Humans have always sought perpetual youthfulness. Legends describe myths such as “the fountain of youth,” which supposedly granted eternal life. Explorers over the centuries have ventured to the farthest corners of our world, searching for this miracle. Today, there is renewed interest in a potential anti-aging remedy, the fairly novel technique of senescent cell removal.
So what are senescent cells? Cells can only undergo a certain number of divisions before they stop replicating, and senescent cells are “aging” cells which have reached their replication limit. Peter de Keizer, a researcher specializing in aging at the Erasmus University Medical Center, describes the process as “senescence-stem lock.” These permanently arrested cells accumulate in tissues as individuals age and create an environment that is harmful to nearby cells.
This “senescence-stem lock” model relates these senescent cells to stem cells, which are better known as unspecialized cells that eventually become specific cells the body needs. It suggests that compounds released by senescent cells force nearby cells to remain in a stem-like state, which ultimately prevents tissue rejuvenation and supposedly accounts for many typical characteristics associated with aging.
Image Source: Andrew Brookes
Can eliminating these senescent cells reverse aging then? It’s not that simple, according to de Keizer. There is more research to be done before humans can avail themselves of the benefits, as there are many safety issues that need to be addressed. For example, senescent cells are important for curing wounds, and removing these cells at an incorrect time or during injury could be deleterious, as tissue damage would not heal properly.
But according to de Keizer, several research milestones have been reached through his most recent study:
- Evidence has been found that removing these cells extended the lives of mice by 25%.
- Mice had increased fur density, reversed kidney damage, and improved stamina in a running wheel.
- Additionally, these rodents displayed decreased plaque buildup in their arteries.
Image Source: Daniel Ingold
Scientists still need to increase their understanding of when it is safe to administer this treatment and consider the numerous factors related to human growth. Further research should also take into account who would best benefit from this treatment, and how affordable it would ultimately be. Still, de Keizer, who plans to co-found a start-up based on his lab’s findings regarding anti-senescent cell therapy, is hopeful that cell-penetrating molecules which block specific cancer-inducing activities of senescent cells could be a future pathway for researchers.
Featured Image Source: PublicDomainPictures
