日前，来自日本京都大学的研究人员在新一期《科学报告》（Scientific Reports）杂志网络版上说，这是因为芝麻和红酒的成分能够延长细胞寿命。

细胞老化后异常蛋白质会在细胞内堆积，容易发生损伤细胞的氧化应激反应，最终导致细胞死亡。此前有研究显示，芝麻和红酒具有防老化效果，这是由于红酒中的白藜芦醇和芝麻中的芝麻素具有抗氧化作用，不过科学界对这两种成分在细胞内发挥作用的详细机制则没有完全弄清。

日本京都大学教授阪井康能等人，在实验中阻碍小鼠细胞内分解异常蛋白质的酶发挥作用，使细胞进入氧化状态，人为增加异常蛋白质的堆积。结果发现，细胞的氧化应激反应增强后，细胞的生存率降低了40%左右。

但研究人员在向实验鼠细胞分别添加白藜芦醇和芝麻素后，发现细胞的生存率得以提升。与没有添加上述成分的细胞相比，细胞在添加上述成分8小时后，生存率上升了10%至20%。

研究人员进一步发现，这是由于白藜芦醇和芝麻素能够保护细胞内产生能量的线粒体，遏制过多的活性氧生成，从而减弱氧化应激反应，保护了细胞。研究人员指出，这两种成分对于人体应该也有同样效果。不过他们并不主张人们过度摄入这些成分。(引自：生物谷360)

Calpain 1 inhibitor BDA-410 ameliorates α-klotho-deficiency phenotypesresembling human aging-related syndromes

Abstract  Taking good care of elderly is a major challenge of our society, and thus identification of potential drug targets to reduce age-associated disease burden is desirable. α-klotho-/- (α-kl) is a short-lived mouse model that displays multiple phenotypes resembling human aging-related syndromes. Such ageing phenotype of α-kl-/- mice is associated with activation of a proteolytic enzyme, Calpain-1. We hypothesized that uncontrolled activation of calpain-1 might be causing age-related phenotypes in α-kl-deficient mice. We found that daily administration of BDA-410, a calpain-1 inhibitor, strikingly ameliorated multiple aging-related phenotypes. Treated mice showed recovery of reproductive ability, increased body weight, reduced organ atrophy, and suppression of ectopic calcifications, bone mineral density reduction, pulmonary emphysema and senile atrophy of skin. We also observed ectopic expression of FGF23 in calcified arteries of α-kl-/- mice, which might account for the clinically observed association of increased FGF23 level with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. These findings allow us to propose that modulation of calpain-1 activity is a potential therapeutic option for delaying age-associated organ pathology, particularly caused by the dysregulation of mineral ion homeostasis.

原文链接： http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140801/srep05847/pdf/srep05847.pdf