The Ironies in Survival
How interesting, nature has ways of balancing up acts, with apparently contradictory mechanisms. For new cells to form and rejuvenate tissue, the old ones must die(tissue remodeling), hence new skin is formed only when the old one flakes off.
The mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cells. It is here that food is burnt to provide energy, through the intermediary of ATP. Hence, nowhere is the function of the cell more affected biochemically than in its mitochondria. The nucleus, however, determines the overall destiny of the cell, since it here that most genes are found. Once the function of the mitochondria is severely impaired, the nucleus shuts down the cell, which eventually dies. So any damage to the mitochondria that leaves them in a state beyond repairs, immediately leads to cell death.
The mitochondria will not function very well as we age. Due to the biochemical importance of mitochondria in the cell function, it has its own set of genes. Like a micro-cell, in its own right, the mitochondrion has its own DNA which controls its function and survival. Some new findings show that until the mitochondrion is damaged, it will not be broken down( sub-cellular autophagy) for a new one to be formed(cellular remodeling). Other body organelles constantly degrade and reform to keep the cell relatively young and more functional.
Exercise increases cell metabolism, mainly catabolism. Free radicals, including nitric oxide and oxygen free radicals, are produced from increased cellular catabolism. These free radicals and stress hormones(corticosteroids) cause cell organelles to degenerate and be degraded by autophagy. It is known that exercise increases lifespan. It equally reduces body fat,which reduction is known to prolong life, in its own right. Both exercise and reduction in body fat translate into increase in the lengths of telomeres, the ends of DNA, made up of clusters of the DNA and proteins, that are essential for cellular repairs(cellular remodellig) .
It follows that stress(exercise) is, itself, rejuvenating if its damaging effects occur only for a brief period, as this allows the body organelles to degenerate so as to later rejuvenate, at rest and especially in sleep. Memory is improved immediately during and following stress, from the effects of adrenaline in the brain. In the long term the brain cell organelles remodel and this is good for a robust brain function.
One interesting finding shows that a gene exists, which is turned on during cancer chemotherapy, and helps cytotoxic drugs to kill cancer cells. So when the cell undergoes damage beyond repairs, it sends out and receives signals that will allow it to undergo autophagy at the sub-cellular level or when this is more severe, to commit cellular suicide(apoptosis) or phagocytosis(macro-autophagy); literally eating up its organelles and killing itself off, as it were.
Yet another observation is that low doses of some cellular signalling molecules, generally classified as lethal to the cell, such a tumor necrotic factor(TNF) and some irritants, will stimulate the cell to proliferate as they allow calcium to enter the cell. Increased levels of intracellular calcium promote growth, while high doses will kill the cell.
It, therefore, follows that some stress to cellar function is a necessary condition for good cellular health.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso, M.D.
The mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cells. It is here that food is burnt to provide energy, through the intermediary of ATP. Hence, nowhere is the function of the cell more affected biochemically than in its mitochondria. The nucleus, however, determines the overall destiny of the cell, since it here that most genes are found. Once the function of the mitochondria is severely impaired, the nucleus shuts down the cell, which eventually dies. So any damage to the mitochondria that leaves them in a state beyond repairs, immediately leads to cell death.
The mitochondria will not function very well as we age. Due to the biochemical importance of mitochondria in the cell function, it has its own set of genes. Like a micro-cell, in its own right, the mitochondrion has its own DNA which controls its function and survival. Some new findings show that until the mitochondrion is damaged, it will not be broken down( sub-cellular autophagy) for a new one to be formed(cellular remodeling). Other body organelles constantly degrade and reform to keep the cell relatively young and more functional.
Exercise increases cell metabolism, mainly catabolism. Free radicals, including nitric oxide and oxygen free radicals, are produced from increased cellular catabolism. These free radicals and stress hormones(corticosteroids) cause cell organelles to degenerate and be degraded by autophagy. It is known that exercise increases lifespan. It equally reduces body fat,which reduction is known to prolong life, in its own right. Both exercise and reduction in body fat translate into increase in the lengths of telomeres, the ends of DNA, made up of clusters of the DNA and proteins, that are essential for cellular repairs(cellular remodellig) .
It follows that stress(exercise) is, itself, rejuvenating if its damaging effects occur only for a brief period, as this allows the body organelles to degenerate so as to later rejuvenate, at rest and especially in sleep. Memory is improved immediately during and following stress, from the effects of adrenaline in the brain. In the long term the brain cell organelles remodel and this is good for a robust brain function.
One interesting finding shows that a gene exists, which is turned on during cancer chemotherapy, and helps cytotoxic drugs to kill cancer cells. So when the cell undergoes damage beyond repairs, it sends out and receives signals that will allow it to undergo autophagy at the sub-cellular level or when this is more severe, to commit cellular suicide(apoptosis) or phagocytosis(macro-autophagy); literally eating up its organelles and killing itself off, as it were.
Yet another observation is that low doses of some cellular signalling molecules, generally classified as lethal to the cell, such a tumor necrotic factor(TNF) and some irritants, will stimulate the cell to proliferate as they allow calcium to enter the cell. Increased levels of intracellular calcium promote growth, while high doses will kill the cell.
It, therefore, follows that some stress to cellar function is a necessary condition for good cellular health.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso, M.D.
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