A 2023 Nature study found mice engineered with the naked mole rat nmrHas2 gene lived about 4.4% longer in median lifespan and showed stronger resistance to spontaneous and induced tumors.
The gene increased production of high-molecular-mass hyaluronan — a large extracellular molecule previously linked to the rodent’s unusual cancer resistance — across several mouse tissues.
Engineered mice also showed lower inflammation in old age and improved gut barrier function, suggesting the transfer affected healthspan as well as survival.
The result does not translate into a human treatment or support hyaluronan supplements; researchers said longevity likely reflects a wider network of naked mole rat adaptations, not one gene alone.
Still, the experiment offers a rare cross-species test of causation in aging research, showing one protective mechanism from a 30-year rodent can measurably benefit a shorter-lived mammal.
Could the naked mole rat's longevity gene become a 'cancer gene' in humans?
Three years after this discovery, are we closer to a human therapy or have new risks emerged?
Naked Mole-Rat Longevity Gene Increases Mouse Lifespan and Cancer Resistance: Mechanisms, Evolution, and Human Prospects
Overview
A groundbreaking study published in November 2023 revealed that transferring the naked mole-rat’s hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene into mice led to remarkable improvements in both lifespan and cancer resistance. By introducing this gene, researchers observed a 4.4% increase in median lifespan, a 12.2% rise in maximum lifespan, and a significant 34% reduction in cancer incidence among older mice. These results highlight the potential of harnessing natural longevity mechanisms from long-lived species to enhance health and disease resistance in other mammals, marking a major step forward in aging and cancer research.