integrity is the consequence of a continuous activity of a limited number of cellular defense mechanism (2-5). We have hypothesized that DNA repair, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, production of heat shock and stress proteins, and activity of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase form a network of interconnected cellular defense mechanisms, whose global efficiency has been evolutionary set at different levels in different species and in different individuals of the same species.We have also speculated that apoptosis is a fundamental biological process which can join the list of cellular defense mechanisms, being an ancestral process used to eliminate damage, mutated, viral-infected or transformed cells (6,7). On the whole, the above mentioned cellular defense mechanisms can be considered as the basic molecular and cellular anti-aging systems.
Immunosenescence in humans: deterioration or remodelling?
GUIDO, Marcello;
1995-01-01
Abstract
Aging has been studied extensively. Conversely, longevity, and particularly human longevity, has been neglected (1). Hundreds of theories are available on aging, indicating that scientists are still far from understanding the biological and cultural basis of this process. To this long list of theories, we have added a new one, based on the consideration that the maintenance of soma integrity is the consequence of a continuous activity of a limited number of cellular defense mechanism (2-5). We have hypothesized that DNA repair, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, production of heat shock and stress proteins, and activity of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase form a network of interconnected cellular defense mechanisms, whose global efficiency has been evolutionary set at different levels in different species and in different individuals of the same species.We have also speculated that apoptosis is a fundamental biological process which can join the list of cellular defense mechanisms, being an ancestral process used to eliminate damage, mutated, viral-infected or transformed cells (6,7). On the whole, the above mentioned cellular defense mechanisms can be considered as the basic molecular and cellular anti-aging systems.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
