Many people are interested in ways to stay healthy for longer. Certain natural substances have gained attention because they appear to support the body’s own repair systems and slow down some effects of aging.
But new research suggests that one of these promising compounds may not always work in our favor.
Polyamines are natural molecules found in every cell of the body. They help cells grow and function properly.
In recent years, scientists have studied them closely because they can trigger a “clean-up” process inside cells that removes damaged parts. This process is linked to healthy aging.
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At the same time, doctors have long known that cancer cells often contain unusually high levels of polyamines. That raised an important question: how can something linked to healthy aging also be connected to aggressive tumors?
What the researchers found
A research team led by Associate Professor Kyohei Higashi at Tokyo University of Science investigated this puzzle. Their study was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Working with human cancer cells in the lab, the scientists lowered polyamine levels and then added them back. They closely tracked how the cells responded.
They found that in cancer cells, polyamines helped switch on a fast energy system that tumors use to grow quickly.
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Instead of supporting normal cell maintenance, the molecules appeared to strengthen the cancer cells’ ability to multiply.
Why it matters
The team also discovered that polyamines affect two similar proteins in different ways. In healthy cells, one protein supports normal energy production and repair. In cancer cells, a related protein is activated instead, encouraging growth.
The findings suggest that the same molecule can be helpful in healthy tissue but harmful in cancerous tissue.
Researchers say this could eventually help scientists design treatments that block the cancer-promoting effects without interfering with potential anti-aging benefits.
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Sources: Science Daily and JBC
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