Korean Researchers Discover How Aging Spreads Through the Body, Offering New Therapeutic Targets
Seoul, South korea – in a groundbreaking discovery, a Korean research team has, for the frist time, identified the mechanism by which cellular aging spreads systemically throughout the body via the bloodstream.This breakthrough offers promising new avenues for therapeutic interventions aimed at combating age-related decline.
the research,led by Professor Ok Hee Jeon at Korea University’s College of Medicine,centers around High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1),a key factor in the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP factors are known to induce aging in nearby cells, but the systemic spread of this process remained a mystery – until now.
Professor Jeon’s team demonstrated that a specific, reduced form of HMGB1 (ReHMGB1) circulates in the bloodstream and actively induces senescence in distant tissues. Their study,published in Metabolism – Clinical and Experimental (Impact Factor 10.9), showed ReHMGB1 triggered senescence-like characteristics in human fibroblasts, renal epithelial cells, and skeletal muscle cells. Mice treated with ReHMGB1 exhibited increased senescence markers and impaired muscle function.
“This study reveals that aging signals are not confined to individual tissues,” explains Professor Jeon.Crucially, the researchers found that blocking HMGB1 with antibodies in a muscle injury model of middle-aged mice reduced senescence markers, enhanced muscle regeneration, and improved physical performance. This suggests that targeting extracellular HMGB1 coudl be a viable strategy to reverse or mitigate age-related tissue dysfunction.Implications for the Future of Aging Research
This discovery represents a significant leap forward in our understanding of the aging process. By identifying ReHMGB1 as a key mediator of systemic aging, researchers have pinpointed a potential therapeutic target for a wide range of age-related diseases. Further research will focus on developing strategies to neutralize or modulate ReHMGB1 activity, potentially paving the way for interventions that promote healthy aging and extend lifespan.Keywords: Aging, Senescence, HMGB1, SASP, Cellular Aging, Muscle Regeneration, Anti-Aging Therapy, Korea University, Metabolism, Healthspan.
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