Tuberc Respir Dis.  2020 Apr;83(2):107-115. 10.4046/trd.2020.0003.

Recent Advances in Molecular Basis of Lung Aging and Its Associated Diseases

• Kang MJ

• KMID: 2471886
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2020.0003

Abstract

Aging is often viewed as a progressive decline in fitness due to cumulative deleterious alterations of biological functions in the living system. Recently, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying aging biology has significantly advanced. Interestingly, many of the pivotal molecular features of aging biology are also found to contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for which advanced age is the most crucial risk factor. Thus, an enhanced understanding of how molecular features of aging biology are intertwined with the pathobiology of these aging-related lung disorders has paramount significance and may provide an opportunity for the development of novel therapeutics for these major unmet medical needs. To serve the purpose of integrating molecular understanding of aging biology with pulmonary medicine, in this review, recent findings obtained from the studies of aging-associated lung disorders are summarized and interpreted through the perspective of molecular biology of aging.

Keyword

Lung Aging; Aging Biology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

MeSH Terms

Aging*
Biology
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Lung*
Molecular Biology
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Medicine
Risk Factors

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Major molecules and signaling pathways leading to hallmarks of aging. Among a plethora of molecules identified to be involved in aging biology, key signaling pathways leading to hallmarks of aging are illustrated. This illustration, in particular, focuses on the molecules which are currently targeted for the discovery of safe interventions to slow aging and increase healthy lifespan in humans. Please see the main text for the explanation in detail. 4E-BP: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein; AKT: protein kinase B (PKB), also known as AKT; AMP: adenosine monophosphate; AMPK: 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; FOXO: forkhead family of transcription factor; HIF1α: hypoxia-inducible factor 1α; IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor 1; IRS-1/2: insulin receptor substrate 1 & 2; mTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; S6K1: ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1.

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