A study looking for the reason why long -lived bats did not suffer from cancer with new horizons regarding biological defenses that resist the disease.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Rochester and published in the Nature Communications magazine, and the Yorik Alrt website was written about.
The researchers found that 4 common types of bats enjoy supernatural abilities that enable them to live up to 35 years, equivalent to about 180 years of human life, without cancer.
Dr. Vera Gorbonova and Dr. Andre Silwanov, two members of the University Department of the University of Rochester and the Willot Institute for Cancer, led this work. Among their most important discoveries on how to protect bats from cancer:
The researchers concluded that the bats and humans possess a gina called “P53” (P53), a tumor gene that is able to stop cancer. In B53, it limits its ability to work properly, in about half of the cases of human cancers).
A type known as the “small brown” bat – located in Rochester and northern New York State – contains two versions of B53, and has a high -elevated P53 activity compared to humans. The high levels of the B53 in the body can kill cancer cells before they become harmful in a process known as programmed cell death. However, if the B53 levels are very high, this is bad because it eliminates a very large number of cells. But bats have an improved system that effectively balances the death of cells.
The telomerase enzyme is inherently active in the bat, allowing its cells to multiply indefinitely. This is an advantage in aging because it supports tissue regeneration during aging and injury. However, if the cells are divided into an irreplaceable way, then the P -53 activity in the bat is compensated and can remove the cancer cells that may arise.
The bats have a very effective immune system, eliminating many lethal pathogens. This also contributes to the capabilities of anti -cancer bats by identifying and eliminating cancer cells. As humans are old, the immune system slows down, and people tend to develop more infections (in joints and other organs), but bats are good in controlling infections as well. This complex system is allowed to start viruses and life -related diseases.
How do bats apply to humans?
Cancer is a multi -stage process and requires many “strokes” as natural cells turn into malignant cells. Thus, the longer the life of a person or animal, the greater the possibility of cellular mutations accompanied by external factors (such as exposure to pollution and an unhealthy lifestyle, for example) that enhances cancer.
The researchers stated that it is surprising in the study of bats that the bats do not have a natural barrier against cancer. Its cells can turn into cancer with “two strikes” only – however, and because bats have other strong mechanisms to suppress the tumors, as shown above, they survive.
The researchers confirmed, in an important way, that they emphasized that the increase in the activity of the gene P53 is a good defense against cancer by eliminating it or slowing its growth. Several anti -cancer drugs are already targeting B53 activity, and more is being studied.
Celuanov added that the increase in the telomerase enzyme may also be a way to apply their results to humans with cancer, but this was not part of the current study.