Many scientists are searching for drugs that combat aging, not just to extend human lifespan, but to stay healthier longer, too.
One potential target for future anti-aging treatments are cells that have become stagnant—that can no longer replicate themselves. These cells, termed senescent, are found all over the body and appear to contribute to the breakdown of various organs over time, and to aging-related diseases ranging from cataracts to type 2 diabetes and maybe even Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Studying the role of senescent cells in aging tissue—and eventually, assessing whether reducing their numbers can slow aging—could become much easier thanks to a new study co-authored by Andrei Osterman, PhD The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identifies a specific, measurable marker of senescent cells.
“We found that an oxidized form of vimentin, a protein that’s normally found inside cells as part of the cytoskeleton, is present on the surface of senescent cells, but no other kinds of cells,” Osterman says. “This discovery may lead to the development of tests to monitor aging-related decline in patients, as we found that levels of oxidized vimentin are elevated in the blood of mice that are genetically altered to age rapidly.”
Part of the new study, a continuing collaboration between Osterman and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, involved analyzing antibodies that all recognize senescent cells in the same way.
Osterman adds, “A major part of the credit for identifying oxidized vimentin as the molecule those antibodies recognize goes to SBP’s proteomics core facility.
“We think that antibodies against senescent cells are produced throughout human life. It’s possible that as we age, our immune system slows down and stops producing antibodies that clear senescent cells from our bodies. Maybe boosting that immune function would be a way to decelerate aging.”
Several contributors to the study are affiliated with Everon Biosciences, a company that aims to create anti-aging medicines.