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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Mar 10.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Genet. 2014 Jul 1;15(8):531–540. doi: 10.1038/nrg3728

Figure 2. Longevity and anticancer adaptations in two mole rat species that independently evolved longevity and resistance to cancer.

Figure 2

a, The naked mole rat is the longest lived rodent that is virtually cancer-proof11, 41. Cancer resistance in the naked mole rat is mediated by high molecular weight hyaluronan resulting in “early contact inhibition” — that is, hypersensitivity of naked mole rat cells to contact inhibition. High molecular weight hyaluronan may also contribute to naked mole rat longevity by increasing stress resistance due to hyaluronan’s antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. b, The blind mole rat is one of the longest-lived rodents that is also resistant to cancer. Cancer resistance in the blind mole rat is mediated by an interferon-mediated necrotic cell death mechanism. Blind mole rat cells produce high molecular weight hyaluronan, but in contrast to the naked mole rat, do not display early contact inhibition. Antioxidant properties of high molecular weight hyaluronan in the blind mole rat can increase stress resistance and contribute to longevity in this species.