Everyone, at any age, cells have reached the end of their lives: they are senescent cells, fragile, damaged and capable of promoting diseases like arthritis, heart problems and diabetes.

A group of Dutch researchers has developed a molecule capable of getting rid of these "deadbeats" no side effects on healthy cells. The treated mice in the laboratory have shown in a few months some amazing rejuvenating effects and various health benefits.

Outside game. Normally the DNA of senescent cells attracts a protein called p53, which was responsible to get rid of. Yet another protein, FOXO4, binds to "sweep" preventing it from doing its job. Researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center (Rotterdam) have created an artificial version of FOXO4 that does not bind to p53 and vacate, pushing senescent cells to "commit suicide" and saving actually healthy ones.

Visible effects. The mice treated for 10 months, three times a week, with infusions of the molecule showed a thick coat, minor kidney damage and in general a greater vitality. The experiment worked both rodents engineered to age rapidly, both on older mice.

For us, too? It will time to figure out whether the treatment will work on humans, what type of administration and with what side effects. Meanwhile, it will be experienced on some forms of cancer such as glioblastoma, a brain tumor whose cells share some similarities with senescent.

From Focus