Key points from article :
A longevity-associated gene identified in centenarians has been shown to rewind the heart's biological age by ten years, both in vitro and in vivo studies. Researchers demonstrated that the longevity-associated variant (LAV) of the BPIFB4 gene, commonly found in centenarians, could protect heart cells and reverse age-related heart damage. This discovery offers a promising new avenue for treating heart failure, a condition with limited therapeutic options for older patients.
The BPIFB4 gene is particularly prevalent in people who live to be over 100 years old, many of whom experience fewer cardiovascular complications than the general population. In this study, researchers tested the gene’s ability to protect and rejuvenate heart cells from patients with severe heart failure. Remarkably, they found that when the LAV-BPIFB4 gene was introduced into aging heart cells, the cells not only improved in function but also exhibited signs of rejuvenation. This was particularly evident in cells responsible for forming new blood vessels, which are often less efficient in older individuals with heart disease.
The team also conducted animal studies, delivering the LAV-BPIFB4 gene to middle-aged and elderly mice. The gene therapy halted the decline of heart function in middle-aged mice. Even more remarkably, in elderly mice, the gene reversed the heart's biological age by the human equivalent of more than ten years. The treated mice showed improved heart function, with better myocardial perfusion and increased microvasculature density, leading to healthier, younger hearts.
For the first time, a gene identified in long-living humans can be transferred to unrelated individuals to protect their hearts from age-related decline. Researchers believe that the LAV-BPIFB4 gene could be used to develop a new therapy to improve heart function and quality of life for older individuals.
The study's authors also noted that the gene therapy approach could also be applied to other age-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes. More work is needed to understand the long-term effects of LAV-BPIFB4 therapy and whether repeated treatments will be necessary. This breakthrough could represent a significant step forward in the fight against aging and its associated health problems.
Research led by Paolo Madeddu from the University of Bristol, published in Cardiovascular Research.
