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In the relentless quest to enhance human health and longevity, scientists at the University of Exeter may have identified an unlikely hero: hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. Sponsored by the US Army and The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, a recent study revealed that directing small quantities of H2S to specific cell regions in adult worms significantly improved their health and vitality as they aged.
Published in the journal PNAS, the research suggests that focusing H2S on the cells’ mitochondria—often referred to as the cell’s powerhouse—could be a future treatment for promoting healthy aging. Professor Tim Etheridge from the University of Exeter explains, “Worms are a powerful genetic tool to study human health and disease and offer a strong platform to quickly identify new potential therapeutics. Diseases related to aging take a huge toll on society. Our results indicate that H2S, administered to specific parts of the cell in tiny quantities, could one day be used to help people live healthier for longer.”
The study involved exposing adult worms to AP39, a molecule designed to deliver H2S directly to the mitochondria. The results were remarkable: the integrity of the worms’ mitochondria improved, and the worms remained active and healthy well into their later stages of life.
Mitochondrial health is crucial for overall well-being, with many age-associated conditions—such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, muscular dystrophy, and primary mitochondrial diseases—stemming from a decline in mitochondrial function. The researchers identified a group of proteins known as transcription factors that mediate gene expression during aging. These factors were uniquely influenced by H2S, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues, particularly for muscle-related conditions.
Professor Etheridge’s team has previously utilized H2S to target skeletal muscles in worms. However, this is the first time such a technique has been applied to natural aging. Recognizing the potential of their findings, the University of Exeter has funneled the foundational technology to MitoRx Therapeutics, a spin-out company dedicated to developing next-generation compounds for treating age-related ailments, including neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington’s disease and conditions like muscular dystrophy.
Co-author Professor Matt Whiteman underscores that the goal is not just to extend life but to ensure healthier lives into old age. “This study is not about extending life – it’s about living healthier lives well into older age. This could have huge benefits to society. We’re excited to see this research move to the next stages over the coming years, and hope it will one day form the basis of new treatments which we have the potential to develop with MitoRx,” Whiteman said.
While the study’s primary focus was not lifespan extension, worms exposed to H2S did live slightly longer, but more importantly, they maintained youthful physiology until the end. “We saw a small extension of lifespan in the worms that were targeted with H2S, and what’s unique here is that we extended healthspan – or the time they lived healthy lives. The worms still died, albeit later than normally expected, but they died very active and with young physiology,” Whiteman added.
With these promising results, it is conceivable that future therapies derived from H2S could benefit humans. The pathway to healthy aging might indeed be paved by a gas and the dedicated researchers who believed in its potential. For more details, refer to the study titled “Mitochondrial sulfide promotes lifespan and healthspan through distinct mechanisms in developing versus adult treated Caenorhabditis elegans” published in PNAS.
