Dr. Eric Venn-Watson’s Highlights
Highlights:
Cellular proliferation is a biological function whereby new cells are created throughout the body.
Although new cells are important, some cells (like cancer-causing cells) proliferate and accelerate disease.
Understanding proliferation and how it may be possible to slow the proliferation of “bad” cells could give us the key to extending our longevity.
A paper cut can be surprisingly painful, but chances are, once you’ve bandaged it, you forget about it. A few days later, the cut healed and left no trace of it ever being there. This is an example of cellular proliferation, or the process by which new cells are created to replace old, dying cells.
Cellular proliferation is an important biological process in our bodies. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to heal from cuts, broken bones, or other injuries. Children wouldn’t grow without cellular proliferation, and our immune systems wouldn’t be able to defend us against pathogens. Still, not all cell proliferation is good.
When cell proliferation mutates, it can be the beginning of diseases (like cancer). Recently, researchers have discovered a fascinating form of cell death called feroptosis, which accelerates the aging process and is thought to underlie many age-related illnesses.
Understanding how cellular proliferation works is a foundational key in supporting longevity and helping us fight diseases in new ways. Let’s talk about what cellular proliferation is and how we can support our cellular health.
Cellular Proliferation Basics
The body maintains and repairs tissues through the process of cellular proliferation. Cellular proliferation causes old cells to grow and divide to make new cells. Like a cellular renovation team, cellular proliferation is responsible for replacing worn-out and damaged tissues in the body with new, sturdy tissue.
Cellular proliferation has a specific timeline depending on the type of cell that is proliferating. For instance, skin cells proliferate approximately every 28 days, while red blood cells proliferate once every 120 days.
The body’s program for cellular proliferation is called the cell cycle. The cell cycle is tightly regulated with numerous checkpoints to ensure that proliferation is going smoothly. If something goes wrong (like free radical damage), the cell can pause proliferation, attempt to repair itself, or even self-destruct if the damage cannot be repaired.
This process keeps “bad” or damaged cells from proliferating, which would result in damaged copies. This process keeps our bodies in a continual state of repair and renewal.
Why Cellular Proliferation Matters
It isn’t simply new cells replacing old ones. Proliferation is important to sustain life as we know it.
Cell proliferation is responsible for important systems, like:
- Tissue repair. Organs and tissues are in a constant state of repair. Old cells are continually being replaced, even in your very bones. Without this process, your organs would simply wear out and become dysfunctional.
- Immunity. White blood cells are foundational parts of your immune system, but they don’t live forever. Gradually, aging white blood cells are replaced by new white blood cells with better fighting power to help you avoid catching the office cold.
- Growth and development. From birth to adulthood, cell division is necessary for growth. It is also important during pregnancy to ensure the development of the new baby.
- Wound healing. Without cellular proliferation, the paper cut you got on your finger would never go away. Broken bones would never heal, and you’d risk life-threatening infections.
When cells don’t proliferate, our bodies lose function. However, the system of cell proliferation, although carefully guarded and expertly designed, can be hijacked.
When Cell Proliferation Goes Wrong
The system of checks that help facilitate smooth proliferation fails, allowing cells to grow uncontrollably and allowing damaged cells to proliferate and create more damaged cells. Tumors may form as a result of this excessive, rapid growth. Likewise, cancer cells contain mutations that allow them to bypass the regulatory systems and continue to grow and spread.
Here’s a closer look at what happens when proliferation goes wrong.
- A genetic mutation occurs. Genetic mutations within a DNA sequence trigger a change in the control system that regulates cellular proliferation. Mutations can occur from external and internal causes. Errors in replication, exposure to toxins or chemicals, and UV damage are all examples of events that can lead to a mutation.
- Antioncogenes fail. Antioncogenes are genes that suppress tumors. These genes are responsible for slowing cell proliferation so that tumors do not form. When a genetic mutation occurs, it can “turn off” antioncogenes, leading to rapid cell proliferation.
- Damaged cells continue to replicate. Cells that become damaged should die (a process called apoptosis), but instead, they continue to replicate.
- Tumors form due to the massive collection of damaged cells.
The change from healthy growth to unhealthy proliferation happens in stages. Most of the time, a person who has this change doesn’t know it until they already have a tumor in their body. Many cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and immunotherapy, are designed to kill cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.
However, over time, the mutations in the cancer cells simply mutate and evade apoptosis and become resistant to this treatment. Now, researchers have discovered another way by which cell proliferation can be halted.
Ferroptosis
Ferroptosis was discovered by Columbia University researchers in 2012. This mysterious type of cell death occurs when lipid peroxides on a cell membrane react with iron inside a cell, causing the cell to die.
Lipid peroxidation happens naturally as a part of the cellular energy cycle (the Krebs cycle). What isn’t clear is why the iron in these cells causes a toxic level of lipid peroxides to develop.
Now, a “new” type of cellular death may not sound like a promising avenue of health, but it is very useful in cancer research and treatment. Because cancer cells can become resistant to treatments that induce apoptosis, researchers are now testing treatments that cause ferroptosis. These treatment plans could become important, particularly for aggressive cancers.
Although there is, of course, no current cure for cancer, understanding this type of cellular death and how it may be able to halt cancer cell proliferation is a big step towards finding newer and better cancer treatments.
What You Can Do Now
Although you cannot prevent every mutation that could occur to your DNA, you can take steps to support the health of your cells and reduce your risk of developing cells that become damaged and copy more damage to other cells. Many of our lifestyle choices play a role in how well our cells function.
Eat Right
A diet that works for your cells? More whole foods. Think fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants that help protect your cells against oxidative stress.
The Mediterranean Diet has long been hailed as a diet that promotes long-term health. Using the Mediterranean Diet as a framework for your eating habits can help simultaneously support total body wellness and your cells.
Keep Moving
Regular exercise promotes healthy oxygen delivery to your cells and increases blood flow. Exercise supports healthy weight management and hormone regulation, which can also help support cell health. Exercise also helps encourage the removal of damaged mitochondria to help ensure your cells are cleaning house.
Limit Toxins
Exposure to toxins can take a toll on your entire body and your cells. Toxin exposure can lead to genetic mutations that lead to unregulated cell proliferation. Excess exposure to UV light, smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, and exposure to environmental pollutants can all play a role in creating DNA damage.
Ramp Up Your C15:0
If you really want to support your cellular health, it’s important to increase your circulating levels of C15:0. C15:0 is an odd-chain, saturated fatty acid that is essential to our bodies.
C15:0 is research-backed and scientifically proven to help your cells in really big ways, like:
- Strengthening cell membranes by 80%
- Improving mitochondrial function by increasing ATP levels within cells by up to 350% while lowering ROS output.
- Clearing damaged cells that don’t need to replicate by activating AMPK, the body’s clean-up molecule.
Interestingly, not having enough C15:0 can create a deficiency known as Cellular Fragility Syndrome, which has been directly associated with ferroptosis, accelerated aging, and metabolic illness. What’s even more concerning is that globally, about 1 in 3 people have Cellular Fragility Syndrome and don’t even know it.
FAQs
What are the key elements of cellular proliferation?
Cellular proliferation undergoes three events: DNA replication, expression of proliferation-associated proteins, and regulation of cellular energy metabolism. These events have a system of stops that protect the cellular proliferation process and disrupt it if a mutation is discovered.
What is cell proliferation in simple terms?
Cell proliferation is the process by which new cells are created as a result of cell division. Cell proliferation helps create new cells to replace old, worn-out cells.
How to study cell proliferation?
Scientists use cell proliferation assays to study changes in the number of cells in a division or in a cell population. These types of assays are divided into four types: metabolic activity assays, cell proliferation marker assays, ATP concentration assays, and DNA synthesis assays.
Keep Your Cells in Balance
Your cells are pretty amazing, and cellular proliferation is just one way your cells make it possible for you to live and move in the ways you love most. Taking care of our cells should be a high priority because, without cellular health, we experience system-wide health failures.
While research continues into ways to support healthy cell proliferation, we can do our part to keep our cells balanced and fully operational. Making smart lifestyle choices can support your cells and pay dividends in your long-term wellness.
Sources:
Sustained proliferation in cancer: mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets - PMC
Ferroptosis: An Iron-Dependent Form of Nonapoptotic Cell Death
What is the role of ferroptosis in cancer?|MD Anderson.org
Eric Venn-Watson M.D.
CEO, Co-Founder
Senior Scientist, Co-Founder
Eric is a physician, U.S. Navy veteran, and Co-founder and COO of Seraphina Therapeutics. Eric served over 25 years as a Navy and Marine Corps physician, working with the special forces community to improve their health and fitness. Seraphina Therapeutics is a health and wellness company dedicated to advancing global health through the discovery of essential fatty acids and micronutrient therapeutics.
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