About this Research Topic
Ageing is a natural process that affects all living organisms and is associated with an increased risk of developing age-related chronic diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Among all organisms, Heterocephalus glaber, commonly known as the naked mole-rat, is a unique rodent species. One of the most intriguing aspects of the naked mole-rat is its resistance to cancer and ageing-related diseases.
Through the past decade research, it has been revealed that one possible explanation for their exceptional resistance to cancer and ageing is that naked mole-rats have a unique DNA repair mechanism that allows them to repair damaged DNA more efficiently than other mammals. In addition, it has been demonstrated that they have a high level of molecular chaperones, which help to prevent protein misfolding and aggregation, a hallmark of many age-related diseases. Still, it is shown that naked mole-rats have a unique metabolism that allows them to survive in low-oxygen environments. This may help to reduce oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to ageing and age-related diseases. However, the reasons for their exceptional resistance to cancer and ageing are still not fully understood and need further being studied. While research on the naked mole-rat is still ongoing, these findings offer promising avenues for advancing our understanding of cancer prevention, treatment, and healthy ageing.
Therefore, this research topic aims to delve into the unique biological mechanisms that make naked mole-rats such extraordinary models for studying both anti-cancer and anti-ageing properties.
In this Research Topic, we invite comprehensive articles that thoroughly explore the following aspects:
• Cancer Resistance Mechanisms: Investigating the genetic, molecular, and physiological adaptations of naked mole-rats that confer resistance to cancer. Understanding how their cells suppress tumor growth and exhibit exceptional DNA repair mechanisms could provide valuable insights into developing novel anti-cancer therapies for humans.
• Longevity and Ageing: Analyzing the factors contributing to the extended lifespan of naked mole-rats and how they manage to remain remarkably youthful throughout their lives. Examining their unique metabolic processes, oxidative stress response, and cellular maintenance mechanisms could unveil potential strategies for delaying ageing and age-related diseases in humans.
• Comparative Studies: Conducting comparative analyses between naked mole-rats and other rodent species, as well as humans, to highlight key differences in cancer susceptibility and ageing. This will help identify specific genetic or molecular pathways that play a pivotal role in cancer resistance and longevity.
• Therapeutic Implications: Exploring the translational potential of the findings for developing new anti-cancer treatments and interventions to promote healthy ageing. Investigating the feasibility of harnessing the biological adaptations of naked mole-rats for medical applications in humans could be a critical outcome of this research.
• Ethical Considerations: Addressing the ethical concerns and implications associated with potential interventions to harness the anti-cancer and anti-ageing mechanisms discovered in naked mole-rats. Discussing the ethical boundaries and responsible application of this research will be an integral part of the study.
By shedding light on the fascinating biology of naked mole-rats and their extraordinary resilience to cancer and ageing, this research topic aims to provide valuable insights into the development of innovative therapeutic strategies that could significantly impact human health and longevity.
Please note: studies consisting solely of bioinformatic investigation of publicly available genomic/transcriptomic/proteomic data do not fall within the scope of the section unless they are expanded and provide significant biological or mechanistic insight into the process being studied.
A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.
Topic Editor, Dr. Jordan R. Yaron is member and manager of Vivo Bioconsulting, LLC. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interest with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Through the past decade research, it has been revealed that one possible explanation for their exceptional resistance to cancer and ageing is that naked mole-rats have a unique DNA repair mechanism that allows them to repair damaged DNA more efficiently than other mammals. In addition, it has been demonstrated that they have a high level of molecular chaperones, which help to prevent protein misfolding and aggregation, a hallmark of many age-related diseases. Still, it is shown that naked mole-rats have a unique metabolism that allows them to survive in low-oxygen environments. This may help to reduce oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to ageing and age-related diseases. However, the reasons for their exceptional resistance to cancer and ageing are still not fully understood and need further being studied. While research on the naked mole-rat is still ongoing, these findings offer promising avenues for advancing our understanding of cancer prevention, treatment, and healthy ageing.
Therefore, this research topic aims to delve into the unique biological mechanisms that make naked mole-rats such extraordinary models for studying both anti-cancer and anti-ageing properties.
In this Research Topic, we invite comprehensive articles that thoroughly explore the following aspects:
• Cancer Resistance Mechanisms: Investigating the genetic, molecular, and physiological adaptations of naked mole-rats that confer resistance to cancer. Understanding how their cells suppress tumor growth and exhibit exceptional DNA repair mechanisms could provide valuable insights into developing novel anti-cancer therapies for humans.
• Longevity and Ageing: Analyzing the factors contributing to the extended lifespan of naked mole-rats and how they manage to remain remarkably youthful throughout their lives. Examining their unique metabolic processes, oxidative stress response, and cellular maintenance mechanisms could unveil potential strategies for delaying ageing and age-related diseases in humans.
• Comparative Studies: Conducting comparative analyses between naked mole-rats and other rodent species, as well as humans, to highlight key differences in cancer susceptibility and ageing. This will help identify specific genetic or molecular pathways that play a pivotal role in cancer resistance and longevity.
• Therapeutic Implications: Exploring the translational potential of the findings for developing new anti-cancer treatments and interventions to promote healthy ageing. Investigating the feasibility of harnessing the biological adaptations of naked mole-rats for medical applications in humans could be a critical outcome of this research.
• Ethical Considerations: Addressing the ethical concerns and implications associated with potential interventions to harness the anti-cancer and anti-ageing mechanisms discovered in naked mole-rats. Discussing the ethical boundaries and responsible application of this research will be an integral part of the study.
By shedding light on the fascinating biology of naked mole-rats and their extraordinary resilience to cancer and ageing, this research topic aims to provide valuable insights into the development of innovative therapeutic strategies that could significantly impact human health and longevity.
Please note: studies consisting solely of bioinformatic investigation of publicly available genomic/transcriptomic/proteomic data do not fall within the scope of the section unless they are expanded and provide significant biological or mechanistic insight into the process being studied.
A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.
Topic Editor, Dr. Jordan R. Yaron is member and manager of Vivo Bioconsulting, LLC. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interest with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: Anti-Cancer, Anti-Ageing, Mole-Rat
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
