The primary challenge in understanding how calorie restriction slows aging and extends life is that it changes near everything in the operation of cellular metabolism. Finding the important differences is a matter of searching for the needle in the haystack. The most compelling evidence to date points to increased autophagy as the important determinant, greater effort made by cells to repair damage, maintain function, and recycle components. It remains likely that other mechanisms are also important, however. Here, researchers focus on regulation of the innate immune system in response to a reduced calorie intake; they are working …
Innate Immune Regulation in Life Extension via Calorie Restriction
The primary challenge in understanding how calorie restriction slows aging and extends life is that it changes near everything in the operation of cellular metabolism. Finding the important differences is a matter of searching for the needle in the haystack. The most compelling evidence to date points to increased autophagy as the important determinant, greater effort made by cells to repair damage, maintain function, and recycle components. It remains likely that other mechanisms are also important, however. Here, researchers focus on regulation of the innate immune system in response to a reduced calorie intake; they are working …