The search for biomarkers of aging: next stop INK4a/ARF locus.
Although several biomarkers of aging have been described in the literature, it is only recently that gerontologists have started to search for molecular biomarkers of aging. A gene or a set of genes that are expressed in a wide range of tissues and exhibit an age-dependent, easily quantifiable increase in their expression represent a possible molecular biomarker of aging. Because the physiology of an organism is profoundly affected by the pattern of gene expression, it is hoped that molecular biomarkers of aging will more accurately predict the physiological age of an organism than the chronological age. A recent report from Sharpless's laboratory examines the possibility that the tumor suppressors p16 and ARF (encoded by the INK4a/ARF locus) represent molecular biomarkers of aging in rodent models.
Dimri
Goberdhan P
GP
Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, Evanston, Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. gdimri@enh.org
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003224:Congo Red / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D010880:Piperidines; C493158:SLF-CR compound; D003224:Congo Red; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins