https://www.metaboli...0128-3/fulltext
https://www.sciencea...ein-study-finds
Take note of the name: ReHMGB1. A new study pinpoints this protein as being able to spread the wear and tear that comes with time as it quietly travels through the bloodstream. This adds significantly to our understanding of aging.
Short for reduced high mobility group box 1, ReHMGB1 triggers senescence in cells, permanently disabling them. It doesn't just do this locally; it can send damaging signals throughout the body, particularly in response to injuries or disease.
"This study reveals that aging signals are not confined to individual cells but can be systemically transmitted via the blood, with ReHMGB1 acting as a key driver," says Korea University biomedical engineer Ok Hee Jeon.
The researchers were able to identify ReHMGB1 as a critical messenger passing on the senescence signal by analyzing different types of human cells grown in the lab and conducting a variety of tests on mice.
When ReHMGB1 transmission was blocked in mice with muscle injuries, muscle regeneration happened more quickly, while the animals showed improved physical performance, fewer signs of cellular aging, and reduced systemic inflammation.
"By blocking this pathway, we were able to restore tissue regenerative capacity, suggesting a promising strategy to treat aging-related diseases," says Jeon.
This process is only one contributor to aging out of many, but the signals that ReHMGB1 spreads are particularly important in terms of our bodies becoming dysfunctional over time and less able to carry out repairs.
