Study: Chronic stress can damage DNA
Scientists have found a mechanism that explains how chronic stress can damage the DNA and lead to conditions such as early aging, hair color change, and cancer.
Researchers at the Duke University Medical Centre have found that 'fight or flight chemical' adrenaline released in stressful situations can damage chromosomes.
Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz and his team gave lab mice an adrenaline-like compound that activated a receptor called the beta adrenergic receptor.
The stimulation triggered biological pathways that lowered production of a protein called P53, which is known to prevent genomic abnormalities and tumor formation.
”This could give us a plausible explanation of how chronic stress may lead to a variety of human conditions and disorders, which range from merely cosmetic, like graying hair, to life-threatening disorders like malignancies,” Lefkowitz said.
”The study showed chronic stress leads to prolonged lowering of p53 levels. We hypothesize this is the reason for the chromosomal irregularities we found in these chronically stressed mice,” added co-author, Makoto Hara.
The damages chronic stress cause through the identified mechanism may impact on the cells that produce the pigment in hair or affect other organs and lead to more serious conditions.
Researchers say their finding is at a very early stage and future developments may lead to new preventive methods for aging process and treatments for conditions such a cancer and hair color change.
Source: presstv.ir
