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    Home > Biochemistry News > Biotechnology News > Anti-aging new recruits scientists design "smart bombs" to remove old cells

    Anti-aging new recruits scientists design "smart bombs" to remove old cells

    • Last Update: 2022-01-10
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    Since ancient times, people have been exploring the methods of "immortality" and "freezing age"
    .


    As people grow older, in addition to their appearance, people may develop related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, or certain cancers


    Recently, Spanish and British researchers have collaborated to design a "smart bomb" antibody-conjugated drug (ADC), which can slow down aging by removing senescent cells from human tissues
    .


    Specifically, this drug can identify a specific protein that is only expressed on the surface of senescent cells, and then combine with it, and then automatically release a toxic drug to kill these cells without affecting healthy cells, so it can minimize any Potential side effects


    This paper was published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal under Nature
    .

    All living organisms have a mechanism called "cellular senescence", which prevents damaged cells from dividing and eliminates them to prevent proliferation
    .


    For example, this mechanism helps slow the progression of cancer and also helps establish tissue models of embryonic developmental stages


    However, the "cell senescence" mechanism is also a "double-edged sword
    .


    " When the body enters old age, it may promote the occurrence and development of age-related diseases


    Previous animal model experiments have shown that removing senescent cells can successfully delay the progression of the disease and age-related decline
    .


    So in 2015, scientists designed the first generation of anti-aging drugs (senolytics), a number of research data showed that it can inhibit cell senescence and eliminate aging cells


    But the problem is that this drug combination lacks specificity and has strong side effects, which hinders its application in humans
    .

    In order to avoid "injury", the researchers observed and identified proteins only expressed on the surface of senescent cells, and found a special cell membrane marker B2M
    .


    Then, they combined the characteristics of ADC to design a second-generation anti-aging drug with high specificity and good safety, which can precisely target and "dry out" senescent cells like a "smart bomb" without affecting healthy cells.


    ▲As the age increases, the level of B2M protein in the brain and skin of mice gradually increases (picture source: reference [1])

    The researchers loaded the monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing senescent cells with the DNA damaging agent duocarmycin, which enables the antibody to target and bind to the B2M protein, and then automatically release the toxic payload (payload)
    .

    Scientists hope that once people have early symptoms of aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, cataracts or some cancers, they can use this B2M-targeted ADC therapy for treatment.
    To delay aging and its negative effects
    .

    ▲ ADC drugs targeting B2M can effectively target and kill senescent cells (picture source: reference [1])

    The researchers said that their goal is to successfully apply this new antibody drug to humans in the future and to further study more targeted anti-aging therapies
    .


    In the long run, scientists believe that it can also be used to achieve healthier aging


    Note: The original text has been deleted

    Reference materials:

    [1] Poblocka, M.


    [2] Scientists design antibodies that destroy old cells; claim to slow down ageing.


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