Korean scientists from a group led by Professor Ok Hee-Jeon have discovered that the process of cellular aging in the human body can spread through the blood, similar to an infection. This discovery could fundamentally change the approach to combating aging and age-related diseases.
The researchers focused on the protein HMGB1, which transmits senescence signals from damaged or senescent cells to healthy cells. It has been shown to trigger senescence in fibroblasts, kidney epithelial cells, and skeletal muscle.
Although science already knew about the existence of SASP factors - signaling molecules that provoke aging of neighboring cells, the mechanism of their spread remained unclear. Professor Chon's team proved for the first time that HMGB1 can circulate in the blood and transmit signals over considerable distances. At the same time, the oxidized form of the protein turned out to be inactive.
In experiments on mice, the administration of HMGB1 caused an increase in molecular markers of aging. When the rodents were given antibodies that block this protein, the number of markers decreased, muscle tissue repair improved, and physical endurance increased.
According to the authors of the work, blocking HMGB1 could become the basis for new therapeutic methods that can slow down age-related changes and restore tissue regenerative capabilities. This opens up the prospect of creating a treatment that will act not only locally, but also at the systemic level.
