The ability to activate genes in the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, which seem to become silenced due to DNA condensation with aging, may be responsible for the peptide’s alleged anti-aging potential.
Studies suggest that the short peptide Livagen, structurally similar to Epitalon (Epithalon), may potentially affect the immune system, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. It is believed that Livagen, a peptide bioregulator, may have a direct effect on DNA and the expression of genes. The ability to activate genes in the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, which seem to become silenced due to DNA condensation with aging, may be responsible for the peptide’s alleged anti-aging potential.
There appears to be a hierarchical and increasingly compact organization at work in the DNA of eukaryotic species. DNA, typically around 3 feet long, may be compressed to fit within a space of only a hundredth of a millimeter in the cell. DNA may be packaged by generating chromatin structures with histone proteins, which then compact into chromosomes. It is hypothesized that this hierarchical structure plays an important role in enabling DNA replication and cell division, perhaps providing storage space for genetic material within cells and controlling gene expression at a systemic level. DNA packing and regulating access to individual genes rely heavily on its structure. [i]
Livagen Peptide, Chromatin, and Immunity Research
Studies looked at the Livagen peptide, hypothesizing that it may possibly induce chromatin decondensation (unpacking) and hence activate many genes in lymphocytes, a main cell type of the immune system. Genes, such as ribosomal genes responsible for increased protein production and cellular activity, that are generally silenced in mature and aged test mice, may possibly be reactivated. [ii] Research suggests that Livagen may affect the DNA of lymphocytes, perhaps revitalizing them.
Lymphocytes are thought to include B and T cells, which play structural roles in the immune system. Antibodies made by B cells appear to be used against foreign invaders, while those made by T cells appear directed towards infected or malignant cells. T cells are believed to secrete cytokines, which function as chemical signals to coordinate immune responses and may regulate inflammation. [iii]
Age-related decline in lymphocyte activity is hypothesized to enhance susceptibility to various diseases, suggesting that lymphocytes play an important role in immunological defense. After studying subjects in a clinical setting, scientists speculated, "These results suggest that peptide bioregulators Epitalon, Livagen, and Vilon cause activation (deheterochromatinization) of chromatin in lymphocytes of old models." [iv]
Livagen Peptide and the Heart
It has been hypothesized that chromosome abnormalities have harmful effects on the heart. The bioregulatory peptide Livagen has been studied for its potential to reverse this chromatin dysregulation and provide potential cardio-protective properties. [v] [vi]
Separate research studies examined the combined potential impact of Livagen and cobalt ions on chromatin architecture. This combination, which is hypothesized to stimulate decondensation of chromatin, successfully mitigated the consequences. This study's findings are deemed significant "because it offers new information about the protective effect of Livagen and Livagen + Cobalt ions on the lymphocytes of HCM [test subjects]."[vii]
Decondensation of chromatin in lymphocytes, made possible by the release of specific genes, has been speculated in several studies to help mitigate the long-term effects of cardiac problems. [viii] Findings imply that one possible mode of action for Livagen is that it may alter the gene expression of lymphocytes, which could help reduce inflammation and the scarring it causes.
Livagen Peptide and Pain Management
Natural enkephalin proteins seem to interact with mu and delta opioid receptors. Pain, blood pressure, and awareness all appear to decrease after mu receptors are activated, which are also the target of morphine. Opiates are considered to cause respiratory depression; however, it is thought that this is partly due to the activation of delta receptors, which reduces pain perception. [viii] Studies of bioregulatory peptides suggest that Enkephalin-degrading enzymes in the circulation may be inhibited by Livagen, leading to increased amounts of endogenous pain-relieving chemicals.
Livagen Peptide and Aging
Recent studies suggest that changes in DNA organization may affect aging by possibly affecting which genes are expressed and how easily they can be accessed. A leading expert on chromatin modifications in old age has studied this phenomenon extensively. His findings suggest that chromosomal abnormalities may grow with age. Chromatin condensation is a hallmark of these abnormalities and contributes to DNA inactivation and impaired cellular repair mechanisms. [ix]
The idea that counteracting chromatin condensation may theoretically increase lifespan is intriguing. Since silencing genes appears to hasten the aging process, reactivating them might slow it down. Several bioregulatory peptides, such as Livagen, Epitalon, and a few others, have been speculated by researchers as possibly having the capacity to influence this procedure by recondensing DNA. [x]
Summary
Investigations purport that the short bioregulatory peptide Livagen may potentially influence the DNA structure and function. Inducing chromatin decondensation, which may increase the expression of certain genes and promote a more "youthful" cellular profile, looks to be its most promising research application. Lymphocytes, crucial players in the immune system, have been the primary subject of extensive study into its effects. It is believed that Livagen may play a potential role in immune system activation by modulating these cells. However, more study is needed to determine this peptide's full mechanism of action and impact.
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References
[i] Chromatin. National Human Genome Research Institute. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Chromatin
[ii] Khavinson VKh, Lezhava TA, Monaselidze JG, Dzhokhadze TA, Dvalishvili NA, Bablishvili NK, Ryadnova IY. Effects of Livagen peptide on chromatin activation in lymphocytes from old people. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2002 Oct;134(4):389-92. doi: 10.1023/a:1021924702103. PMID: 12533768. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12533768/
[iii] Lymphocyte. National Human Genome Research Institute. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Lymphocyte
[iv] Lezhava T, Monaselidze J, Kadotani T, Dvalishvili N, Buadze T. Anti-aging peptide bioregulators induce reactivation of chromatin. Georgian Med News. 2006 Apr;(133):111-5. PMID: 16705247. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16705247/
[v] Dzhokhadze Ta et al., Functional regulation of genome with peptide bioregulators by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (by patients and relatives), December 1, 2013. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Functional-regulation-of-genome-with-peptide-by-(by-Ta-TZh/ddda519986d5793a0aedc2293f00f0e5fa540b4d
[vi] Lezhava T et al., Activation of pericentromeric and telomeric heterochromatin in cultured lymphocytes from old individuals, 01 Apr 2007. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/17460203
[vii] [Effect of peptide bioregulator and cobalt ions on the activity of NORs and associations of acrocentric chromosomes in lymphocytes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and their relatives]. Georgian Med News. 2014 Sep;(234):134-7. Russian. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25341254/
[viii] Gyires K, Rónai AZ. Supraspinal delta- and mu-opioid receptors mediate gastric mucosal protection in the rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Jun;297(3):1010-5. PMID: 11356923. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11356923/
[ix] Lezhava TA. Funktsional’nye osobennosti khromosom cheloveka i starenie [Human chromosome functional characteristics and aging]. Adv Gerontol. 2001;8:34-43. Russian. PMID: 11582753. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11582753/
[x] Khavinson VKh, Lezhava TA, Monaselidze JR, Jokhadze TA, Dvalishvili NA, Bablishvili NK, Trofimova SV. Peptide Epitalon activates chromatin at the old age. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003 Oct;24(5):329-33. PMID: 14647006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14647006/
Disclaimer: The above is a contributor post, the views expressed are those of the contributor and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.