科学家们离延缓衰老又近了一步

科学家们离延缓衰老又近了一步

Getting old is inevitable, but scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) may be one step closer to being able to delay the aging process.

变老是不可避免的，但加州大学圣地亚哥分校(UCSD)的科学家们可能向延缓衰老进程又迈进了一步。

A team of scientists studied aging in yeast -- chosen because its cells are easily manipulated -- to try to understand if different cells age at the same rate, and for the same reason.

一组科学家研究了酵母的老化——之所以选择酵母是因为它的细胞易于操纵——试图了解不同的细胞是否以相同的速度和相同的原因老化。

What they found was intriguing. Even cells made of the same genetic materials and within the same environment aged in "strikingly distinct ways," according to the scientists, who published their findings in the journal Science.

他们的发现很有趣。科学家们在《科学》杂志上发表了他们的研究结果，他们说，即使是由相同的遗传物质构成的细胞，在相同的环境中，也会以“截然不同的方式”衰老。

About half of the yeast cells aged because of a gradual decline in the nucleolus, a round body located in the nucleus of a cell, the scientists learned, by using techniques including microfluidics and computer modeling.

通过使用微流体和计算机建模等技术，科学家们了解到，大约一半的酵母细胞由于核仁的逐渐减少而老化。核仁是一个位于细胞核中的圆形物体。

However, the other half aged because of a dysfunction of mitochondria, which produce a cell's energy.

然而，另一半衰老是因为产生细胞能量的线粒体功能障碍。

Scientists said that the cells go down one of two paths -- nuclear or mitochondrial -- early in life, and they continue with the aging route until they ultimately decline and die.

科学家们说，这些细胞在生命早期会沿着两种途径之一(核途径或线粒体途径)继续衰老，直到最终衰老并死亡。

Researchers performed further tests to understand how the cells behaved.

研究人员进行了进一步的测试以了解这些细胞的行为。

"To understand how cells make these decisions, we identified the molecular processes underlying each aging route and the connections among them, revealing a molecular circuit that controls cell aging, analogous to electric circuits that control home appliances," said Nan Hao, senior author of the study.

“为了了解细胞是如何做出这些决定的，我们确定了每一条老化路径背后的分子过程以及它们之间的联系，揭示了一个控制细胞衰老的分子电路，类似于控制家用电器的电路，”该研究的高级作者南浩说。

The team of researchers found they could manipulate -- and optimize -- the process of aging, using computer simulations to reprogram the master circuit and modify its DNA.

研究小组发现他们可以操纵并优化老化过程，利用计算机模拟重新编程主电路并修改其DNA。

They were then able to create a "novel aging route," with a dramatically extended lifespan. This, researchers believe, could ultimately lead to the possibility of delaying human aging.

然后他们就能创造出一种“新奇的老化途径”，显著延长寿命。研究人员相信，这最终有可能延缓人类衰老。

"This is an aging path that never existed, but because we understand how it is regulated, we can basically design or regulate a new aging path," Hao told CNN.

浩在接受CNN采访时表示:“这是一条从未存在过的衰老路径，但因为我们了解它是如何被调节的，所以我们基本上可以设计或调节一条新的衰老路径。”

"Our study raises the possibility of rationally designing gene or chemical-based therapies to reprogram how human cells age, with a goal of effectively delaying human aging and extending human healthspan," Hao said in a statement.

浩教授在一份声明中说：“我们的研究提出了合理设计基因或化学疗法来重新规划人类细胞衰老的可能性，目的是有效地延缓人类衰老，延长人类的健康寿命。”。

Scientists said that they plan to test their model in complex cells, organisms, and eventually, humans, as well as testing how combinations of therapeutics and drugs could lead to further longevity.

科学家们表示，他们计划在复杂的细胞、有机体，并最终在人类身上测试他们的模型，同时测试疗法和药物的结合如何能进一步延长寿命。

"Aging is a fundamental biological question. We know very little about the aging process," Hao told CNN. When it comes to medical relevance, he said, "aging is related to many diseases so if we can help slow aging or promote longevity, it will be beneficial for society."

衰老是一个基本的生物学问题。我们对衰老过程知之甚少，”浩告诉CNN。当谈到医学相关性时，他说，“衰老与许多疾病有关，所以如果我们能够帮助减缓衰老或促进长寿，这将对社会有益。”