Why the Naked Mole Rats immune to Cancer?

There was no one hair that grows on the body of the mole rat. Naked appearance that makes the rats appear weak and odd. But naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) apparently immune to the deadly cancer disease.

The naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber). (Picture from: http://www.reed.edu/)

The African origin rodents that live underground was also able to live up to 30 years. If relative measure to body size of the naked mole rats, humans will have a life span of up to 600 years.

"The other surprise was, the rats never get cancer in their life," said Vera Gorbunova from the University of Rochester in New York, United States. As quoted from Newscientist on June 20, 2013, Gorbunova and her team found clues behind the naked mole rats immunity against the deadly disease. This discovery could lead to advanced treatment against to various diseases.

In her research, Gorbunova has found that the extracellular matrix (organic sheath that wraps the body tissues) in the naked mole rats contains many inhibitors of cancer growth.

The magic ingredient is hyaluronan, type of polysaccharide that serves as a lubricant in the body. In the mole rats body, these molecules appear as severe, which is known as the high-molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA).

According to Gorbunova, animals who spent most of their life underground were originally developed HMW-HA to facilitate movement through the tunnel. "But it turns out lubricant also helps fight against cancer," she said.

Gorbunova manipulate the accumulation path trigger of HMM-HA in the mole rat cells. As a result, the body's tissues do not miss the magic molecule slowly overgrown tumor cells. While the other normal tissues are free from the tumor formation.

Gorbunova says, The problem is the HMM-HA wasn't necessarily be applied to the human body to overcome cancer. In the Nature journal, Gorbunove explains that humans must undergo manipulation of all cells in the body to be able to express the molecule. "It's very impractical and dangerous," she said.

However HMW-HA is potentially useful for treating to another diseases. Chris Hine from the Harvard School of Public Health, said that the molecule could be used to cure the arthritis. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NATURE | NEWSCIENTIST | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4268]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.