Purging the body of 'retired' cells could reverse ageing, study shows | Science | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/...23/purging-the-body-of-retired-cells-could-reverse-ageing-study-shows
There is now growing evidence for the role of senescent cells in age-related diseases, with higher concentrations of the cells being seen in arthritic joints, cataracts and the plaque-lined arteries.
Research published last year showed that removing the cells using a genetic trick caused mice to live 20% longer on average. The latest paper is the first to show that ageing can not only be delayed by removing senescent cells – but potentially reversed.
In the study, published in the journal Cell, scientists used a compound designed to knock senescent cells out of their state of suspended animation, towards cell death.
Two mouse populations – naturally-aged mice and ones genetically engineered to age rapidly – were given infusions of the peptide three times a week for 10 months.
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Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a scientist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, who recently published a separate study hinting that ageing might be reversible, described the latest work as “superb”. “I think approaches aiming at the elimination of senescent cells will probably be in clinical trial in the next few years. Peptides such as this one are almost ready to go into clinical trials.”