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Peptides and AgingThe idea has roots in the fact that the functions of cells, tissues, organs and the whole body are tuned in part by peptides. Peptides, as a group, are protein-like molecules composed of a small number of amino acids. Despite this, there are enough amino acid combinations to provide hundreds of biologically active peptides and many are still presumed undiscovered. Each cell can produce several different peptides and work with different types of peptides to form a network that responds to variations in body conditions and contributes to the optimisation process of body functions. Other means of bodily regulation include low molecular weight neurotransmitters and hormones as well as with contacts of cells with other cells, especially neurons and their endings. These means of bodily regulation contribute to the optimal functioning of the body, and many pathological conditions are characterised by off-tuned functions of these regulatory means. In particular, body tuning related to peptide production deteriorates in the course of ageing and such impairments in peptide production and action are deemed to, according to the theory, significantly contribute to what occurs in ageing. Much of the peptide research in terms of anti aging has been done in Russia, especially by Prof. V. Kh. Khavinson at the Saint-Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology in Russia. Peptides and Aging - StudiesInhibitory effect of the peptide epitalon on the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. Khavinson, V.K. et al. International Journal of Cancer, Volume 101, Issue 1 , Pages 7 - 10. Khavinson et al., "Mechanisms Underlying Geroprotective Effects of Peptides," Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Jan. 2002, pp. 1-5, vol. 133, No. 1. Khavinson et al., "Peptide Promotes Overcoming of the Division Limit in Human Somatic Cell," Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, May 2004, pp. 503-506, vol. 137, No. 5. Morozov et al., "Natural and Synthetic Thymic Peptides as Therapeutics for Immune Dysfunction," Int. J. Immunopharmac., 1997, pp. 501-505, vol. 19, No. 9/10. Khavinson et al., "Inductive Activity of Retinal Peptides," Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Nov. 2002, pp. 482-484, vol. 134, No. 5. Khavinson et al., "Effects of Short Peptides on Lymphocyte Chromatin in Senile Subjects," Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Jan. 2004, pp. 78-81, vol. 137, No. 1. Khavinson et al., "Effects of Livagen Peptide on Chromatin Activation in Lymphocytes from Old People," Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Oct. 2002, pp. 389-392, vol. 134, No. 4. Khavinson et al., "Epithalon Peptide Induces Telomerase Activity and Telomere Elongation in Human Somatic Cells," Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Jun. 2003, pp. 590-592, vol. 135, No. 6. Ivanov et al., "Hemoglobin as a Source of Endogenous Bioactive Peptides: The Concept of TissueSpecific Peptide Pool," Biopolymers, 1997, pp. 171-188, vol. 39.
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