One of the ways in which cells from different tissues communicate is through the exchange of RNA molecules. In experiments with worms of the species Caenorhabditis elegans, researchers from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) observed that, when this communication pathway is unregulated, the organism's longevity is reduced. The finding, published in the journal Gene, brings a new understanding of the aging process and associated diseases.
“Previous studies had already demonstrated that some types of RNA can be transferred from one cell to another, mediating intertissue communication – just as occurs with proteins and metabolites, for example. This is considered a signaling mechanism between organs or between neighboring cells and participates in various disease processes [pathophysiology] and the normal functioning of the organism. What was not clear until now and we were able to prove was that changes in the pattern of this 'conversation' that occurs through RNA molecules can affect aging”, says professor at the Institute of Biology at Unicamp Marcelo Mori, co-author of the article.
The work was carried out within the scope of the Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC) – a FAPESP Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (CEPID) based at Unicamp. The investigation also received funding through a project coordinated by Mori.
“This communication mechanism needs to be well adjusted to give the organism an adequate lifespan. We observed in the study that, if any tissue increases its capacity to absorb some types of RNA from the extracellular environment [from outside the cell], this ends up having an impact on the longevity of the organism”, he says.
According to Mori, it was possible to demonstrate that the reduction in lifespan occurred not only due to the disturbance in communication via RNA between tissues of the same organism, but also due to the increased capacity to capture RNAs from the environment – coming from bacteria in the microbiota, for example. example. The researchers created the nickname InExS (acronym in English for intercellular/extracellular systemic RNA imbalance) to refer to the deregulation in the transfer of RNAs between tissues and also with the exogenous environment.
