Researchers in Japan say they have developed a vaccine that destroys a specific variety of senescent cell — a type of cell that builds up in our bodies over time to cause age-related diseases.
Published in Nature Aging, the study results showed a decrease in these senescent cells when the scientists gave their new vaccine to mice.
Also called "zombie cells," senescent cells are old cells that stop dividing and don't die when they should. As we get older, more and more of them spread through our bodies, where they can damage nearby healthy cells by causing inflammation.
Damage from senescent cells has been linked to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. So, by finding a way to kill these zombie cells, scientists could help us live healthier for longer.
The vaccine the Japanese team developed was designed to target a specific protein that's abundant on the surface of senescent cells found in veins and arteries in humans and mice.
The vaccine prompts the immune system to create antibodies that attach themselves to these senescent cells, allowing them to be removed by white blood cells, which work to defend our bodies from infection and disease.
When the team gave the vaccine to mice with diseased arteries, the treatment killed many zombie cells, allowing the condition of the arteries to improve.
The researchers also gave the vaccine to middle-aged mice that were 50 weeks old. They then tested the animals' agility when they were 70 weeks old, and found that these mice were much more agile compared to unvaccinated mice.
They also discovered that the vaccine extended the life of elderly mice.
However, more tests will be needed before any studies can be done on humans — so don't expect an anti-aging vaccine at the pharmacy any time soon.
Senior study author Tohru Minamino told Live Science that, in addition to working toward human tests, the team plans to develop further vaccines for other types of senescent cells, which may have different surface proteins for the immune system to target.
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