August 17, 2017
Keio University School of Medicine
The normal metabolism of phosphorus in the body is essential for regulating lifespan, but its internal mechanism has not been clear. Now, a research group led by Kenji Miyamoto (Project Associate Professor, Endowed Department of Advanced Therapeutics for Musculoskeletal Diseases) at the Keio University School of Medicine has revealed for the first time in the world that Enpp1, a molecule that controls lifespan in response to phosphorus, regulates aging by significantly influencing the expression of Klotho.
In this study, when normal mice and mice unable to regulate phosphorus in their bodies were fed a diet containing 1.5 to 2 times the normal amount of phosphorus (an amount that does not induce signs of aging in normal mice), it was found that the mice unable to properly regulate phosphorus developed various aging-related conditions, such as arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis, and had their lifespans shortened to the point of death within a few weeks. These research findings indicate that dietary phosphorus leads to aging phenomena if not properly metabolized in the body, and have elucidated part of the molecular mechanism for its regulation.
In Japan's rapidly aging society, an understanding of aging is indispensable. This research is considered an important discovery for promoting healthy aging, which aims to help people lead healthy, independent lives. By elucidating part of the regulatory mechanism of aging, these findings may help prevent diseases related to healthy life expectancy, such as arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis.
These research findings were published in the interdisciplinary general journal "Scientific Reports" on August 10, 2017.
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