A Mayo Clinic study has shown evidence linking the biology of aging with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that impairs lung function and causes shortness of breath, fatigue, declining quality of life, and, ultimately, death. Researchers believe that these findings, which appear in Nature Communications, are the next step toward a possible therapy for individuals suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The team studied the lung tissue of healthy individuals and of persons with mild, moderate and severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Researchers found that the markers of cellular senescence, a process triggered by damage to cells and linked to aging, were higher in individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and senescent cell burden increased with the progression of the disease. Then, they demonstrated that factors secreted by senescent cells could drive inflammation and aberrant tissue remodeling and fibrosis, which are hallmarks of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Equipped with the findings from their studies of human lung tissue, researchers then replicated the process in mice. They found that, much like in humans, mice with clinical features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis also demonstrated increased amounts of senescent cells.
Researchers used a genetic model programmed to make senescent cells self-destruct and a drug combination of dasatinib and quercetin which, in previous studies conducted by Mayo Clinic, was shown to eliminate senescent cells. Results showed that clearing senescent cells from unhealthy mice improved measures of lung function and physical health, such as exercise capacity on a treadmill.
While further research is needed researchers hope that targeting senescent cells could be a viable treatment option for individuals who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-researchers-discover-link-between-aging-devastating-lung-disease/
http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14532
Latest News
A vascularized model of the human liver regeneration
Norovirus and other "stomach viruses" can spread through saliva
GPUs to discover human brain connectome
Computer models predict Face dissimilarity
Activation of a glycolytic enzyme in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer
Other Top Stories
A new role for B-complex vitamins in promoting stem cell proliferation
Breakthrough in scaling up life-changing stem cell production
Two proteins safeguard skin stem cells
Original cell type does not affect iPS cell differentiation to blood
Mass produce human neurons for studying neuropsychiatric disorders
Protocols
Light and electron microscopic imaging of synaptic vesicle endocytosis at mouse hippocampal cultures
FLAMBE: A kinetic fluorescence polarization assay to study activation of monomeric BAX
Single-cell mass spectrometry
A behavioral paradigm for measuring perceptual distances in mice
Rapid detection of an Ebola biomarker with optical microring resonators
Publications
Conserved meningeal lymphatic drainage circuits in mice and humans
Junctional instability in neuroepithelium and network hyperexcitability in a focal cortical dyspl…
A vascularized model of the human liver mimics regenerative responses
Mobilization-based chemotherapy-free engraftment of gene-edited human hematopoietic stem cells
Enteric viruses replicate in salivary glands and infect through saliva
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
Lipids
Cell biology of carbohydrate metabolism
RNA interference (RNAi)
RNA structure and functions
Posters
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CANCER–KIDNEY AND BLADDER
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CANCER–PROSTATE, TESTICULAR, AND PENILE
ASCO-2020-GYNECOLOGIC CANCER