Open-minded scepticism: inferring the causal mechanisms of human ageing from genetic perturbations.

摘要: Given the myriad of age-related changes and many proposed mechanistic theories ageing, a major problem in gerontology is distinguishing causes from effects. This review aims to identify evaluate those mechanisms which have gathered experimental support favour seeing them as cause rather than an effect ageing. Recent results related energy metabolism free radical DNA damage ageing are reviewed their predictions evaluated through systems biology rationale. Crucial this approach genetic manipulations animal models that enable researchers discriminate effects focus on causal structure human Based system-level interpretation, GH/IGF-1 axis appears most likely explanation for caloric restriction possible mechanism Although much work remains fully understand process, there little evidence radicals factor mammalian though they may be involved signalling pathways On other hand, studying how machinery affects promising avenue disclosing process.