Posted on 04/21/2025 4:21:27 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Our immune systems weaken as we get older, making fewer cells that fight infection and help us recover from illness and injury.
Crews' lab has found that decreased function of an enzyme called ELOVL2 (short for "elongation of very long chain fatty acids-like 2") speeds up immune system changes associated with aging.
ELOVL2 plays a critical role in synthesizing certain types of lipids (fatty compounds), and its abundance is known to decline with age. Inadequate ELOVL2 changes the balance of lipids in cells, impairing the development of B cells, the lymphocytes (white blood cells) responsible for making antibodies to fight off infection.
"ELOVL2 is a key enzyme necessary for synthesis of the omega−3 fatty acid DHA, one of the main components of all cell membranes," said Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk.
"We believe that DHA keeps the cell membranes in the stem cell precursors of B cells flexible and resilient."
To assess the applicability of the mouse studies to the human immune system, the researchers analyzed gene expression data from hematopoietic (blood) stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from human bone marrow samples collected at various ages.
Similar to the mouse studies, they found substantial reductions in the expression of a gene called CD79B in older humans, along with a near-total loss of ELOVL2-expressing HSPCs in people more than 60 years of age.
With ELOVL2 non-functional, the complement of lipids changes, negatively affecting the cells responsible for fighting infections, according to Crews.
This finding suggests that older individuals may be able to counteract the effects of age on their immune system via precision lipid supplementation tailored to their specific needs.
In a previous study, Skowronska-Krawczyk and her colleagues demonstrated that enhancing Elovl2 gene expression in aging mice boosted DHA levels in the eye, resulting in improvements to vision.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Our bodies can make a small amount of EPA and DHA from plant sources, and it can make DHA from EPA (plant, animal, or algae). However, this paper is describing how our bodies become incapable of creating any DHA by 60 years of age. We can still get it from DHA sources, however.
Some amount of our older age issues appears to come from this missing step.
Be sure to get DHA in higher quantities as you age.
Sorry about the cut down version provided above, but I have to trim to 300 words.
Bkmk
So: Fish Oil supplements?
I’m eating a Poke Bowl with salmon and tuna right now.
DHA is good for babies brains too.
Yes, but get ones that favor more DHA to EPA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.