Prime Highlights
- Scientists found that naturally occurring microRNAs help control cellular stress and prevent damage from spreading across tissues.
- The discovery could lead to new treatments for metabolic disorders and ageing-related diseases by targeting mitochondrial stress pathways.
Key Facts
- The study focused on a specific microRNA, miR-71, and used C. elegans worm models to show how it regulates mitochondrial stress.
- MicroRNAs, first discovered in worms 30 years ago and awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize, play a crucial role in human health and disease prevention.
Background
Scientists have discovered that a naturally occurring molecule in the body helps reduce stress at a cellular level, a finding that could support the development of new treatments for metabolic disorders and ageing-related diseases. Researchers at The University of Queensland carried out the study and published it in Nature Communications.
The research focused on microRNAs, small molecules that bind to genes and stop them from becoming overactive. Researchers say these molecules control stress inside cells and protect tissues from long-term damage.
The study examined damage to mitochondria, often described as the energy centres of cells. Mitochondria play a vital role in muscle movement, brain function, and other essential body processes. When mitochondria become damaged, stress signals can spread through the body and contribute to disease.
Steven Zuryn, a molecular geneticist at The University of Queensland, said the study is the first to show that microRNAs regulate mitochondrial stress pathways. He explained that microRNAs prevent stress signals from spreading to other cells and tissues.
Zuryn noted that mitochondrial damage builds up over time and is closely linked to metabolic disorders and diseases of ageing, including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions. The research studied a specific microRNA known as miR-71 using C. elegans worm models.
The findings show that carefully designed microRNAs could one day reduce harmful stress signals in humans. While the researchers are not directly targeting anti-ageing treatments, they believe understanding these processes could lead to future therapies.
MicroRNAs were first discovered in worms about 30 years ago and later shown to play a key role in human health. The discovery of microRNAs was recognised with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2024.
