Drug successfully reverses aging in animal trials
Scientists say a drug has successfully reversed characteristics of aging in animal trials, where it rejuvenated old mice to restore their stamina, coat of fur and even some organ function. The team at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands are planning human trials for what they hope is a treatment for old age.
The approach works by flushing out retired or “senescent” cells in the body that have stopped dividing.They accumulate naturally with age and have a role in wound healing and stopping tumors.But while they appear to just sit there, senescent cells release chemicals that cause inflammation and have been implicated in ageing.
The group of scientists created a drug that selectively killed senescent cells by disrupting the chemical balance within them.
Dr. Peter de Keizer said in an interview that he got very rebellious as people insisted that he was crazy for trying. He said that they were right for the first three times, but something seemed to work on the fourth attempt.
He tested it on mice that were just old (the equivalent of 90 in mouse years), those genetically programmed to age very rapidly and those aged by chemotherapy.
The findings showed liver function was easily restored and the animals doubled the distance they would run in a wheel.Dr. de Keizer said they weren’t planning to look at the hair but it was too obvious of a change to be missed.
He also said there were a lot of “grey” results – things that seemed to improve in some mice but not all.
The drug was given three times a week and the experiments have been taking place for nearly a year.There are no signs of side-effects but “mice don’t talk”, Dr. de Keizer said. However, it is thought the drug would have little to no effect on normal tissues.
Dr. Keizer said he is hoping this was a drug for aging. “In terms of mouse work we are pretty much done, we could look at specific age-related diseases e.g. osteoporosis, but we should now prepare for clinical translation.”
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