Senolytic Therapy Alleviates Temporomandibular Joint Degeneration in Old Mice

Senescent cell accumulation appears to be a major player in the pathology of most of the joint-related issues that occur in older individuals. Senescent cells secrete signals that provoke a state of chronic inflammation, alter nearby cell behavior, and disrupt tissue structure and maintenance. Clearance of these cells reverses numerous age-related conditions and measures of aging in mice. Hence the advent of senolytic therapies that selectively destroy senescent cells is a much anticipated development in medicine. Indeed, the first such therapies are pre-existing drugs, such as the dasatinib and quercetin combination, are already in human trials, producing promising initial data, and in principle available to any individual who can convince a physician to write an off-label prescription. Aging is one of the major risk factors for degenerative joint disorders, including those involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ degeneration occurs primarily in the population over 65, significantly increasing the risk of joint discomfort, restricted joint mobility, and reduced quality of life. Unfortunately, there is currently no effective mechanism-based treatment available in the clinic to alleviate TMJ degeneration with aging. We now demonstrate that intermittent administration of the senolytic combination of dasatinib and quercetin, which can selectively clear senescent cells, preserved mandibular condylar cartilage thickness, improved subchondral bone volume an...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs