Transfusing the blood of an old mouse into a younger rodent can age the latter animal
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Transfusing young mice with blood from older rodents rapidly induces aging, suggesting that cellular aging is not just a case of wear and tear.
A long-standing hypothesis called parabiosis postulates that the surgical mating of an old mouse with a young rodent causes a blood transfusion that ages the older animal. While this benefits the older mouse, the effects on the young donor rodent were less evident.
to learn more Irina Conboy at the University of California, Berkeley, and their colleagues transfused blood between young mice as young as three months of age and those approaching two years of age.
Two weeks later, the young mice had increased numbers of senescent cells — cells in the liver, kidneys and muscles that are damaged but not dying or dividing. These cells accumulate as a normal part of the aging process that begins in humans after a few years of life.
Strength tests also showed that the young mice became weaker after receiving the older rodents’ blood.
Overall, the results suggest that senescent cells can be induced in young animals outside of chronological aging.
“Cell aging is only part of the aging process,” says Conboy. “This opens up new horizons and helps explain why senolytics [drugs that clear senescent cells in the body] Previous clinical studies have not been as successful as hoped.”
The experiment may also help researchers trying to address the health issues of aging.
“This is a very exciting study that highlights a potential anti-aging treatment,” he says Roman Bauer at the University of Surrey in the UK.
Bauer emphasizes how before Research suggests that removing senescent cells from mice rejuvenates their blood. Referring to the Berkeley study, he says: “The research also shows possibilities for senolytics, drugs that eliminate senescent cells, which we are also currently investigating for cancer treatment.”
Magazine reference: natural metabolism, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00609-6
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