Old age is canceled!

Maxim Skulachev / / Kommersant.

We were able to talk to his son, Maxim Skulachev, member of the project, to. b. n. , Director of the Institute of Moscow State University Mitoinzhenerii «Mitotech».





- What is your project?.

- In the late '60s and early '70s was made one of the greatest discoveries in the biology of the twentieth century, it was determined where in the body takes the energy. Before that, people knew that the intracellular organelles - the mitochondria - consume oxygen and produce energy, but how they do it, no one understood. The brilliant biochemist Peter Mitchell from the UK suggested that in the process of storing energy - combustion in oxygen of nutrients - in the membrane of the mitochondria formed an electric potential, which is the primary energy ... He predicted the existence of this power, and proved it was the Moscow State University, in the laboratory of Vladimir Petrovich Skulachev, using substances that can penetrate into the mitochondria and there is accumulating. These substances were identified Skulachev ions, since he was the first ... Since Skulachev ions accumulate only in the mitochondria, then if they are ... For example, antioxidants - because mitochondria provide us with not only energy, but also by free radicals. Many people think that free radicals - that's what came out of the air into the body or out of a bad environment. But the major part of them we manufacture ourselves. Accordingly, there is good reason to think that if you remove the excess free radicals in mitochondria, life will get better. By the way, with age, our mitochondria produce more and more of these radicals. And from this came the idea of ​​the unexpected application of these antioxidants delivered to the mitochondria, what might they impact on the process of aging, because they can reduce the level of free radicals. And this is our project was born, so it is clear that such substances can make drugs that have very high biological activity, and possibly even a cure for the extension of youth.



- How exactly will this work ...
- It's true, and so. The only way to convey to the human synthetic substance - making him the medicine. And it can only be on the disease - cardiac arrhythmia, macular degeneration, stroke, etc. n.



Therefore, the main things which we are now working - this is medicine for diseases. And if we will have good luck, and it turns out that a certain set of diseases we can cure, then we expect to reach physicians and say, ... And in general - look at their photos! . So let's have already recognize that a substance that preserves youth ... Of course, this is an optimistic scenario. The overall plan is that over the next 10-12 years will be a cure for specific diseases, and then, if all goes well, and if you can track the history of the disease those people who were treated with this medicine, then perhaps we can prove that it affects .



- That is a perfect remedy? .
- A number of diseases, which are aimed at these medicines today are considered incurable, they are simply no drugs. For example, retinal degeneration. Here, we aspire to create a ... And in some cases - stroke, heart arrhythmia - in fact, there is a huge number of drugs. But also a lot of patients, they are insensitive. And perhaps there is need to rely on a combination of drugs - our own and other. Because it would be foolish to assume that an antioxidant can cure everything.



- What caused the aging?.

- There are two views on aging - pessimistic and optimistic. First - this is a classic idea that this is the inevitable accumulation of errors, all mutations and damage. The more you live, the more they accumulate, and eventually die. And we are optimists believe that everything is arranged differently, there is a special genetic program, which we deliberately driving into the pit and does not allow us to live longer than a certain age. And it not only limits the life span, but also makes us gradually grow old, decrepit. The optimism of this approach is that, if aging - the accumulation of random errors, then there is nothing that can not be done. And you need to protect against these errors, all the organs, it is virtually impossible. And if it's genetic program, it is very easy to break. And this can be done in one substance, one small place settings of this program, and do not necessarily protect the entire body from everything.



- T. e. the body will give a team does not get old?.

- He will not give a command to the aging.



- And why is everyone will die?.

- There are many causes of death other than old age. There is a disease - heart attacks are the same - that there are no age, but from some unfortunate combination of circumstances. At the head may drop a brick, have mental health problems, a huge number of road accidents. And we really do not know how people will live, if you disable a program of aging.



- That is, people will not get sick, will not grow old and die, unless it happens to the accident? .

- Throughout its history, people are gradually cut off the main causes of death - hunger, cold, predators, infectious diseases. And all the time, got out some new. What is most interesting - the maximum duration of his life has not changed. Since ancient times as they lived 80-90 years old, and live. Another thing that used to live to 80 years was a great event, and now it is a mass phenomenon. That is to say it has increased the average life expectancy rather than maximum. Centuries- old men were in the seventeenth century. A 150 -year-olds as there was then, so there is now. In the early twentieth century the invention of anesthesia and antibiotics, prolonged the life of a person (on average) at times. If at the beginning of the twentieth century, someone fell ill with pneumonia, it has already been sentenced. A penicillin canceled this program and gave the man a chance to live longer. And has anything changed in society? . But this man and then dies of a cause of the next - for example, from cardiovascular disease. Therefore, I am sure that if we cancel a program of aging, then all will live in good condition up to 80-90 years - but not until 200 years. And most likely, again, there will some new cause of death. I do not believe that anti- aging program, you can essentially extend the maximum age of the person.



- Now your project is moved to a new level - what is it?.

- We are now closer than ever to the most interesting things in the biologist - to test in humans. We have already begun their preparations for our eye. But the real breakthrough would be if the experiment on humans to confirm that we have seen in animals.



- To whom you are testing a drug?.

- The volunteers. Vladimir Petrovich ( Skulachev 's father - a comment. Red. ) Of course, extremist, and tried it on himself, but he - the only one who has the right to do as the inventor. For the rest of it is strictly prohibited. By the way, it would be nice to voice it in your article, since we are tortured by sick people who call asking for his medication, but do not strictly.



- Explain, please phrase your father's ...
- Indeed, the aging species evolve faster. A very simple example - the ... Suppose we have two hares, one of which took place some sort of mutation, and now he's smarter than the other. While they are both young, they are great escape from the fox, and wise there is no advantage. But that's starting to get old rabbits, slower running. And then one that is smarter - which saw a fox earlier and better than your way - run away, and another, the usual, eat. And those who escaped, smart spawn leverets and give their ...



Then we have a generation ... Otherwise, it would take thousands of years, and it happens in one season. It follows from this hypothesis that the species that came up with something that allowed him to solve their problems once and for which the pressure of the environment is very weak, does not require aging. After all, he does not evolve, does not lead the fight for survival. For example, not very clear why accelerate the evolution of an octopus - they are the kings of the sea, the most intelligent, powerful, fast. Accordingly, they do not age. After breeding the female simply stops eating and dies of starvation. They have their own programs, but there is this humiliating period of decay. And the de facto person has already passed in this state. We do not use evolution, and aging we do not need.



- The religious fanatics did not accuse you that you interfere in the natural process?.
- We get involved in it any more than the inventor of antibiotics. On the contrary, it is pleasing to God - life-saving.



- But apart from the negative aspects of aging, there are positive. For example, there is a natural slow rhythm of life, people want to pay less attention to work, messing around with his grandchildren.
- I 'm not sure that 70 year share your point of view. And they want to go to work, especially if the work was the meaning of their lives. I know many who are retiring killed. Besides the fact that we are doing is absolutely voluntary. Our task in any case does not make people live longer, and give people a choice. Now it is not.



And I do not see any negative aspects. There will be fewer old men sitting in front of TV. Of course, this series will hit the market and advertising, but I hope to raise the market of products for babies. This, of course, science fiction, but on the other hand, this should seek to. Now everyone thinks - ... But why? .



Discovery Skulachev says Konstantin Severinov, Dr.. b. n.



Rutgers University Professor of the United States, heads of laboratories of the Institutes of Molecular Genetics and Gene Biology, RAS:.



... Indeed, an important conceptual problem of aging is to establish its causes: whether it is associated with a variety of injuries accumulated during life, or due to some kind of special program. In general, adherents of the first point of view today is clearly greater, and that would be a natural carrier of aging program at present is not clear. In my view, recognition of ... In fact, many scientists are developing therapies to replace damaged cells and tissues. These approaches can in principle be in the future is really significantly delay the aging. In fact, developed in the laboratory Skulachev matter, this is also highly effective antioxidants, which just eliminate the cellular damage that accumulates during metabolism ...

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