Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States analyzed eight genomes of bats from the genus Myotis and found a link between lifespan and the functioning of the immune system. Long-lived bats showed higher levels of genes associated with combating cancer. ScienceDaily reports on the findings of the study published in the journal Nature.
Longevity genes and protection from diseases
The team led by Juan Manuel Vazquez studied bats in the western United States: the animals were captured with nets near streams, ponds and rivers at night, small tissue samples were taken, and then they were released. A significant part of the work focused on the genus Myotis, some species of which live exceptionally long lives relative to their size.
The researchers found substantial overlap between genes associated with aging and genes involved in protection from diseases. In their view, this indicates that longevity may partly depend on the immune system, which remains effective against infectious agents and cancer.
Among members of the genus Myotis, lifespans vary considerably. One bat of the species Myotis brandtii in Europe was recaptured 50 years after being ringed, while the black myotis, Myotis nigricans, from Central and South America lives for about seven years.
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Cell response to damage
Vazquez also grew cells taken from bat wing biopsies in the laboratory and exposed them to toxic chemicals. He currently has cell cultures from 259 individuals representing 32 species.
Cells of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, the longest-lived species in the sample, increased the activity of genes that promote cell death after severe damage, rather than genes that enable the production of proteins for DNA repair. The researchers believe this may be one of the strategies that prevents damaged cells from becoming dangerous.
Interaction with viruses
The analysis also showed that Myotis bats have an unusually large number of genes encoding proteins for interacting with DNA viruses, including herpesviruses. Such proteins may either facilitate infection or protect the animal; one protective mechanism is linked to increased interferon production.
In humans and other primates, according to the researchers, there are usually more genes associated with interaction with RNA viruses, including viruses such as COVID-19 and HIV, than with DNA viruses. Scientists continue to study the genetic mechanisms of longevity and the regulation of immune response in cell cultures.
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