Role For CISD2 Gene In Human Disease And Lifespan Control

From a recent article in Medical New Today, a research shows that the CISD2 gene has a ‘potential lifespan extending effect’. The group present an animal model of human wolfram syndrome that linked with the role of Cisd2 gene. Initially the Cisd2 gene was removed from the black mouse for the growth of liver cancer cell, but was later found that the black mouse have decrease in their body weight, lived shorter and present the symptom of WFS2 instead of growing cancer cell. The WFS2 is a genetic disorder associated with dysfunction of Cisd2 gene which effectively destroys the nervous system. When the team restored Cisd2 gene back, the mouse lived longer than the previous mouse.

The Cisd2 protein is located on the human chromosome number 4 and is found in the mitochondria, where it is needed for proper mitochondrial function. From a comparative genome analysis of families with centenarian offspring, it appears that chromosome number 4 is associated with longevity. Since WFS2 is associated with dysfunction of Cisd2 protein, WFS2 is related to the function of mitochondria. When the mitochondria are not functioning, the muscle and neural cell degenerated and causes premature aging. This suggested that the Cisd2 gene has a potential in increasing the lifespan of mammals and further researches can give more understanding of Wolfram syndrome 2 pathogenesis.