On: Rapamycin and dogs — man’s best friends?

Episode: 10

Date: August 2018

Key Subjects:

• Involved in dog ageing research project:
  • Live in similar environment as humans.
  • Die from similar diseases as humans (although cancer is the most common in dogs, versus heart disease in humans).
• Rapamycin is immunosuppressant (see mTOR write-up).
  • Reduces T cell proliferation on high doses (protective in organ transplants).
  • But, becomes immunoprotective on low doses / cycling.
  • Likely through enhanced stem cell function.
• Rapamycin may delay ageing and also restore functionality.
  • Such as heart function.
• Autophagy:
  • Difficult to measure.
  • Can be beneficial or detrimental.
  • Rapamycin seems to activate beneficial autophagy.
• Cancer:
  • Ability of the body to detect cancer cells goes down with age as the immune function deteriorates.
  • Rapamycin (in proper dosage) can enhance the body’s immune surveillance.
• Neurodegenerative diseases:
  • Diseases of aging.
  • Rapamycin may also be useful in halting the development of Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Likely through autophagy, stopping protein accumulation.
• Caloric restriction:
  • Rapamycin and caloric restriction both inhibit mTOR.
  • While there is some overlap between the tow, rapamycin likely covers a broader array of mTOR inhibition.
• Metabolome:
  • Little know about interaction between rapamycin and the metabolome.
  • The decrease of intestinal barrier function with age causes inflammation.
  • Rapamycin may stop decrease of function and help lower chronic inflammation.

Key Takeaways:

• -/-

Worth Listening:

• 7/10