The stage is set for the development of clinically relevant senescence-based aging biomarkers
Researchers at the Buck Institute profiled in-depth the inflammatory signals released by senescent cells of humans and created a database that can be used on the field.
The aging process is largely caused by senescent cells that stop dividing when stressed. Mouse studies have shown that targeted removal of these cells and the inflammatory factors they secrete, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), has beneficial results on multiple organ systems and functions. The success of these projects and companies in the lab has led to the development of senolytics – drugs that remove senescent cell – or senomorphics – drugs that suppress SASP. To assess the amount of senescent cell in human tissue, simple biomarkers are needed for drug development and clinical use. Researchers at the Buck Institute published their findings in PLOS biology. They have profiled SASP in human cells in great detail and created a database that can be used in the field.
The stage has been set for the creation of clinically relevant biomarkers to measure aging, said Judith Campisi Ph.D. Buck professor and senior author of the paper. This will help to speed up efforts to bring safe and effective drugs to the clinic. In the long run, it could allow physicians to provide patients with a clear indication of their aging tissues and organs.
The study led by Nathan Basisty Ph.D. expanded the number proteins secreted from human senescent cell by about 10 times, to more than 1000. Researchers have shown that a core set of senescence-related factors secreted from all types of cells studied are increased in plasma in humans as they age. This could be used to develop \”whole body biomarkers\” of aging and biomarkers for assessing the efficacy senolytics or senomorphics during human trials. Researchers have also proposed signatures to identify subsets specific senescent cell types using advanced proteomic analyses.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-01-stage-clinically-relevant-senescence-based-biomarkers.html
