Scientists have explained the connection of caffeine with the cellular mechanisms of aging
- Новости
- Society
- Scientists have explained the connection of caffeine with the cellular mechanisms of aging
Caffeine can affect not only the brain, but also the fundamental mechanisms of cell function. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found that this substance activates an ancient system that helps cells respond to lack of energy, stress, and DNA damage. The work was carried out on yeast cells, but the mechanism under study also exists in humans. How caffeine turned out to be associated with the aging process is described in the Izvestia article.
Caffeine and aging: scientists have found an unexpected link
The study was conducted by specialists from the Laboratory of Cellular Aging and Senescence at the Center for Molecular Cell Biology at Queen Mary University of London. The results are published in the journal Microbial Cell.
Caffeine is the most widespread neuroactive substance in the world. It is primarily known for its ability to increase alertness and concentration, but scientists have long drawn attention to the fact that its use may be associated with a lower risk of certain age-related diseases.
However, it has so far remained unclear how caffeine affects the processes inside the cell. This is precisely the question that has become the main goal of the new study.
For the work, the scientists used dividing yeast, a single—celled organism that is often referred to as a mini-human. Despite its simple structure, these yeasts have many biological mechanisms in common with human cells, which is why they are widely used to study fundamental cellular processes.
It turned out not to be the mechanism that was considered the main one.
A few years ago, the same research group showed that caffeine can prolong cell life by acting on the protein TOR (Target of Rapamycin). This protein serves as a kind of growth switch: it helps the cell determine whether it has enough energy and nutrients for further growth.
The TOR system is extremely ancient — its various variants have been regulating growth, energy use, and stress response in living organisms for more than 500 million years.
However, a new study has brought an unexpected finding. It turned out that caffeine, apparently, does not directly affect TOR, as previously assumed. Instead, it activates another important cellular system, the AMPK (AMP—activated protein kinase) enzyme, which plays the role of the main sensor of the energy state of the cell.
Charalampos (Babis) Rallis is a specialist in genetics and cell biology at Queen Mary University of London and the lead author of the study.
When cells don't have enough energy, AMPK is activated to help them deal with it. And our results show that caffeine helps to switch this mechanism.
How an ancient "energy sensor" helps cells
AMPK can be thought of as a kind of fuel level indicator inside the cell. When energy reserves decrease, it helps to rebuild cellular processes in such a way as to preserve vital functions.
According to the researchers, it is through this mechanism that caffeine is able to influence several processes at once, which are closely related to the aging of the body. These include cell growth, stress response, and repair of damaged DNA.
Scientists consider the influence on DNA repair systems to be particularly important. Genetic damage gradually accumulates in cells as they age, and if they are not eliminated effectively enough, the risk of disruption of normal cell function and the development of various diseases increases.
Why the results don't mean that coffee prolongs life yet
The authors of the study emphasize that the results obtained cannot be interpreted as evidence that drinking coffee will allow a person to live longer. All experiments were conducted on dividing yeast. Although many of their cellular mechanisms are similar to those of humans, the results of such studies are not always fully reproduced in the human body.
Nevertheless, scientists consider the work important because the AMPK system is present in both yeast and humans. This makes it a promising target for further studies of metabolism, age-related changes, and various diseases.
John-Patrick Alao, Researcher and Head of the study
These results help explain why caffeine may be beneficial for health and longevity. And they open up exciting possibilities for future research on how we could more directly cause these effects—through diet, lifestyle, or new medications.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
