December Insights: Inspiration from ISRO Veteran, Exploring Aging in Space, and CRISPR-Cas for Age Reversal
Join us as we hear from an ISRO scientist reflecting on life post-retirement, explore aging in space, the promise of CRISPR-Cas for age reversal, & Prof. Srimonta’s work on epigenetics & longevity.
From the Community: From decoding the space to driving innovation, meet the ISRO scientist bridging dreams and discovery
In this interview, we speak with Mr. CH. V. G. K. Bangara Raju, a distinguished professional with an illustrious career in space technology and satellite communications. From 1981 to 2015, he played a pivotal role in India's space program, contributing to TTC (Telemetry, Tracking, and Command) operations for Aryabhatta, Bhaskara, and Chandrayaan, and establishing S-Band and S/X-Band stations across India, Mauritius, Brunei, and Biak. As Deputy Project Director, he was instrumental in setting up the 32-meter Deep Space Network station for the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). At 69, Mr. Raju continues to work with M/S.Astra Microwave. He shares insights on staying motivated post-retirement and expresses his enduring passion for his work.
LI: After having a long career at ISRO, what was your motivation to continue your career after your retirement?
Mr. Raju: After retiring from ISRO, I wanted to stay connected with technical work as long as my health and circumstances allowed. I enjoy contributing to projects, mentoring young professionals, and staying involved in the field that I am passionate about. This keeps me motivated and engaged.
LI: Do you follow any health routines to keep up with age problems, daily stresses, and stay focused at work? If so, what are those?
Mr. Raju: To stay active and focused, I keep myself engaged in meaningful activities and follow a healthy lifestyle. I incorporate simple practices like yoga and deep breathing to manage stress, and daily walks or light exercises to stay physically active. Maintaining a balanced routine supports my overall well-being and helps me stay energized. Reading the Vishnu Sahasranama every day brings me peace and clarity while spending quality time with my family strengthens my emotional well-being. Additionally, I have a few personal hacks that help me stay productive, such as starting the day with mindfulness and gratitude, organizing my tasks with simple checklists, taking short digital detoxes, and staying hydrated throughout the day. I also enjoy reading to keep my mind engaged. These small yet consistent practices help me maintain a positive outlook and a productive, balanced lifestyle.
LI: Are there any personal projects or hobbies you’re passionate about outside of your professional work?
Mr. Raju: I am passionate about growing fruit-bearing plants in our garden and enjoying the beauty of nature. Spending time nurturing plants and being outdoors helps me feel connected to the environment and brings me peace. It’s a fulfilling way to unwind and appreciate the simplicity of life.
LI: What would you advise to those who want to continue their careers after their retirement?
Keep engaged with activities that bring you personal satisfaction and happiness in your second innings. Find something you’re passionate about, whether it’s continuing in your field, pursuing hobbies, or learning something new. Staying mentally and physically active helps maintain a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Most importantly, balance work with leisure and enjoy the freedom to explore what truly makes you happy.
Exploring Space to Understand Aging
Writer: Bhumika Garg
Space travel presents a fascinating frontier for studying human health and longevity. Astronauts who venture beyond Earth's atmosphere experience a completely unique environment like microgravity, cosmic radiation, and altered circadian rhythms—all of which have profound effects on their bodies. How does the absence of gravity affect cellular aging, muscle, and bone density, or the regeneration of tissues?
Could extended stays in space provide clues to unlocking the secrets of human longevity or accelerate the aging process? The health challenges faced by astronauts not only push the boundaries of scientific understanding but also inspire curiosity about how life could thrive in such extreme conditions.
How Does Space Travel Affect the Human Body?
Microgravity, the near absence of gravity, accelerates the aging factors, mimicking aging-related disorders like sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease. Studies show that muscle cells in microgravity experience increased fat metabolism and cell death, with changes resembling decades of aging occurring in just seven days.
Studying Markers of Aging in Space
The accelerated aging caused by microgravity allows scientists to study aging markers in a much shorter timeline. Significant research has focused on its effects on skeletal muscles, heart tissue, and the immune system.
Impaired Regeneration in Microgravity
Muscle Degeneration:
Skeletal muscle samples from space show increased lipid and fatty acid metabolism and higher rates of cell death.
Myotubes (specific muscle cells) become shorter and thinner, resembling sarcopenia (age-related muscle wasting) typically observed at around 60 years of age on Earth, but appearing within just 7 days in microgravity.
Therapeutic Insights:
Muscle samples treated with regeneration-promoting drugs showed reduced impairment.
Space provides a valuable platform for testing therapies to enhance muscle regeneration, offering potential treatments for traumatic muscle injuries.
Immune System Aging in Space
In space, the stress induced by microgravity can activate latent viruses, typically dormant in healthy individuals but affecting immunocompromised organisms, making them valuable models for studying accelerated immune aging. Spaceflight conditions also induce aging-related changes in immune cells derived from bones, blood vessels, and the liver, an organ known for its regenerative capabilities. These insights are critical for identifying strategies to counter immune decline and aging on Earth, offering pathways to enhance immune resilience and health span.
Cosmic Radiation: Another Space Challenge
Astronauts face cosmic radiation (high-energy charged particles from stars, including the sun), which damages DNA and accelerates aging. Research into protective technologies and DNA repair in space could benefit cancer patients and others exposed to radiation on Earth. The concept of "hibernation" as a therapy for terminally ill patients has also emerged from space-based studies, showcasing innovative directions for longevity research.
Simulating Microgravity on Earth
Techniques:
By maintaining cells in constant free fall, scientists generate weightlessness on Earth.
Organoids (miniature versions of organs like the brain or heart) can be placed in microgravity simulators to accelerate aging by 5 to 10 years in just 24 hours.
Applications:
Develop models for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and cardiomyopathy.
Create immune organoids from real human tonsils to study aging and test interventions.
Why Accelerate Aging?
Conduct long-term studies in shorter timeframes.
Test interventions, supplements, and drugs efficiently in a high-throughput manner.
Identify biomarkers of aging and potential rejuvenation mechanisms.
Rejuvenation Mechanisms: Hope for the Future
By studying the effects of space travel on the human body, researchers can develop therapies to combat aging and associated disorders. Space serves not only as a testing ground for biological limits but also as a catalyst for innovative treatments that may one day enhance human longevity and health on Earth.
Space travel offers a unique opportunity to study aging processes and related biological changes in a faster timeline. By exposing the human body to extreme conditions like microgravity and cosmic radiation, researchers can uncover new insights into aging and potential rejuvenation mechanisms.
Imagine a world where age is just a number—where turning 70 doesn’t mean slowing down but thriving with the vitality of your 30s. While the mythical fountain of youth remains a dream, modern science is pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Researchers are exploring the biology of aging, repurposing everyday medicines to slow its effects, boost health, and even extend life itself. Here are a few examples of how science is driving the repurposing of existing drugs for anti-aging purposes.
References: Click Here
Bhumika Garg is a student pursuing a Masters degree in Life Sciences at IISc. She can be reached at bhumikagarg@iisc.ac.in
CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing: A Promising Tool for Aging Reversal
Writer: Suvani Rohatgi
CRISPR-Cas genome editing is revolutionizing the field of aging research by enabling precise modifications of genetic and epigenetic factors associated with cellular senescence and aging-related decline. Aging involves the accumulation of dysfunctional senescent cells that contribute to tissue degeneration and chronic diseases. CRISPR offers new avenues for extending health span and mitigating age-related disorders by addressing these processes.
Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, results from arrested cell division leading to inflammation and tissue damage, exacerbating conditions such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and liver dysfunction. CRISPR allows researchers to target key pathways involved in senescence, including the p16INK4a-pRB and p53-p21 axes, reducing senescent cell burden and delaying stem cell aging. By modifying genetic factors, CRISPR provides insights into human aging processes and enables the development of potential rejuvenation therapies.
Targeting Senescence with CRISPR: The KAT7 Case Study
In a groundbreaking study, Wang et al. identified KAT7, a gene promoting senescence, using a CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide screen. Disabling KAT7 in human cells rejuvenated prematurely aging cells and extended the lifespan of aging mice. CRISPR silencing of KAT7 reduced senescence markers, enhanced cell proliferation, and improved resistance to aging triggers in Werner syndrome stem cells.
In vivo, KAT7 inactivation improved liver health and extended mouse lifespans by alleviating aging-related liver damage. However, delivery limitations confined these effects to the liver, underscoring the need for advanced targeting strategies. Ongoing research will determine KAT7’s role in other tissues and evaluate long-term safety for clinical applications.
Revitalizing Stem Cells with CRISPR
As we age, genetic and epigenetic changes cause stem cells to lose their capacity to regenerate and repair tissues. Through the targeting and editing of particular genes associated with aging, CRISPR technology holds promise for reversing these age-related declines. It can also alter epigenetic markers like histone acetylation and DNA methylation to restore cellular function. CRISPR-dCas9 makes it possible to precisely modify epigenetic modifications without harming DNA. These regenerated stem cells have great potential for treating age-related conditions like heart disease osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases.
Extending Telomeres with CRISPR
Telomere shortening over time diminishes cell functionality and is a key factor in cellular aging. Using CRISPR to activate the TERT gene, which produces the telomerase enzyme responsible for maintaining and lengthening telomeres, offers a potential solution. By extending telomeres, CRISPR can improve cellular function and increase lifespan.
Overcoming Challenges and Ethical Dilemmas
Despite its revolutionary potential, CRISPR technology has many ethical and technical challenges. The possibility of inadvertent genetic alterations which could have detrimental effects like cancer is a major worry. To tackle this, scientists are creating more precise Cas enzymes and improving guide RNA architecture to reduce the probability of off-target effects. The difficulty of efficiently and precisely delivering CRISPR components to targeted cells is another problem. Utilizing cutting-edge techniques like lipid nanoparticles and viral vectors is essential to convert CRISPR’s promise into practical treatments. The wider societal ramifications of genetic modification, unexpected side effects, and unequal access to these cutting-edge treatments are among the worries.
Transformative Potential in Regenerative Medicine
CRISPR is transforming regenerative medicine by addressing the underlying molecular mechanisms of aging. It speeds up drug discovery, improves stem cell-based treatments for age-related disorders, and increases our capacity to model diseases. CRISPR is opening up new avenues for the treatment of age-related illnesses and thereby extending human life expectancy by facilitating targeted interventions in the aging process.
References: Click Here
Suvani Rohatgi is a student pursuing a M.tech in Bioengineering at IISc. She can be reached at suvanir@iisc.ac.in
Meet the Scientist
In this issue, we spotlight Prof. Srimonta Gayen, Associate professor at the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics at IISc. He leads a research lab dedicated to unraveling the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene activity during mammalian embryonic development. Prof. Gayen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Calcutta and completed his postdoctoral research at the Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. His lab also explores the role of epigenetics in aging, focusing on research into the unique epigenetic signatures of the Indian population and developing strategies to promote healthy aging. We are thrilled to share his insights and impactful work with you.
LI: What led you to your career in aging research?
Prof. Srimonta: Aging is something we all experience, yet it remains an area of immense complexity and mystery.
As the global population grows older, there is an urgent need to better understand the biological, psychological, and societal aspects of aging. Personally, witnessing loved ones face the challenges of aging has been a constant source of motivation for me as a researcher exploring the molecular signatures of aging and their diversity within the Indian population.
As we age, the risk of chronic diseases like Alzheimer's, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer increases, placing a significant burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Through aging research, I aim to uncover the mechanisms behind these diseases and identify potential therapies to delay, prevent, or reverse their effects. The potential to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from these conditions is what truly motivates me every day. It’s not just about studying aging — it’s about improving the quality of life for millions of people across the globe.
LI: What are you currently working on?
Prof. Srimonta: Currently, our lab is deciphering the epigenetic code of life. Our team studies the intricate mechanisms controlling gene activity during mammalian embryonic development. We focus on epigenetics, which involves DNA, RNA, and chromatin modifications that act as switches to regulate gene expression during development. We're particularly interested in:
Understanding how environmental factors, such as climate change, can disrupt these epigenetic switches and impact early development.
Investigating the role of epigenetics in the aging process and exploring potential strategies to slow down age-related decline.
We are conducting research on the Indian population to understand the unique epigenetic signatures of aging and explore how these insights can be used to improve human health.
LI: Your goal for the Longevity India Initiative?
Prof. Srimonta: My goal for the Longevity India Initiative is to develop a deeper understanding of epigenomic changes associated with aging within the Indian population. Currently, we are analyzing DNA methylation patterns in blood samples from individuals across different age groups to create an Indian landscape-specific epigenetic clock. This clock will provide a more accurate measure of biological age compared to chronological age. Furthermore, we will investigate other epigenetic factors, such as chromatin modifications and RNA modifications, to comprehensively understand the aging process within the Indian context. This research will enable us to identify specific epigenetic alterations associated with age-related decline and explore potential therapeutic targets to counteract these changes. Ultimately, we aim to use this knowledge to develop personalized interventions that promote healthy aging and extend lifespan within the Indian population.
LI: List your personal health hacks (if any)
Prof. Srimonta: I believe we should embrace old age and focus on leading an active, vibrant life. While I don’t strictly follow "health hacks," I’ve found some simple and effective habits that promote healthy aging and enhance quality of life.
Keeping our body active every day:
Maintaining a consistent circadian rhythm has been a priority for me, with sleep playing a vital role in repair, rejuvenation, and overall health. Despite changes in sleep patterns with age, I ensure I wake up by 6 AM and incorporate moderate-intensity exercises each morning. Whether it’s flexibility training, cricket, football, or a brisk walk/run for at least 30 minutes, staying active is my go-to strategy for aging well.
Good food – good mood:
What you eat and your lifestyle play a significant role in how well you age. Staying hydrated and choosing nutrient-dense foods like green vegetables, fruits, nuts, and healthy fats, while eliminating processed foods and excess sugar, are steps I believe promote healthy aging. Aging isn’t just about the body; it’s also about the mind, and I continuously engage my brain through constructive thinking, social interactions, and participating in scientific discussions and co-curricular activities. While I have my own health hacks tailored to my needs, I believe everyone should develop their own, as even a few small habits can have a significant impact on aging and help people embrace it gracefully while remaining active contributors to society.
RISE for Healthy Aging Conference
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Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Longevity India Initiative.
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