‘Anti-Age’ Gene Find

RESEARCHERS have dramatically increased the life spans of mice by genetically engineering them to produce a protein that controls insulin levels.

The discovery has sparked speculation that the protein – klotho – could help humans live longer as they have an almost identical klotho gene.

The protein acts as a hormone moving through the blood stream and binding to cells.

The US researchers developed a mutant strain of mice that produced no klotho.

Without it, after four weeks they showed signs of premature ageing – wrinkled skin, weak bones and bad lungs – and died at just two months old. Their average life span in captivity is two years

But a strain bred to produce extra klotho protein lived from 19 to 31 per cent longer than normal mice.

Researcher Dr Makoto Kuro-o of the University of Texas told Science magazine: “It could be one of the significant steps for developing anti-ageing therapy.”

However, he added: “The influence on insulin creates a problem for klotho should it be used as a therapy against ageing. It may extend life, but it could also make an animal diabetic.”