Zombie cells are the ones that can’t die but are equally unable to perform the functions of a normal cell. These zombie, or senescent, cells are implicated in a number of age-related diseases. And with a new letter in Nature, Mayo Clinic researchers have expanded that list.
In a mouse model of brain disease, scientists report that senescent cells accumulate in certain brain cells prior to cognitive loss. By preventing the accumulation of these cells, they were able to diminish tau protein aggregation, neuronal death and memory loss.
“Senescent cells are known to accumulate with advancing natural age and at sites related to diseases of aging, including osteoarthritis; atherosclerosis; and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,” says Darren Baker, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic molecular biologist and senior author of the paper. “In prior studies, we have found that elimination of senescent cells from naturally aged mice extends their healthy life span.”
In the current study, the team used a model that imitates aspects of Alzheimer’s disease.
“We used a mouse model that produces sticky, cobweb like tangles of tau protein in neurons and has genetic modifications to allow for senescent cell elimination,” explains first author Tyler Bussian, a Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences student who is part of Dr. Baker’s lab. “When senescent cells were removed, we found that the diseased animals retained the ability to form memories, eliminated signs of inflammation, did not develop neurofibrillary tangles, and had maintained normal brain mass.” They also report that pharmacological intervention to remove senescent cells modulated the clumping of tau proteins.
Also, the team was able to identify the specific type of cell that became senescent, says Dr. Baker.
“Two different brain cell types called ‘microglia’ and ‘astrocytes’ were found to be senescent when we looked at brain tissue under the microscope,” says Bussian. “These cells are important supporters of neuronal health and signaling, so it makes sense that senescence in either would negatively impact neuron health.”
The finding was somewhat surprising, explains Dr. Baker, because at the time their research started, a causal link between senescent cells and neurodegenerative disease had not been established.
“We had no idea whether senescent cells actively contributed to disease pathology in the brain, and to find that it’s the astrocytes and microglia that are prone to senescence is somewhat of a surprise, as well,” says Dr. Baker.
In terms of future work, Dr. Baker explains that this research lays out the best-case scenario, where prevention of damage to the brain avoided the disease state. “Clearly, this same approach cannot be applied clinically, so we are starting to treat animals after disease establishment and working on new models to examine the specific molecular alterations that occur in the affected cells,” says Dr. Baker.
Learn more: Zombie cells found in brains of mice prior to cognitive loss
The Latest on: Senescent cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”senescent cells” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Senescent cells
- Two Paths for TREM2-Positive Microglia: DAM or Senescence?on April 26, 2024 at 4:05 pm
Eliminating these cells cooled neuroinflammation and improved memory, indicating they harm the brain. Like disease-associated microglia (DAM), senescent microglia require TREM2, with few forming in ...
- Anti-aging biopharma company raises $40 million to begin human testson April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
California-based biopharmaceutical company Rubedo Life Sciences has announced that thanks to US$40 million in financial backing, it can commence human trials of its drug RLS-1469, designed to target ...
- Alzheimer’s Disease Neurons Reenter Cell Cycle, Become Senescenton April 23, 2024 at 3:56 pm
Senescent cells displayed more proinflammatory, metabolically deregulated, and pathology-associated signatures ...
- Brain neurons re-entering the cell cycle age quickly and shift to senescence, particularly in neurodegenerative diseaseon April 23, 2024 at 11:00 am
Post-mitotic neurons in the brain that re-enter the cell cycle quickly succumb to senescence, and this re-entry is more common in Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published April 9 in the ...
- Could placenta-derived cells revolutionize age-related disease treatment?on April 23, 2024 at 5:18 am
Celularity, a biotech company specializing in placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies, will be showcasing data at the upcoming ASGCT Annual Meeting, showcasing the potential of their off-the-shelf ...
- Exclusive: Behind Genius Ventures raises its second fund at $8.9 millionon April 23, 2024 at 5:09 am
The firm writes checks between $150,000 and $250,000, and has previously invested in companies like Coastal Carbon, BreakSports, and Statusphere.
- Rubedo Life Sciences raises $40 millionon April 22, 2024 at 3:02 pm
With Silicon Valley obsessed with anti-aging, this one startup is throwing its hat in the ring to capture that market.
- Rubedo Life Sciences Closes $40M Series A Financing Led by Khosla Ventures and Ahren Innovation Capitalon April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Rubedo Life Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing first-in-class therapies targeting senescent cells which drive age-related diseases, today announced the closing of a $40M ...
- 'Zombie cells' in the placenta may cause heart failure in pregnancyon April 17, 2024 at 1:55 pm
"Undead" cells in the placenta that spew proteins may help explain cases of heart failure that happen in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period.
via Bing News