FASTING AND STEM CELL REGENERATION

• fasting downregulates a IGF-1/PKA pathway in stem cells
• Prolong fasting protects hematopoietic cells from chemotoxicity
• Prolonged fasting cycles promote HSC self-renewal to reverse immunosuppression
• Inhibition of IGF-1 or PKA signaling mimics the effects of prolonged fasting

Immune system defects are at the center of aging and a range of diseases. Here, we show that prolonged fasting reduces circulating IGF-1 levels and PKA activity in various cell populations, leading to signal transduction changes in long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) and niche cells that promote stress resistance, self-renewal, and lineage-balanced regeneration. Multiple cycles of fasting abated the immunosuppression and mortality caused by chemotherapy and reversed age-dependent myeloid-bias in mice, in agreement with preliminary data on the protection of lymphocytes from chemotoxicity in fasting patients. The proregenerative effects of fasting on stem cells were recapitulated by deficiencies in either IGF-1 or PKA and blunted by exogenous IGF-1. These findings link the reduced levels of IGF-1 caused by fasting to PKA signaling and establish their crucial role in regulating hematopoietic stem cell protection, self-renewal, and regeneration.

SOURCE: HERE

METABOLIC TRIGGERS OF AUTOPHAGY

In isolated cells, autophagy is generally induced by limitations in ATP availability or a lack of essential nutrients, including glucose and amino acids (i.e. FASTING or KETOGENIC diet).

SOURCE: HERE

(CONTINUED IN THE NEXT BLOG “RAMADAN IS DAILY INTERMITTENT DRY FASTING”)