LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE MAY 4 2001
IN THIS ISSUE, MAY 4 2001:
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE: Stem cells from postmortem brains yield
new life
WHAT'S HOT: Dried human cells brought back to life
FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK: Chronoforte, NADH
LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE: May 2001 issue now online
TOMORROW (MAY 5) IS FINAL DAY OF BLOOD TESTING SALE!
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE
Stem cells from postmortem brains yield new life
Visitors to the "What's Hot" section of the Life Extension Foundation's
website may recall a summary of an abstract presented at the November 2000
annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience which reported research
conducted by a team from the Salk Institute in LaJolla, California who
showed that stem cells derived from cadaver brains could be cultured,
frozen, and recultured. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that give rise
to differentiated cells, which may be able to help repair injured or
diseased tissue. This research, coauthored by neuroscientist Fred Gage,
was published this week as a Brief Communication in the journal Nature.
Dr Gage and colleagues described how tissue was taken from an eleven week
old postmortem brain and from a surgical biopsy removed from a
twenty-seven year old brain. Sections from the motor cortex, hippocampus,
corpus callosum and ventricular zone were prepared and cultured in a
medium containing growth factors. All of the tissue samples yielded
neural progenitor cells, with the highest yields from the hippocampus and
ventricular zone. For longterm storage, the cells were cryopreserved in a
10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) medium. Cells from the eleven week old
tissue sample completed over twice the amount of population doublings than
the twenty-seven year old tissue before showing signs of a significant
decline in growth rate, defined as aging. Neurons were spontaneously
generated at all stages with more complete differentiation of the cells
seen when the growth factors were replaced with forskolin and retinoic
acid.
Of the twenty-three brain samples similarly cultured so far, a twenty hour
period is the longest postmortem time from which the researchers have been
able to successfully culture cells. Cells cultured from younger donors
have been found to yield a greater number of neurons. Further research in
this area could develop an alternative to embryos as stem cell sources.
Another article published in the May 3 issue of Nature summarized research
published in the May 4 2001 issue of the journal Cell, in which stem cells
derived from bone marrow have been found to have "regenerative powers
greater than any previously found." While previous stem cell research
used whole groups of bone marrow cells, this research was able to
specifically identify stem cells, which make up one in 100,000 bone marrow
cells. When injected into bone marrow free mice, the stem cells migrated
to the bone marrow and their offspring were incorporated into lung,
intestine, skin and stomach. Research team member Diane Krause of Yale
University School of Medicine commented, "This is the most astounding
adult stem cell to date. It blows me away that organ repair is going on
constantly from bone-marrow-derived cells."
More research is needed to determine how to direct stem cells to specific
parts of the body. The researchers believe that the stem cells may be
comparable to embryonic stem cells. These and other sources may avoid the
dilemma of using embryonic stem cells and help to advance research that
could be otherwise politically curtailed.
WHAT'S HOT
Dried human cells brought back to life
In researched published in the April 21 2001 issue of New Scientist
Magazine, scientists at the Virginia Tech Center for Genomics in
Blacksburg, Virginia reported drying kidney cells and rehydrating them
eight days later to observe half of cells resume normal reproduction. The
technique, developed by researcher Malcolm Potts, is based on the
observation of a cyanobacterium that can dry out and survive for centuries
on rock surfaces by surrounding itself with a substance called glycan that
protects cell membranes by forming a coating over the cells. Potts and
colleague David Helm purified glycan and combined it with human kidney
cells, then dried the cells at room temperature. After eight days, 50% of
the cells recovered from drying and began dividing, a remarkable feat as
human cells usually die within seconds when deprived of water. Potts
announced at a Society for Experimental Biology meeting held this month in
Canterbury, England, "It's a breakthrough. By applying the techniques we
have found in cyanobacteria, we can dry out human cells. It's very
exciting."
In a New Scientist article published last year, a researcher at the
University of California, San Diego reported that human cells dried for
five days had been revived, but the cells had to be first genetically
modified to produce trehalose, a sugar that protects cells against
freezing and drying from the inside. The newest technique utilized
nonmodifed normal cells.
The technique may have many possible uses such as prolonged storage of
blood products and enhanced shelf life for vaccines and antibodies. The
Virginia Tech researchers hope that in the future tissues and organs could
be dried and revived, but they don't believe that this will be achieved by
the use glycan alone. Potts stated, "In the end it's bound to require a
combination of different approaches."
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063839/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK
Chronoforte
A large body of published evidence has now established that oxidative
modifications of proteins [carbonylation, etc.] occur during aging and in
a variety of pathophysiologic conditions, many being neurodegenerative
diseases including Alzheimer's disease.
Carbonylation is caused by aldehydes that can be neutralized by
supplementation with carnosine and by increasing glutathione at the
cellular level with alpha lipoic acid.
In addition to protecting against carbonylation, it is crucial to maintain
youthful mitochondrial energy production and immune function.
Acetyl-l-carnitine facilitates cellular energy production, while nettle
leaf extract suppresses high levels of a pro-inflammatory cytokine called
tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) believed to be a cause of immune
senescence (decline of the immune system in aging).
ChronoForte is a multi-ingredient anti-aging supplement that provides the
best documented nutrients to protect against carbonylation and a host of
other newly identified aging factors.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063840/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
NADH
Enada NADH is a coenzyme, antioxidant form of vitamin B3 developed by
Georg D Birkmayer MD, PhD, and world renowned biochemical researccher.
NADH is a naturally occurring coenzyme found in all living cells and is
necessary for cellular development and energy production. Enada NADH is
absorbed by the body and enhances your ability to restore the body's
cellular energy source. Enada is a supplement for people whose lifestyle
demands more energy. Healthy people taking NADH can experience improved
alertness, concentration and overall energy enhancement.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063841/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 ISSUE NOW ONLINE
As we see it: The silent stroke epidemic
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/may2001_awsi.html
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063842/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Cover story: What's wrong with the FDA
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063843/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Mercury amalgam toxicity
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063844/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Antiaging Clinic at Redwood: A followup
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063845/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
In the news: Higher vitamin C levels related to lower mortality, New
findings on I3C, More fish means lower stroke risk in women, Veggies
protect against lung cancer
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063846/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Briefs: DHEA precautions
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063847/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Products: What is the proper dose of melatonin?
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063848/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
May 2001 Medical Updates
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063849/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
May 2001 Abstracts
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/may2001_abs_1.html
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063850/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
LAST DAY OF BLOOD TESTING SALE, May 5 2001
The high cost of blood testing keeps most people from discovering
correctable risk factors that could predispose them to developing
degenerative disease. The Life Extension Foundation broke down these high
price barriers years ago by offering discounted blood tests directly to
the public. Please note that our retail prices are lower than what most
commercial laboratories and doctors charge. Until May 5, 2001, The Life
Extension Buyers Club is offering an extra-special member discount on all
blood tests.
Foundation members residing in South Florida can have their blood drawn at
the Life Extension Nutrition Center located at 1100 Commercial Blvd. in
Ft. Lauderdale. Those residing outside of South Florida now have access to
hundreds of licensed blood drawing stations. For information about blood
testing or directions to any of these blood drawing stations, call
1-800-208-3444. When you place your order, you will be sent by a list of
blood drawing stations in your area. After your blood is drawn, the final
test results will be mailed directly to you. To order blood tests, go to
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151063851/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Visit our website at www.lef.org
If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of
Life Extension Update, or on any other life extension topics, send them to
ddye@lifeextension.com
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
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