[Medical Illustrations by Patrick Lynch, generated for multimedia teaching projects by the Yale University School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Instructional Media, 1987-2000. Via WikiMedia Commons]
A recently published paper in Cardiovascular Research found that a gene frequently found in centenarians could safeguard heart functionality.In a rodent model, a team of researchers found that the bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold-containing family-B member-4 gene (BPIFB4) gene protected against deterioration of heart function in middle-aged mice (14 months old).
The researchers, led by Professor Paolo Madeddu of the University of Bristol, found that delivery of the gene through an adeno-associated virus (AAV serotype 9) with a liver-specific promoter led to robust protection against cardiovascular disease in rodents.
The study focused on the cardiac index and vascular density.
The BP…