首个以端粒为靶标的TA-65营养补充片剂上市

据美国《发现》杂志报道，首个以端粒为靶标的TA-65营养补充片剂已经在美国上市，不过目前是作为营养补充剂在出售。药物制造商T.A.科学公司表示，他们很快就会将相关研究论文提交给同行，以对这种营养补充剂的实际功效进行严格审查。
端粒是位于染色体末端的DNA（脱氧核糖核酸）重复序列，有了端粒的保护，染色体末端就不会被细胞修复机制误认为是DNA碎片而自动加以修复。端粒会随着细胞的不断分裂而逐渐变短，当它短到不能再短时，细胞也就停止了分裂，并最终步向老化和死亡。TA-65是从中草药黄芪中分离出的一种分子，经提纯浓缩后开发成为一种营养补充剂。从2007年开始，首个以端粒为靶标的TA-65营养补充片剂就能够从医生那里买到。T.A.科学公司表示，TA-65片剂能够提高人体的骨密度和免疫能力，对于与衰老相关的生物标记物也有一定的作用，服用了这种片剂的人报告说，他们的运动、视觉和认知能力都有所增强。该公司首席执行官诺埃尔•帕顿说，他自己已经连续两年在服用这种营养补充剂，而且该公司所有40岁以上的员工都在服用。该公司从2002年开始就在对TA-65分子进行测试，并坚称研究人员已经发现了端粒长度和某种与衰老相关的疾病之间的联系，同时还在公司网站上公布了一项抗衰老试验的结果。

其他制药公司也在加紧自己的研发脚步，并预计具有延缓衰老作用的药物可在15年内获得美国食品和药物管理局（FDA）的批准。

长寿的关键被科学家们已找到

科学家们发现了一个长寿的关键因素：一种遗传性细胞的修复机制。这种机制不仅抗衰老，还可能有助于预防疾病。研究人员说，这项发现或可帮助研制抗衰老药。
这项研究涉及端粒，即染色体的末梢，它类似于防止鞋带磨损的塑料套。据知，端粒在衰老过程中发挥着关键作用。
这个新研究项目的研究结果发现，最长寿的人通过遗传获得一种极为活跃的酶，这种酶被称为端粒酶，它可对端粒进行修复。
实际上，百岁老人体内一般都有一种顶级修复机制在不停地工作，对管理机体运行的部件进行修复。而普通人体内的细胞控制中心会随时间而逐步耗损。
耶希瓦大学阿尔贝特爱因斯坦医学院医学和遗传学副教授尤辛苏说：“长寿的人可以更好地保持体内端粒的长度。我们发现，就长寿而言，至少有一部分原因是，长寿者体内与端粒保养有关的基因变体更具优势。”

本周出版的《国家科学院学报》月刊具体介绍了有关研究结果。

端粒是位于染色体末端的特定D N A重复片断。细胞会反复分裂以保持机体活力。但细胞每分裂一次，端粒都会变短。而当端粒变得过短时，细胞就会停止分裂，并开始衰老。机体内将不再生成重要的组织，器官功能由此开始衰退。

苏说：“据我们的研究结果显示，端粒长度和端粒酶基因变体这两者共同作用可使人长寿，其作用方法可能是预防老年疾病。我们目前试图弄明白，百岁老人体内的端粒酶基因变体是通过何种机制来保持端粒长度的。而我们最终则有可能研制出与百岁老人体内的端粒酶类似的药物。
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Product Description

TA-65® is a proven telomerase activator* that was discovered by California biotech company Geron, and licensed to T.A Sciences. Our clients take TA-65 capsules in a 12 month program known as the Patton Protocol. TA-65 turns on the hTERT gene* which activates the enzyme telomerase which can lengthen your telomeres. We measure your telomeres before, during and after completing the Protocol to show actual changes in telomere length.

How is TA-65® made?
TA-65 is a naturally occurring single molecule found in the ancient Chinese herb Astragalus. T.A. Sciences has developed a proprietary process to refine and purify TA-65. Our process begins with tons of plant material harvested from selected farms in one small region in China. In our plant extraction facility, the raw Astragalus root is chopped up and refined. After initial extraction, the base ingredient is further purified and then sent to an outside government testing facility where it is tested for purity, heavy metals, and pesticides. The product is then sent to a FDA certified, state-of-the-art, laboratory for final purification that ends up with 90+% pure TA-65.

Telomere Science
There are trillions of cells in our body and at any given time a great number are dividing furiously to keep us alive and well. The process is directed by genes sitting on the 23 pairs of chromosomes found in the nucleus of each and every cell. The chromosomes are long sequences of DNA that contain all our genetic material. Each pair of chromosomes consists of one from your mother and one from your father and they are twisted around each other to form a structure called the double helix.

Of particular interest to the scientists at T.A. Sciences are the ends of each chromosome known as telomeres. Telomeres have no genetic function; they are simply stretches of DNA (repeats of base pairs) that protect the rest of the chromosome. These little bits of DNA are critical to healthy cell function and have been likened to the plastic tips on shoelaces because they prevent the chromosome from “fraying.”

However, telomeres become progressively shorter each time the cell divides. When they get too short, cells reach replicative senescence and can no longer divide. The result can be the various conditions associated with old age.

Scientists have only recently begun to understand the critical importance of shortened telomeres. Research has shown that people over sixty who have long telomeres experience greater heart and immune system health than their age-matched counterparts with shorter telomeres. Thus, it is becoming well-understood that maintaining telomere length is preventing age-related decline.

The phenomenon of cellular aging was first noted by Professor Lenhard Hayflick in 1961. He discovered that cells cannot divide beyond a specific number of times. This is called the Hayflick Limit. Cells reaching this limit become old. Although Professor Hayflick discovered this important scientific principle, he had no idea what caused it.

It took almost thirty more years before the role telomeres play in cellular aging was finally understood. In 1990, Calvin Harley at McMaster University in Canada and Carol Greider at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the USA discovered that telomere shortening goes hand-in-hand with the aging process and is the direct cause of cells reaching the Hayflick Limit.

TA-65能够激活一种名为端粒酶的酶，它能帮助保护端粒，以此保护细胞。TA-65目前是作为一种营养品，是从作为中药的黄芪中提炼出来的。去年哈佛大学医学院在老鼠身上进行的实验显示TA-65成功延长了已经很短的端粒，并修复免疫系统，增加骨密度。

端粒酶激活技术

理论依据：我们人体的每一个细胞内都有染色体，这里是DNA的所在，它是我们身体所有特征和所有机能发育的蓝图。染色体的端点是92个端粒，它负责维持DNA的质量。

然而我们的细胞每分裂复制一次，端粒就会变短一些，直到短到极点后就宣告了细胞的死亡。随着细胞的凋亡，它们组成的人体机体也随之衰败，无法继续正常工作，衰老由此发生。衰老的进程取决于生命周期的长短，以及基因性质，根据美国加州大学的研究，那些具有较短端粒的人群患心脏病死亡的几率是那些具有较长端粒人群的3倍。

疗法：TA-65能够激活一种名为端粒酶的酶，它能帮助保护端粒，以此保护细胞。TA-65目前是作为一种营养品，是从作为中药的黄芪中提炼出来的。去年哈佛大学医学院在老鼠身上进行的实验显示TA-65成功延长了已经很短的端粒，并修复免疫系统，增加骨密度。