In a world where aging gracefully remains a universal quest, groundbreaking research on the aging process has far-reaching implications. Published in “Yakugaku Zasshi: Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan,” a pioneering study shines a light on the relationship between aging and enzyme activity within various species. This work not only expands the scientific community’s understanding of aging but could also pave the way for new developments in skincare and age-related treatments.
Abstract
Within the field of biomedical research, there has been an intriguing new discovery linking the aging process to specific enzyme activity in the skin. A comparative study has focused on carboxylesterase (CES) expression—a type of hydrolase enzyme—in the skin, liver, and intestine of both cynomolgus monkeys and beagle dogs. Furthermore, the study explored these factors in relation to aging, revealing significant disparities between younger and older individuals within the species, as well as notable differences when compared to human CES expression.
Introduction
The study of enzymes like CES, which play a critical role in drug metabolism and the detoxification process, is crucial for both pharmacology and dermatology. In humans, carboxylesterases are known to be involved in skin ester metabolism, impacting various functions like skin barrier integrity and xenobiotic detoxification. With dermatological science continuously evolving, research that juxtaposes animal models with human data highlights evolutionary similarities and differences that can inform more targeted skincare and anti-aging solutions.
Methodology of the Study
Researchers from Kumamoto University and Osaka Ohtani University in Japan conducted a comparative study on the carboxylesterase (CES) activity and its expression levels in skin samples, using beagle dogs and cynomolgus monkeys as test subjects. By analyzing skin, liver, and intestine samples from these animals, the study aimed to pinpoint how CES activity fluctuates in these organs and whether it is affected by aging. Additionally, the expression levels of human CES mRNA were analyzed using total RNA from two individuals aged 63 and 85 years.
Results
Strikingly, the study found that dermal hydrolysis activity was quite different between the species, with approximately 10% of hepatic activity in beagle dogs, compared to 40% in cynomolgus monkeys. Moreover, while both young and old beagle dogs showed similar levels of CES activity in their liver and skin, there was a notable decrease in dermal hydrolase activity among younger cynomolgus monkeys, as opposed to an increase in hepatic and intestinal activity among older ones.
This variance points to species-specific differences in how aging impacts enzyme activity within different body tissues. The researchers suggested that these differences were potentially related to the expression of CES1 proteins and their corresponding mRNA.
Discussion
The findings of this study lead to several key discussion points:
Carboxylesterase Activity: The lower CES activity in younger monkeys’ skin could suggest that with age, the skin adapts to increase its metabolic and detoxification functionalities. Understanding species-specific CES activity could help tailor anti-aging skincare for humans.
Age and Enzyme Expression: The contrasting levels of CES expression between the two species raise questions about the biological mechanisms that regulate enzyme expression with age. It hints at diverse evolutionary pathways for metabolic processes across species.
Humans vs Animals: Human data showed a significant difference in the expression levels of CES1 compared to CES2 in the skin of older adults. This discrepancy could reflect distinct roles these enzymes play in human skin aging and warrants further examination for possible anti-aging applications.
Implications
The implications of this research are manifold. Not only does it help decode the enigmatic process of aging and its outward manifestation on the skin, but it also establishes a platform for advancing personalized medicine and age-specific skincare treatments. By understanding the nuances of hydrolase activity across species and ages, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries may develop more effective products tailored to the metabolic changes that accompany aging.
Conclusion
This study signals a significant advancement in the understanding of aging-related enzyme activity. The profound differences discovered in CES expression across different species and ages could lead to the development of more effective anti-aging therapies and reinforce the notion that treatments should be personalized based on metabolic profiles.
References
1. Imai, T., Nakada, Y., Ohura, K. (2019). Comparative Study of Hydrolase Activity in Skin with Liver and Intestine, and Its Aging Relation of Carboxylesterase Expression in Cynomolgus Monkey and Beagle Dog. _Yakugaku Zasshi: Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan_, 139(5), 837-844. DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.18-00228
2. Satoh, T., Hosokawa, M. (2006). The Mammalian Carboxylesterases: From Molecules to Functions. _Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology_, 46, 263-289.
3. Reddy, V.B., Azimi, E., Chu, L., Lerner, E. A. (2016). Carboxylesterase expression in human skin: Enzymatic basis for differentiation of skin esters. _Scientific Reports_, 6, 27370.
4. Wright, J.S., et al. (2004). Enzyme catalysis in drug metabolism: Fundamentals and applications. _Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry_, 4(14), 1505-1523.
5. Borges, C.R., et al. (2017). Age-related changes in the carboxylesterase composition of liver microsomes. _Journal of Proteome Research_, 16(7), 2697-2707.
Keywords
1. Carboxylesterase and aging
2. Skin aging enzyme activity
3. Comparative enzyme study
4. CES expression in species
5. Aging-related hydrolase activity
The article above offers a comprehensive look at the role of carboxylesterase (CES) in the aging process by comparing its expression and activity in the skin, liver, and intestine of cynomolgus monkeys and beagle dogs, with a reference to humans. This study provides essential insights that could have far-reaching impacts on the development of age-related treatments and skincare products.