Comments on: Rapamycin – the Easter Island drug that extends lifespan of old mice

By: Michael Lerman

Michael Lerman — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:03:10 +0000

In the very near future, verily, humans may be genetically modified to carry an additional functional copy of the highly conserved gene, FUS1/TUSC2. I classify it as a Janus (two-faced) type gene that is most suited for prevention and gene therapy of cancer. On one hand it’s a classical tumor suppressor gene (TSG) on the other it’s a powerful regulator of the immune system. Over-expression of this gene will suppress and prevent tumor formation and boost the immune system leading to overproduction of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and most effector cells thus activating the immune attack on tumor cells. In addition, individuals with an extra functional copy of the gene will be resistant to immune and infectious diseases including HIV and will enjoy longer lives through its positive effect on the Thioredoxin peroxidase activity.
Michael Lerman, Ph.D., M.D.

By: Aging Kazakhstan President Asks His Scientists to Find Fountain of Youth | Discoblog

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:27:12 +0000

[...] Discoblog: Doctors Stumped by 16-Year-Old With Toddler’s Body, Brain Not Exactly Rocket Science: Rapamycin – the Easter Island drug that extends lifespan of old mice Not Exactly Rocket Science: Low-calorie diets improve memory in old age Visual Science: Commuting [...]

By: Air Yeezy

Air Yeezy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:24:21 +0000

I love this the mouse,it is so Funny.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:24:17 +0000

This is interesting. I wonder will the Rapanui people of Easter Island be compensated for the bacteria taken from their island home?

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:31:34 +0000

It was only due to a lack of time that I didn't managed to add two pairs of fuzzy slippers onto the little type too... Btw, remember the sensationalist headlines I mentioned up top? I think this is the biggest FAIL yet: http://twitpic.com/9rst7

By: Liz Newton

Liz Newton — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:28:57 +0000

I LOVE this picture of the mouse. I want one.

By: Longevity Switch?

Longevity Switch? — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:09:20 +0000

@becca — So shutting down TOR altogether can be lethal, but why hasn’t natural selection reduced its activity, if it extends life, perhaps allowing one more litter? Maybe because “TOR deficiency results in… marked gonadal degeneration” (Current Biology 12:1448)?
My main point was that thinking about the tradeoffs that have shaped evolution (current vs. future reproduction, potential longevity vs. disease resistance, etc.) is the difference between understanding and magic.

By: becca

becca — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:51:18 +0000

Ah-ha! I knew it! Calorie restriction related life expansion depends on autophagy; rapamycin induces autophagy directly and is therefore more effective! I will harness the Awesome Power of Autophagy and create the elixir of life! Whahahahahaha
/autophagy-obsessed mad scientist bit
I’m embarrassed to admit I did not know of the immuno-suppressive effects of rapamycin. I wonder how best to reconcile that with other ways in which it is beneficial to the immune system (e.g. a recent Nature Medicine paper where they used rapamycin to improve BCG vaccination against tuberculosis).
@Longevity Switch?- keep in mind mTOR knockouts are embryonic lethal at a very early stage; and that it’s a pretty evolutionarily conserved protein.
Not being able to direct protein synthesis might have something to do with the embryonic lethality. Frankly, I’m amazed any cell can manage without mTOR given all the stuff it does.
So there’s comparative genomic evidence it’s being selected for, and molecular/cellular evidence that suggests it would be relatively difficult to select against.

By: Longevity Switch?

Longevity Switch? — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:09:35 +0000

Assuming increased longevity really comes from suppressing TOR — suppressing cryptic infections, as suggested by Gordon, is another interesting hypothesis — why hasn’t past natural selection shut down TOR? Does TOR provide benefits early in life or under conditions other than those tested? Or does TOR perhaps increase reproduction at the expense of longevity?
We have recently published a paper exploring longevity-vs.-reproduction trade-offs in the context of environmental cues that predict changes in overall population size. Our hypothesis explains why mild stress (including calorie restriction and low doses of some toxins) often increases longevity.

By: rob

rob — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:08:59 +0000

Great post. The mechanism of how this works is intriguing. Is there any sir2/calorie restriction connection to rapamycin?