Functional characterization of the store-operated calcium entry pathway in naked mole-rat cells
Abstract
Naked mole-rats (NMRs, Heterocephalus glaber) are highly unusual rodents exhibiting remarkable adaptations to their subterranean habitat and resistance to developing various age-related diseases such as those related to abnormal cell proliferation or cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammation. In other rodents, as well as humans, a ubiquitous Ca2+ influx pathway, namely the store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), has been implicated in all these diseases. SOCE is triggered by intracellular Ca2+ store depletion resulting in interaction of Stim proteins with Orai proteins, the putative homologs of which appear be present in the NMR genome, but no characterisation of SOCE in NMRs has yet been conducted. In this study, we provide the first functional and pharmacological characterization of SOCE in NMR cells using both excitable and non-excitable cells.
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Research summary
The paper investigates the store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) pathway in naked mole-rat cells, which is relevant to understanding mechanisms that contribute to the unique longevity and disease resistance of these animals. However, while it provides foundational knowledge about SOCE in a species known for its longevity, the findings are primarily descriptive and do not directly address root causes of aging or propose interventions for lifespan extension. Thus, it represents a solid contribution but with limited immediate impact on the field of longevity research.
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