In cellular biology, cellular senescence, is recognized as a stamp of authenticity and basic driver of organismal aging. In fact, as per scientific knowledge, cellular senescence is regulated by epigenetic as well as genetic factors.
And, so far, only a handful of genes associated with aging have been reported. Furthermore, the identity and roles of additional genes associated with regulating human cellular aging remain undiscovered. Hitherto, there remains lack of systematic investigation on intervention of these genes to treat aging and aging associated disorders.
Meanwhile, there are several questions pertaining to aging in the human gene that remain unanswered. How many genes are present that promote aging in the human genome? What are the molecular mechanisms via genes regulate aging? Can gene therapy mitigate individual aging? In this context, a team of researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences shed new light on the role of genes in regulating aging.
Study leads to new therapeutic approach in aging pathology
Recently, researchers at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Institute of Genomics also of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have collaborated to discover new genes that promote human senescence. The team carried this out by using a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening system in order to provide a new therapeutic approach to treat aging and aging-related pathologies.
For the study, researchers carried out genome-scale CRISPR/Cas9-based screening to comprehend premature aging of human stem cells, and discovered more than 100 gene candidate that promote senescence. In addition, the researchers verified how the top 50 gene candidates are effective to promoting cellular rejuvenation employing targeted sgRNAs.
As a result of this, KAT7 identified as one of the top targets for alleviating cellular senescence.