Cayetano von Kobbe
Senior Scientist at the CSIC and researcher at the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa
This study is a very interesting proof of concept on the effect of low oxygen levels on longevity in mice, demonstrating what has already been seen in other experimental models.
The murine model of premature ageing used is very specific (mutation of a gene involved in DNA repair), which limits the conclusions. Ideally, we would like to compare it with the effect of low oxygen levels in wild type or normal mice, but this would imply trials lasting more than two years, rather than six months, as in the present study.
The results are therefore difficult to extrapolate to humans, firstly because of the obvious differences between mice and humans, but even more so because of the use of a mouse model with a very specific mutation.