The Aging Purinome: A Purinergic Framework Linking The Hallmarks Of Aging To Inflammaging
As we age, our bodies undergo a gradual decline in cellular health, often accompanied by a persistent, low-grade inflammation known as “inflammaging.” This chronic inflammation, which occurs without an obvious infection, is a significant contributor to many age-related diseases, from neurodegenerative disorders to heart conditions.
Our cells constantly communicate with each other using various chemical signals. One crucial communication system involves molecules called purines, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is also known as the energy currency of the cell, and adenosine. The entire network of proteins and molecules involved in this purine-based signaling is sometimes referred to as the “purinome.”
Recent research suggests that as we get older, this intricate purinergic communication system undergoes significant changes, leading to what scientists are calling “the aging purinome.” These age-related alterations in how cells send and receive purine signals appear to be a central link between the fundamental processes of aging—often called the “hallmarks of aging” (such as mitochondrial dysfunction, where cells struggle to produce energy, or cellular senescence, where cells stop dividing but don’t die)—and the development of chronic inflammation.
Specifically, the paper highlights how aging can change the availability of signaling molecules like extracellular ATP, alter the function of various receptors on cell surfaces that respond to these purines, and affect enzymes that regulate purine levels. For instance, a pathway involving a receptor called P2X7 and a protein complex called NLRP3 is a known mechanism connecting extracellular ATP to sterile inflammation.
Understanding these changes in the aging purinome provides a new perspective on why inflammaging occurs. This framework could pave the way for new strategies, including lifestyle interventions like exercise and nutrition, or even targeted medications, to restore healthy cellular communication and combat age-related inflammation, ultimately promoting healthier aging.
Source: link to paper