How did scientists discover new anti-aging secrets from the world’s longest-lived vertebrate?

Sharks are known as one of the most powerful and fearsome creatures in our oceans. Now, however, it has been discovered that one particular species can teach us how to improve heart health.

New experimental research presented at the Society for Experimental Biology’s ongoing conference in Prague shows that muscle metabolic activity may be an important factor in the extraordinary longevity of the world’s oldest living vertebrate species – the Greenland shark.

Scientists believe the findings could be good news for the conservation of this vulnerable species and for human health.

What sharks can teach us about how to live longer

Greenland sharks, also known as somniosus microcephalus, are the longest-lived vertebrates with a lifespan of 270 to 500 years – and beyond.

“We want to understand what adaptations they have that allow them to live so long,” Ewan Camplisson, a doctoral student at the University of Manchester working on research, says.

Previously, this long lifespan was thought to be due to the shark’s cold environment and minimal movement. Now, it has been discovered that the factors behind the extreme longevity of this species appear to be much more complex.

That’s why Camplisson and his team decided to investigate alternative theories.

“Most species show changes in their metabolism as they age,” explains Camplisson, “We want[ed] to determine whether Greenland sharks also show this traditional sign of aging or whether their metabolism remains unchanged over time.

What tests were done on Greenland sharks by researchers?

To measure the sharks’ metabolism, Camplisson’s team of researchers performed enzyme assays on preserved muscle tissue samples from the creatures.

They measured the metabolic activity of the enzymes using a spectrophotometer—an instrument that measures the intensity of light absorbed as it passes through a sample solution—at a range of different shark ages and environmental temperatures.

After these investigations, Camplisson and his team found no significant changes in the metabolic activity of the muscles at different ages. sharks.

This suggests that their metabolism does not appear to decrease over time – and may even play a key role in their longevity.

“This is quite different from most animals which tend to show some changes in their metabolic enzyme activity as they age,” says Camplisson, “The results support our hypothesis that the Greenland shark does not show the same traditional signs of aging as other animals. others. “

How do the findings increase our understanding of the health of Greenland sharks—and our own?

The results of shark based The study also showed that the metabolic enzymes of the Greenland species were significantly more active at higher temperatures.

“This would suggest that the red shark’s muscle metabolism is not specifically adapted to the polar environment, otherwise we would expect to see less of a temperature change in activity,” says Camplisson.

However, with climate change comes a particularly worrisome potential trend that could make long-lived species less able to adapt and, therefore, more vulnerable to FADE.

“A female Greenland shark may not become sexually mature until 150 years of age, and with such a long lifespan, the species will have much less chance of adapting to anthropogenic changes in their environment,” Camplisson explains. .

Camplisson is not done with his research in Greenland sharks still.

Next, he plans to test more enzymes and tissue types to gain an even deeper understanding of the shark’s metabolic activity, given the effects of climate change.

“My ultimate goal is to protect species, and the best way to do that is to understand them better,” he says.

What do his findings mean for humans and, in particular, heart disease?

“These are issues that become more common and more severe with age,” he says, “by studying the Greenland shark and its heart, we may be able to better understand our cardiovascular health.”