Study Sheds Light on Role of Aldehydes in Premature Aging

Human DNA has a double helix structure. Billion Photos/Shutterstock

Exposure to certain chemicals, including aldehydes, a class of organic compounds commonly found in alcohol, pollution, and smoke, can lead to premature aging, according to a new study.

“We have revealed part of the cause of genetic premature aging,” Tomoo Ogi, a professor of genetics at Nagoya University, said in a statement.

Aldehydes Disrupt Enzyme Function

Previous research has already established that several types of aldehydes are detrimental to human health.

Inhaling aldehydes—including formaldehyde, which is used as a food preservative and in cosmetics—can restrict airway openings and damage cells lining the airways, causing white blood cells to enter the lungs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Aldehydes have also been linked to organ injury, acute pain, inflammation, cancers, and cardiovascular disease.

However, the new study, published in Nature Cell Biology and conducted at Nagoya University in Japan, is the first to link premature aging with exposure to aldehydes.

“DNA damage is linked with aging phenotypes,” Yasuyoshi Oka, a researcher on the team, said. “However, for the first time, we propose a relationship between aldehyde-derived DNA damage and premature aging.”

Aldehydes are harmful because they can interact with the body’s DNA and proteins. When aldehydes enter the body, they form DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) that keep enzymes that are vital for cell proliferation and maintenance from functioning correctly. Their dysfunction can lead to premature aging.

This is observed in people with premature aging disorders such as AMeD syndrome, characterized by bone marrow failure in childhood, developmental defects, and impaired intellectual development, according to the research team. Those with AMeD have inadequate activity of maintenance enzymes, specifically those responsible for breaking down aldehydes.

Hope for Premature Aging Disease Therapies

The findings have implications for a better understanding of the aging process in healthy individuals.

“By elucidating the role of aldehydes in DNA damage and aging, we are paving the way for future studies aimed at developing novel treatments and interventions,” Mr. Oka said.

The research has implications for the development of therapeutic drugs to treat diseases that lead to premature aging. Since this is the first time scientists have been able to identify the mechanisms and pathology underlying aging, drug manufacturers can use this information to develop targeted treatments, the researchers said.

“The development of therapeutic drugs has not progressed because we have not fully understood the causes of AMeD syndrome and Cockayne syndrome,” Mr. Oka said. Cockayne syndrome is a rare genetic condition characterized by sensitivity to sunlight, short stature, and the appearance of premature aging.

The researchers said their insights into the role of aldehydes and DPCs in the disease process may help pave the way for the development of targeted treatments that remove harmful aldehydes.