Thaindian News

Washington, Oct 14 (IANS) Scientists prevented age-related changes in the hearts of mice and preserved cardiac function by suppressing a form of the PI3K gene, according to a new study. The findings may have major implications for potential human cardiac patients.
“The study provides evidence that delaying or preventing heart failure in humans may be possible,” said Tetsuo Shioi, senior study author and assistant professor of medicine at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

“Advanced age is a major risk factor for heart failure. One reason is that aging increases the chance of exposure to cardiovascular risk factors. However, natural changes due to aging may also compromise the cardiovascular system,” Shioi added.

The American Heart Association (AHA) says 5.7 million Americans have heart failure, and nearly 10 out of every 1,000 people over age 65 suffer heart failure every year.

Shioi and his colleagues studied elderly mice genetically engineered to suppress the activity of one form of the PI3K gene, which is a part of the insulin/IGF-1 signalling system that helps regulate the lifespan of cells.

A variation of PI3K, known as isoform, plays an important role in tissue aging. Suppressing the isoform’s activity in the roundworm C. elegans extends its life. And in fruit flies, suppression prevents the age-dependent decline of heart function, according to Kyoto release.

They compared aged mice with a functional isoform to aged mice with suppressed isoform and found that mice with the suppressed gene had improved cardiac function; less fibrosis (fibrosis causes the heart to lose flexibility); fewer biological markers of aging, among others.

“This study showed that aging of the heart can be prevented by modifying the function of insulin and paves the way to preventing age-associated susceptibility to heart failure,” Shioi said.

These findings were published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.