Modified protein promotes hair growth and fights ageing in mice

Conclusion This mouse study aimed to investigate whether there are ways to target and destroy senescent cells that have stopped dividing yet somehow avoid the normal cell-death pathways. Removing these cells could counteract damage to tissue in the body caused by medical treatments such as chemotherapy, and accelerated or natural ageing. It essentially found that a modified peptide (FOXO4-DRI) was able to cause death of the senescent cells. In turn, this was able to counteract the liver and kidney cell toxicity induced by a chemotherapy drug, in addition to reducing frailty and loss of fur density in the mice. Animal studies such as this are very early stage research, useful for better understanding the complex mechanisms that take place at a cellular level. However, further research is needed before this can be tested in humans. Humans are not identical to mice therefore we don't know whether the biological effects would be the same. Mice studies are able to give very little indication of the potential adverse side effects that such treatments might cause, or look into the long term implications. As one of the lead researchers succinctly put it about the limitations of using mice – "mice don't talk". It is certainly far too early to suggest this as a potential anti-ageing treatment for humans, or a treatment to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Dr. Dusko Ilic (who was not involved in the study) from King's College London told the BBC: ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Source Type: news