Naked Molerats – giving a helping hand

Naked Molerats – giving a helping hand

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21829224.800-naked-mole-rats-reveal-why-they-are-immune-to-cancer.html#.UhDFpxY73x4

IF HUMANS lived as long relative to body size as naked mole rats, we would last for 600 years. These mouse–sized, subterranean African mammals live for over 30 years and if that wasn’t impressive enough, they don’t get cancer. Now we have a clue why, which could lead to treatments for a variety of human conditions.

Vera Gorbunova at the University of Rochester in New York and colleagues have found that the extracellular matrix in naked mole rats – the gloop that supports tissues – is rich in a substance that stops cancers growing.
The magic ingredient is a polysaccharide called hyaluronan, which acts as a lubricant in the body. It is present in a unique, heavyweight form in naked mole rats known as high–molecular mass hyaluronan (HMM–HA). The animal – which spends most of its life underground – probably evolved the special form to help it squeeze through tunnels but, seemingly as a bonus, the lubricant confers cancer resistance.

This is a very interesting story, scientists have discovered that the extra cellular matrix that exists in naked molerats (the gloop that supports tissues) is full of a substance – polysaccharide called hyaluronan. Whilst this is excellent news for the mole rats, it also could be beneficial for humans. Whilst it would not be practical or safe to use this substance to cure cancer in humans (in order to do so one might have to manipulate every cell in the body to express it) it could be used to treat a variety of other conditions. Chris Hine of the Harvard School of Public Health imagines that we could use this substance for treating arthritis: “We could imagine engineering cells found in the joints of a patient suffering from arthritis to express HMM–HA and then placing them back, possibly alleviating the symptoms associated with the disease”. This is clearly a more practical and less risky use for this substance which would make a considerable impact on peoples lives. He also believes that this could be used to modify human skin, brain, eyes and blood vessels. He says: “As hyaluronan production decreases in these tissues with age, it would be interesting if we could slow ageing by engineering these organs to produce HMM–HA.” This is slightly controversial; the ethical implications need to first be considered before one embarks on such a venture. Yes medicine has of course increased life expectancy, but such a drug could push this even further. The whole dynamic of society would change if humans could produce this drug naturally.

Chris Faulkes, at Queen Mary, University of London, believes it could be possible that one day some of the cool features of the animals could be engineered into humans. Again, as with the example above, this is slightly controversial. Presumably if we engineered these ‘cool features’ into the human body it would then be passed on to our offspring. This would be a germ line therapy which we could have no idea of how this drug could change or mutate over time in future generations. Serious consideration needs to be made before a decision like this is made. I would much prefer humanity to remain human and risk free of mutations rather than have some ‘cool features’.

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