Multifactorial processes to slowing the biological clock: Insights from a comparative approach

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 71; pp. 27 - 37
• Main Authors: Sanchez, Jamila R., Milton, Sarah L., Corbit, Kevin C., Buffenstein, Rochelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Animals; Animals, Wild; Basal Metabolism - physiology; Biological Clocks - physiology; Endocrine System - physiology; GH/IGF; Glucocorticoids; Hibernation - physiology; Humans; Hypoxia; Longevity - physiology; Metabolism; Mole Rats - physiology; Naked mole-rat; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Species Specificity; Suspended animation; Translational Medical Research - methods; Turtles; Oxidative stress; Glucocorticoids; Suspended animation; Turtles; Hypoxia; Naked mole-rat; Metabolism; GH/IGF
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.08.017

Traditionally scientists have attempted to understand the biology of aging through engineering tractable systems, employing methods such as transgenesis and environmental or nutritional manipulation. An alternative approach relies on the phenomena of natural, extreme biology. Numerous examples exist of species that persist under conditions that promote pathology in humans and considerable insight has been garnered by uncovering the molecular mechanisms mediating this “evolutionary experimentation”. Here we focus on a few well-studied naturally long-lived species to evaluate how natural selection has permitted an attenuated aging process without the physiological decline that plagues short lived species. Animals with exceptional endocrine and metabolic systems, as well as animals that tolerate oxidative stress are proposed as good models for studying the mechanisms of longevity. Cumulatively, this review will highlight some advantages and shortcomings of using a comparative approach to study aging. •Comparative biology of aging enables one to evaluate whether nature has already evolved the appropriate mechanisms to overcome environmental threats that contribute to aging as well as to sporadic and late onset diseases.•Evolutionary experimentation has provided numerous examples of species that have overcome the challenges associated with life in extreme environments and in doing so have also acquired exceptional longevity.•These long-lived species are essential to fill the gap assessing the immutable role of time in the aging processes•Here we use examples of species that have overcome the challenges of extreme environments and use these to explore the role of the endocrine system, metabolic stress and mechanisms facilitating dormancy in the aging process.•Extremophilic species have evolved numerous mechanisms to overcome environmental pressures that humans have yet to be subject to but, because these traits are rooted in evolution, are likely to be conserved and to contribute to an attenuated aging profile and exceptional longevity.