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The relationship between FOXO4 and aging is complex and still not fully understood. There is, however, good evidence that helps to elucidate the mechanisms by which the protein has its effects. Research in the well-studied nematode C. elegans shows that FOXO4 affects insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling and thus cellular lifespan control, stress resistance, and gene regulation[3]. It also appears that FOXO4 interacts with the p53 protein to regulate the cell cycle.
Natural FOXO4 actually protects senescent cells by keeping p53, a regulator of the cell cycle, sequestered and unable to induce apoptosis. FOXO4-DRI disrupts the normal FOXO4/p53 mechanism and allows the latter protein to induce apoptosis in senescent cells. The result is an amelioration of senescence-associated loss of tissue homeostasis[4], [5]. Scientists refer to this as rejuvenation by therapeutic elimination of senescent cells. The process is not all that different from pruning a fruit tree. By removing dead and damaged branches (senescent cells), energy is redirected to healthier parts of the tree and thus to fruit production and growth. This same process happens at the organ and tissue level when cells that are contributing to overall unhealthy function are removed, allowing resources to be focused on healthy cells.
Source: Journal of Cell Biology
This image displays what factors contribute to senescence and what the outcomes are senescence are. Note that eliminating a senescent cell does not alleviate stem cell exhaustion, but may slow it down. It does, however, help to reduce chronic inflammation, a well-established driver of a number of conditions like cardiac disease, stroke, etc.
Irreparable damage, which is to say cellular damage that is beyond the ability of the body to fix, is one of the primary limitations to health span. Health span, the length of time during which an organism remains healthy and functioning optimally, is generally shorter than lifespan. A decline in healthspan manifests as aging. The ability to extend health span may not result in more years lived, but it can result in living out the years allotted to us in greater health and with better functioning. In mouse models, FOXO4 has been shown to improve health span in aged mice, leading to an increase in fitness, fur density, and renal functioning. The mice do not necessarily live longer, but they have greater health, even into old age, which translates into less disability and fewer age-related conditions like heart disease, musculoskeletal dysfunction, etc[2].
Images showing improved fitness, as indicated by fur density, in a mouse treated with FOXO4-DRI after subjected to chemotoxic agents used to model aging:
Source: Pubmed.
It has long been understood that FOXO proteins are important regulators of insulin signaling, but that they act downstream of the insulin itself as well as insulin-like growth factors. Research in animal models indicates that FOXO mediates that inhibitor effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor on cell metabolism, growth, differentiation, oxidative stress, and more. Mutations in FOXO are connected to pathologic changes in insulin signaling and the development of metabolic disease as well as cancer. In diabetics, alterations of FOXO signaling leads to fasting hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia[6]. The latter is one of the most concerning aspects of diabetes as it leads to many of the complications of the disease such as kidney damage, stroke, heart attack, impaired wound healing, and more. The ability to regulate FOXO signaling in diabetes could provide for more targeted, more effective methods of preventing some of the serious complications of the disease. It is unclear how FOXO4-DRI affects insulin signaling, but it is thought that the protein can improve downstream effects of insulin by reducing fasting blood sugar levels.
Age is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This risk appears to be mediated by declines in proteasome activity in the heart. Proteasomes are responsible for removing oxidized proteins and other proteins that the cell has marked as “damaged” or dysfunctional. Research in rats shows that age is inversely correlated with proteasome activity and thus increases in levels of damaged proteins within the heart[7].
FOXO proteins mediate autophagy and proteasome activity. Increases in FOXO4 levels lead to increases in proteasome activity and thus decreased levels of oxidation and protein damage within specific tissue. It may be possible that FOXO4-DRI or a variant of it can be used to boost the heart’s natural housekeeping functions and thus reduce age-related changes in cardiovascular function[8].
Age-related changes in cognitive function have a complex etiology. Even relatively common diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease, are not fully understood by the medical community. There is some evidence, however, to support the notion that changes in proteasome activity can lead to or exacerbate underlying neurodegenerative conditions. It isn’t clear if impaired proteasome activity is a primary cause or secondary contributor to diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, but impairment of the systems has been found in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Prion disease. There is also impairment of proteasome function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) [9].
It appears that FOXO proteins are modified in the central nervous system, a finding that has led researchers to explore the idea that exogenous FOXO protein may be useful in treating or preventing neurodegenerative disorders. At the very least, there is hope that FOXO4-DRI and other modified FOXO proteins may be useful in slowing the relentless progression of neurodegenerative disorders [10].
FOXO4-DRI has been clearly demonstrated to boost apoptosis in cells that have become senescent, leading to improved tissue function and better overall health in animal models. It remains to be seen just how extensive the effects of FOXO4-DRI are, but there is hope that the protein can unlock insight into age-related conditions like dementia, heart disease, and general loss of function caused by cell senescence.
FOXO4-DRI exhibits minimal side effects, low oral and excellent subcutaneous bioavailability in mice. Per kg dosage in mice does not scale to humans. FOXO4-DRI for sale at Peptide Gurus is limited to educational and scientific research only, not for human consumption. Only buy FOXO4-DRI if you are a licensed researcher.PeptideGurus is a leading supplier of American-made research peptides, offering top-quality products at competitive prices. With a focus on excellence and customer service, they ensure a secure and convenient ordering process with global shipping.
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