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Tokyo, November 4th
Research on mice sent to the International Space Station (ISS) has helped scientists identify a protein that appears to play an important role in the aging process, suggests a joint study by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Tohoku University.
The research showed that the protein, called factor 2 related to nuclear erythroid factor 2, or Nrf2, slowed the mice’s portion of aging-like biological changes, Kyodo News reported.
Known as a primary regulator of the antioxidant response, Nrf2 activates and deactivates the stress defense mechanism.
For the experiment, 12 mice were sent to the space station aboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket in 2018.
Half of these mice were genetically engineered to lack the Nrf2 protein.
The study revealed that the group of mice without Nrf2 underwent rapid changes in blood components similar to those induced by aging.
The group with the protein hardly showed such transformation.
“The findings highlight the important role Nrf2 plays in mitigating the impact of space-derived stress,” said Masayuki Yamamoto, a professor at Tohoku University who led the study.
According to the scientists, the discovery could pave the way for new treatments for a wide range of old age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
It could also lead to solutions to the health risks associated with space travel. – IANS
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