英国研究人员日前报告发现了8个与衰老相关的基因,它们共同控制着人体内一种名为DHEAS的类固醇的含量。
人在20岁左右时,体内DHEAS的含量达到最高峰,然后逐渐衰减,到85岁时可能只有峰值的5%。研究显示,体内DHEAS含量不足可能诱发多种疾病,如Ⅱ型糖尿病和淋巴瘤等。
英国伦敦国王学院研究人员在学术刊物《科学公共图书馆—遗传学》(PLoS Genetics)上报告说,他们对欧洲和美国约1.5万人进行了基因组分析,发现有8个基因控制着人体内的DHEAS含量。
研究人员说,这是首个针对DHEAS的大规模基因研究。下一步的研究重点是寻找调控这8个基因的方法,使人体内DHEAS含量稳定在较高水平,这或许能帮助人们更加健康长寿。(生物谷Bioon.com)
生物谷推荐原文出处:
PLoS Genet 7(4): e1002025. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002025
Eight Common Genetic Variants Associated with Serum DHEAS Levels Suggest a Key Role in Ageing Mechanisms
Guangju Zhai1#, Alexander Teumer2#, Lisette Stolk3,4#, John R. B. Perry5,6#, Liesbeth Vandenput7#, Andrea D. Coviello8#, Annemarie Koster9#, Jordana T. Bell1,6, Shalender Bhasin10, Joel Eriksson7, Anna Eriksson7, Florian Ernst2, Luigi Ferrucci11, Timothy M. Frayling5, Daniel Glass1, Elin Grundberg1,12, Robin Haring13, ?sa K. Hedman6, Albert Hofman4,14, Douglas P. Kiel15, Heyo K. Kroemer16, Yongmei Liu17, Kathryn L. Lunetta18, Marcello Maggio19, Mattias Lorentzon7, Massimo Mangino1, David Melzer5, Iva Miljkovic20, MuTHER Consortium, Alexandra Nica12,21, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx22, Ramachandran S. Vasan8,23, Fernando Rivadeneira3,4, Kerrin S. Small1,12, Nicole Soranzo1,12, André G. Uitterlinden3,4,14, Henry V?lzke24, Scott G. Wilson1,25,26, Li Xi27, Wei Vivian Zhuang18, Tamara B. Harris9?, Joanne M. Murabito8,23?, Claes Ohlsson7?, Anna Murray5?, Frank H. de Jong3?, Tim D. Spector1*, Henri Wallaschofski13?
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) is the most abundant circulating steroid secreted by adrenal glands—yet its function is unknown. Its serum concentration declines significantly with increasing age, which has led to speculation that a relative DHEAS deficiency may contribute to the development of common age-related diseases or diminished longevity. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association data with 14,846 individuals and identified eight independent common SNPs associated with serum DHEAS concentrations. Genes at or near the identified loci include ZKSCAN5 (rs11761528; p = 3.15×10?36), SULT2A1 (rs2637125; p = 2.61×10?19), ARPC1A (rs740160; p = 1.56×10?16), TRIM4 (rs17277546; p = 4.50×10?11), BMF (rs7181230; p = 5.44×10?11), HHEX (rs2497306; p = 4.64×10?9), BCL2L11 (rs6738028; p = 1.72×10?8), and CYP2C9 (rs2185570; p = 2.29×10?8). These genes are associated with type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, actin filament assembly, drug and xenobiotic metabolism, and zinc finger proteins. Several SNPs were associated with changes in gene expression levels, and the related genes are connected to biological pathways linking DHEAS with ageing. This study provides much needed insight into the function of DHEAS.