Researchers at the Mayo Clinic engineered mice carrying a genetic switch that could selectively destroy any cell expressing p16, a protein marker of this so-called zombie, senescent state, then flipped the switch starting at one year of age.
Twice-weekly clearance of p16-positive cells extended median lifespan in both male and female mice across two different genetic backgrounds, delayed tumor formation, and slowed age-related deterioration in the kidneys, heart and fat tissue without any apparent harmful side effects from removing the cells.
The organ-level protection was specific: cleared mice kept functioning kidney filters, heart-protective ion channels and healthier fat cells longer than untreated mice of the same age. The treatment relied on a genetic switch built into the mice from birth rather than a drug given later in life, so turning the finding into therapy required separate research into senolytic drugs that could do the same job chemically.
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Removing the zombies bought healthier years.
Source
- Baker, D. J., Childs, B. G., Durik, M., Wijers, M. E., Sieben, C. J., Zhong, J., Saltness, R. A., Jeganathan, K. B., Verzosa, G. C., Pezeshki, A., Khazaie, K., Miller, J. D., & van Deursen, J. M. (2016). Naturally occurring p16(Ink4a)-positive cells shorten healthy lifespan. Nature, 530(7589), 184–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16932