Hormesis, adaptive epigenetic reorganization, and implications for human health and longevity.
Hormesis is a common phenomenon in a number of biomedical areas. However, the basic nature of this phenomenon remains largely unknown. Therefore, significant uncertainty is inevitable in attempts to apply hormesis as a pro-health and anti-aging tool. Evidence supporting that hormetic-like effects may be the result of a generalized whole-organism adaptive epigenetic response is reviewed. Specific hormesis-inducing interventions during development would allow to achieve an optimal balance between activation and repression of various genes and thus to prevent age-related degenerative diseases and slow aging. The reasons that oscillating temperature mild stress could potentially be used for human application are discussed.
Vaiserman
Alexander M
AM
Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling of Aging Processes, Institute of Gerontology, Vyshgorodskaya st. 67, Kiev, Ukraine. vaiserman@geront.kiev.ua