Small molecule βOHB produced during fasting.
In a recent paper in Molecular Cell, a group of researchers from Georgia State University discussed the relationship between fasting or calorie restriction and anti-aging. It is said that fasting or calorie restriction is helpful to anti-aging, but the actual mechanism is still unclear. The research team found that βOHB, a molecule produced during fasting or calorie restriction, has an anti-aging effect on blood vessels and will reduce the deterioration and occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.
β-hydroxybutyric acid, full name β-βOHB, is a water-soluble molecule, which is produced by the liver in hunger states such as eating less and fasting, and during long-term strenuous exercise. Ming-Zou Hui, the lead author of the research team, said that βOHB is a compound that can delay vascular aging and provide a chemical connection between calorie restriction and fasting and anti-aging effects. Mechanism of βOHB delaying vascular aging
The researchers found that βOHB can promote cell division and prevent these cells from aging. In addition, they also found that when βOHB binds to an RNA binding protein, it will increase a stem cell factor called Oct4 (octamer) and increase the activity in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells of mice. Oct4 can increase the key factors to resist DNA damage and lead to aging, and keep blood vessels young. Oct4 may be the target of drugs or pharmacology to slow down or prevent aging, because as long as the vascular system becomes younger, people are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
The research team said that it is difficult to persuade people to fast for a long time to increase the concentration of β-OHB, so finding new chemicals with similar functions to β-OHB and reducing cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's disease by eating them will be the next goal.
Journal archives: Molecular cells aim to publish the best research results of molecular biology. The journal covers core cellular processes, including DNA replication, recombination and repair. Chromatin biology and genome organization, transcription, RNA processing and decay, noncoding RNA function, translation, protein folding, modification and quality control, signal transduction pathway, cell cycle and checkpoint, cell death, autophagy and metabolism.
Reference article: β -hydroxybutyrate prevents vascular diseases through the up-regulation of OCT 4 mediated by HNRNP A 1