Johnson T E, Lithgow G J, Murakami S
Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, USA.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1996 Nov;51(6):B392-5. doi: 10.1093/gerona/51a.6.b392.
In the last decade it has become evident that many laboratory manipulations, both genetic and environmental, can lead to significant life extension. All or almost all of the observed life-extension phenotypes are associated with increased resistance and/or ability to respond to environmental stress. These observations show dramatically that life span is not maximized. We suggest that latent within many species-perhaps even humans-is the ability for large increases of life expectancy. The striking correlation between the increased stress resistance of all long-lived mutants in C. elegans and other species and the increased resistance of dietary restricted rodents to environmental toxins is consistent with an evolutionary conservation of a life-span maintenance/environmental stress resistance program. We suggest that it may be possible to develop methods for life extension in mammals, including humans, using relatively straightforward manipulations, such as drug treatments. It should be obvious that these findings have tremendous implications for human society at large, and we suggest that the implications of these findings should be explored.
在过去十年中，显而易见的是，许多基因和环境方面的实验室操作都能显著延长寿命。所有或几乎所有观察到的寿命延长表型都与对环境压力的抵抗力增强和/或应对能力提高有关。这些观察结果有力地表明，寿命并未达到最大化。我们认为，许多物种——甚至可能包括人类——体内都潜藏着大幅延长预期寿命的能力。秀丽隐杆线虫和其他物种中所有长寿突变体抗应激能力的增强与饮食限制的啮齿动物对环境毒素抵抗力的增强之间的显著相关性，与寿命维持/环境应激抵抗程序的进化保守性是一致的。我们认为，有可能通过相对简单的操作，如药物治疗，来开发延长哺乳动物（包括人类）寿命的方法。显然，这些发现对整个人类社会有着巨大的影响，我们建议应探讨这些发现的意义。
