Re: NATAP: Anti-Aging Blood pressure drug Losartan

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone, Need some thoughts on this. My mom is listed for a lung transplant at New York Presb. It got me thinking. If you are HIV + you can receive organs from non HIV donors. You cannot donate if you are HIV +. So I ask why can't HIV positive individuals be donors for other HIV positive recipients? Would love your feedback on this. On Aug 20, 2011, at 1:28 PM, Jules Levin <JuLev@...> wrote:

Begin forwarded message:From: Jules Levin <JuLev@...>Date: August 18, 2011 1:57:15 PM EDThiv natap natap <hiv@...>Subject: NATAP: Anti-Aging Blood pressure drug LosartanSwitch in Cell's 'Power Plant' Declines with Age, Rejuvenated by Drug

Release Date: 08/16/2011

Researchers at the s Hopkins University School of Medicine have found a protein normally involved in blood pressure regulation in a

surprising place: tucked within the little “power plants†of cells, the

mitochondria. The quantity of this protein appears to decrease with age, but treating older mice with the blood pressure medication losartan

can increase protein numbers to youthful levels, decreasing both blood pressure and cellular energy usage. The researchers say these findings, published online during the week of August 15, 2011, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,

may lead to new treatments for mitochondrial–specific, age-related diseases, such as diabetes, hearing loss, frailty and Parkinson’s disease.“We’ve identified a functional and independently operated

system that appears to influence energy regulation within the mitochondria,†explains Walston, M.D.,

professor of geriatric medicine at Hopkins. “This mitochondrial angiotensin system is activated by commonly utilized blood pressure medications, and influences both nitric oxide and energy production when

signaled.â€Previous research showed that manipulating angiotensin

in the body’s cells had unexpectedly affected mitochondrial energy production, so Walston and Abadir, M.D.,

an assistant professor of geriatric medicine, decided to examine the role of angiotensin within the mitochondria. Using high-powered microscopy, they and their collaborators found evidence within the mitochondria of angiotensin as well as one of the protein receptors that

bind to and detect it. They also pinpointed the angiotensin receptor’s exact locations within the mitochondria of mouse kidney, liver, neuron and heart cells as well as in human white blood cells.The team then treated mitochondria with a chemical known to activate the angiotensin receptors and measured the cell’s response. This resulted in

a decrease in oxygen consumption by half and a small increase in nitric

oxide production—indicating less energy made by the mitochondria and lowered blood pressure, respectively. Explains Walston, “Activating angiotensin receptors within the mitochondria with these agents led to lowered blood pressure and decreased cellular energy use.â€But they found even more than just an energy-regulating mechanism; after testing the angiotensin system in mitochondria of both young and old mice, they noticed a decrease by almost a third of the amount of the angiotensin receptor type 2 in the mitochondria in older mice, meaning that cells in older mice were unable to control energy use as well. The researchers then tried treating these older mice with the blood pressure

lowering drug losartan daily for 20 weeks and found that the number of these receptors increased. “Treatment of the old mice with losartan resulted in a marked increase in the number of receptors that are known to positively influence blood pressure and decrease inflammation,†says Walston.Declining mitochondria are known to influence chronic diseases in older adults, explains Walston, whose next step is to translate studies from cell culture and animal based studies to human studies in hopes of developing new therapies. “Our findings will help us

determine if the drugs that interact with this receptor will also lead to improvement of mitochondrial function and energy production. This, in

turn, could facilitate the treatment of a number of chronic diseases of

older adults.â€This study was funded by the s Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center, the National Institute on Aging and the American Geriatrics Society. Additional authors on this study from the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at s Hopkins were Abadir, Alka Jain, and Neal Fedarko.

[Guest guest]

There is activism happening now to advocate for poz people to be able to donate organs to other poz people. Google HIV organ donors and join that effort From: CaresUsa <kevincaresusa@...>Sender: Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:16:41 -0400Jules Levin<JuLev@...>Cc: new lipidlist< >Subject: Re: NATAP: Anti-Aging Blood pressure drug LosartanHi Everyone, Need some thoughts on this. My mom is listed for a lung transplant at New York Presb. It got me thinking. If you are HIV + you can receive organs from non HIV donors. You cannot donate if you are HIV +. So I ask why can't HIV positive individuals be donors for other HIV positive recipients? Would love your feedback on this. On Aug 20, 2011, at 1:28 PM, Jules Levin <JuLev@...> wrote: Begin forwarded message:From: Jules Levin <JuLev@...>Date: August 18, 2011 1:57:15 PM EDThiv natap natap <hiv@...>Subject: NATAP: Anti-Aging Blood pressure drug LosartanSwitch in Cell's 'Power Plant' Declines with Age, Rejuvenated by DrugRelease Date: 08/16/2011Researchers at the s Hopkins University School of Medicine have found a protein normally involved in blood pressure regulation in asurprising place: tucked within the little “power plants†of cells, themitochondria. The quantity of this protein appears to decrease with age, but treating older mice with the blood pressure medication losartancan increase protein numbers to youthful levels, decreasing both blood pressure and cellular energy usage. The researchers say these findings, published online during the week of August 15, 2011, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,may lead to new treatments for mitochondrial–specific, age-related diseases, such as diabetes, hearing loss, frailty and Parkinson’s disease.“We’ve identified a functional and independently operatedsystem that appears to influence energy regulation within the mitochondria,†explains Walston, M.D.,professor of geriatric medicine at Hopkins. “This mitochondrial angiotensin system is activated by commonly utilized blood pressure medications, and influences both nitric oxide and energy production whensignaled.â€Previous research showed that manipulating angiotensinin the body’s cells had unexpectedly affected mitochondrial energy production, so Walston and Abadir, M.D.,an assistant professor of geriatric medicine, decided to examine the role of angiotensin within the mitochondria. Using high-powered microscopy, they and their collaborators found evidence within the mitochondria of angiotensin as well as one of the protein receptors thatbind to and detect it. They also pinpointed the angiotensin receptor’s exact locations within the mitochondria of mouse kidney, liver, neuron and heart cells as well as in human white blood cells.The team then treated mitochondria with a chemical known to activate the angiotensin receptors and measured the cell’s response. This resulted ina decrease in oxygen consumption by half and a small increase in nitricoxide production—indicating less energy made by the mitochondria and lowered blood pressure, respectively. Explains Walston, “Activating angiotensin receptors within the mitochondria with these agents led to lowered blood pressure and decreased cellular energy use.â€But they found even more than just an energy-regulating mechanism; after testing the angiotensin system in mitochondria of both young and old mice, they noticed a decrease by almost a third of the amount of the angiotensin receptor type 2 in the mitochondria in older mice, meaning that cells in older mice were unable to control energy use as well. The researchers then tried treating these older mice with the blood pressurelowering drug losartan daily for 20 weeks and found that the number of these receptors increased. “Treatment of the old mice with losartan resulted in a marked increase in the number of receptors that are known to positively influence blood pressure and decrease inflammation,†says Walston.Declining mitochondria are known to influence chronic diseases in older adults, explains Walston, whose next step is to translate studies from cell culture and animal based studies to human studies in hopes of developing new therapies. “Our findings will help usdetermine if the drugs that interact with this receptor will also lead to improvement of mitochondrial function and energy production. This, inturn, could facilitate the treatment of a number of chronic diseases ofolder adults.â€This study was funded by the s Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center, the National Institute on Aging and the American Geriatrics Society. Additional authors on this study from the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at s Hopkins were Abadir, Alka Jain, and Neal Fedarko.

[Guest guest]

There is activism happening now to advocate for poz people to be able to donate organs to other poz people. Google HIV organ donors and join that effort From: CaresUsa <kevincaresusa@...>Sender: Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:16:41 -0400Jules Levin<JuLev@...>Cc: new lipidlist< >Subject: Re: NATAP: Anti-Aging Blood pressure drug LosartanHi Everyone, Need some thoughts on this. My mom is listed for a lung transplant at New York Presb. It got me thinking. If you are HIV + you can receive organs from non HIV donors. You cannot donate if you are HIV +. So I ask why can't HIV positive individuals be donors for other HIV positive recipients? Would love your feedback on this. On Aug 20, 2011, at 1:28 PM, Jules Levin <JuLev@...> wrote: Begin forwarded message:From: Jules Levin <JuLev@...>Date: August 18, 2011 1:57:15 PM EDThiv natap natap <hiv@...>Subject: NATAP: Anti-Aging Blood pressure drug LosartanSwitch in Cell's 'Power Plant' Declines with Age, Rejuvenated by DrugRelease Date: 08/16/2011Researchers at the s Hopkins University School of Medicine have found a protein normally involved in blood pressure regulation in asurprising place: tucked within the little “power plants†of cells, themitochondria. The quantity of this protein appears to decrease with age, but treating older mice with the blood pressure medication losartancan increase protein numbers to youthful levels, decreasing both blood pressure and cellular energy usage. The researchers say these findings, published online during the week of August 15, 2011, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,may lead to new treatments for mitochondrial–specific, age-related diseases, such as diabetes, hearing loss, frailty and Parkinson’s disease.“We’ve identified a functional and independently operatedsystem that appears to influence energy regulation within the mitochondria,†explains Walston, M.D.,professor of geriatric medicine at Hopkins. “This mitochondrial angiotensin system is activated by commonly utilized blood pressure medications, and influences both nitric oxide and energy production whensignaled.â€Previous research showed that manipulating angiotensinin the body’s cells had unexpectedly affected mitochondrial energy production, so Walston and Abadir, M.D.,an assistant professor of geriatric medicine, decided to examine the role of angiotensin within the mitochondria. Using high-powered microscopy, they and their collaborators found evidence within the mitochondria of angiotensin as well as one of the protein receptors thatbind to and detect it. They also pinpointed the angiotensin receptor’s exact locations within the mitochondria of mouse kidney, liver, neuron and heart cells as well as in human white blood cells.The team then treated mitochondria with a chemical known to activate the angiotensin receptors and measured the cell’s response. This resulted ina decrease in oxygen consumption by half and a small increase in nitricoxide production—indicating less energy made by the mitochondria and lowered blood pressure, respectively. Explains Walston, “Activating angiotensin receptors within the mitochondria with these agents led to lowered blood pressure and decreased cellular energy use.â€But they found even more than just an energy-regulating mechanism; after testing the angiotensin system in mitochondria of both young and old mice, they noticed a decrease by almost a third of the amount of the angiotensin receptor type 2 in the mitochondria in older mice, meaning that cells in older mice were unable to control energy use as well. The researchers then tried treating these older mice with the blood pressurelowering drug losartan daily for 20 weeks and found that the number of these receptors increased. “Treatment of the old mice with losartan resulted in a marked increase in the number of receptors that are known to positively influence blood pressure and decrease inflammation,†says Walston.Declining mitochondria are known to influence chronic diseases in older adults, explains Walston, whose next step is to translate studies from cell culture and animal based studies to human studies in hopes of developing new therapies. “Our findings will help usdetermine if the drugs that interact with this receptor will also lead to improvement of mitochondrial function and energy production. This, inturn, could facilitate the treatment of a number of chronic diseases ofolder adults.â€This study was funded by the s Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center, the National Institute on Aging and the American Geriatrics Society. Additional authors on this study from the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at s Hopkins were Abadir, Alka Jain, and Neal Fedarko.