Category: Research
False Positives in Senescent Cell Detection
August 19, 2017
Macrophages with markers of cellular senescence may not be senescent Researchers commonly determine the presence of senescent cells through the use of the p16ink4a (p16) and β-galactosidase biomarkers. Senescent cells
How Misfolded Proteins Cause Age-related Diseases
August 11, 2017
Coming from a fusion of the words ‘protein’ (a molecule that a cell uses as a machine or scaffolding) and ‘stasis’ (meaning to keep the same), the term ‘proteostasis’ can
Restoring Youthful Plasticity in the Brains of Old Mice
August 9, 2017
As we age, our brains lose their flexibility; this, in turn, affects our ability to learn, to remember things and to adapt to new situations. The classic example is of
Senolytics as a Potential Treatment for Lung Fibrosis
August 8, 2017
Today, we have a new study in which researchers focus on pulmonary fibrosis and the role of cellular senescence. What is pulmonary fibrosis? Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring of lung tissue,
New Study Suggests Previous Concerns about CRISPR Safety are Questionable
July 26, 2017
Gene editing aims to make precise changes to the target DNA whilst avoiding altering other parts of the DNA. The objective of this is to remove undesirable genetic traits and
Reprogramming Cells to Seek and Destroy Brain Cancer
July 6, 2017
A new type of cell that can seek and destroy brain cancer and then dispose of themselves has just been successfully tested in mice. The cells are able to home
Adjusting Macrophages to Heal Peripheral Nerve Injury
July 1, 2017
Researchers studying peripheral nerve damage have adjusted the behaviour of macrophages to facilitate healing. [1] What is peripheral nerve injury? The peripheral nerves are located outside of the brain and
Boosting Autophagy to Treat Atherosclerosis
June 8, 2017
Today, we decided that it was a good time to take a look at a new study that demonstrates that increasing autophagy is a good approach to slowing aging and
Treating Diseases with a Protein Missile System
May 26, 2017
Researchers at the University of Dundee have shown that it is possible to target and destroy specific proteins within cells using a new directed protein missile system. This is very
Error CORRECTion for CRISPR
April 23, 2017
The CRISPR system (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has exploded onto the biotech sector as a relatively simple, highly efficient, and fast method for precisely introducing breaks into genomic
Removing Aging Cells With a New Class of Senolytic Drug
April 15, 2017
The new research work on senolytic drugs by Baar et al. uses a rationally designed molecule that selectively targets senescent cells in vivo, both in an accelerated aging mouse model, and
Reprogramming Brain Cells Offers Hope for Parkinson’s
April 11, 2017
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most well known of the neurodegenerative diseases. The symptoms include tremors and loss of motor control, which are caused by the loss of dopamine
New Drug to Slow Aging Heading to the Clinic
April 10, 2017
The biotechnology company PureTech are moving towards human clinical trials with a new therapy that may slow down the aging process and combat age-related disease. The company has licensed two
Scientists Reverse DNA Damage in Mice. Human Trials are Next.
March 28, 2017
DNA is a critical part of cells, the instruction manual for building them. While DNA is well protected within the cell nucleus, damage does occur; therefore, DNA repair is absolutely
Will Increased Lifespans Be Only for the Rich?
March 26, 2017
The concern that rejuvenation biotechnologies might cause social disparity and further widen the gap between rich and poor is one of the most commonly raised ones, probably second only to
False Positives in Senescent Cell Detection
August 19, 2017
Macrophages with markers of cellular senescence may not be senescent Researchers commonly determine the presence of senescent cells through the use of the p16ink4a (p16) and β-galactosidase biomarkers. Senescent cells are known to exhibit both of these biomarkers, but it seems that they are not the
How Misfolded Proteins Cause Age-related Diseases
August 11, 2017
Coming from a fusion of the words ‘protein’ (a molecule that a cell uses as a machine or scaffolding) and ‘stasis’ (meaning to keep the same), the term ‘proteostasis’ can essentially be simplified into “Each function reliant on proteins is running as it should. There are
Restoring Youthful Plasticity in the Brains of Old Mice
August 9, 2017
As we age, our brains lose their flexibility; this, in turn, affects our ability to learn, to remember things and to adapt to new situations. The classic example is of older people who are stuck in a rut and unable to change how they think. Some
Senolytics as a Potential Treatment for Lung Fibrosis
August 8, 2017
Today, we have a new study in which researchers focus on pulmonary fibrosis and the role of cellular senescence. What is pulmonary fibrosis? Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring of lung tissue, which results in the progressive loss of lung function over time. When the disease’s origin is
New Study Suggests Previous Concerns about CRISPR Safety are Questionable
July 26, 2017
Gene editing aims to make precise changes to the target DNA whilst avoiding altering other parts of the DNA. The objective of this is to remove undesirable genetic traits and introduce desirable changes in both plants and animals. For example, it could be used to make
Reprogramming Cells to Seek and Destroy Brain Cancer
July 6, 2017
A new type of cell that can seek and destroy brain cancer and then dispose of themselves has just been successfully tested in mice. The cells are able to home in on brain tumors and reduce them to between 2 to 5% of their original size[1].
Adjusting Macrophages to Heal Peripheral Nerve Injury
July 1, 2017
Researchers studying peripheral nerve damage have adjusted the behaviour of macrophages to facilitate healing. [1] What is peripheral nerve injury? The peripheral nerves are located outside of the brain and spinal cord. They carry signals to the muscles to initiate movement as well as transporting sensory
Boosting Autophagy to Treat Atherosclerosis
June 8, 2017
Today, we decided that it was a good time to take a look at a new study that demonstrates that increasing autophagy is a good approach to slowing aging and could be the foundation for a variety of therapies to treat age-related diseases. What is Autophagy?
Treating Diseases with a Protein Missile System
May 26, 2017
Researchers at the University of Dundee have shown that it is possible to target and destroy specific proteins within cells using a new directed protein missile system. This is very interesting, as it raises the possibility of targeting aberrant proteins present in diseases that currently have
Error CORRECTion for CRISPR
April 23, 2017
The CRISPR system (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has exploded onto the biotech sector as a relatively simple, highly efficient, and fast method for precisely introducing breaks into genomic loci [1-2]. The realization that it is a prokaryotic acquired immune system, although less often mentioned,
Removing Aging Cells With a New Class of Senolytic Drug
April 15, 2017
The new research work on senolytic drugs by Baar et al. uses a rationally designed molecule that selectively targets senescent cells in vivo, both in an accelerated aging mouse model, and in normally aged mice as well, with few if any side effects [1]. Senolytics are a
Reprogramming Brain Cells Offers Hope for Parkinson’s
April 11, 2017
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most well known of the neurodegenerative diseases. The symptoms include tremors and loss of motor control, which are caused by the loss of dopamine producing neurons in the brain. In fact, most of us lose these neurons as we age,
New Drug to Slow Aging Heading to the Clinic
April 10, 2017
The biotechnology company PureTech are moving towards human clinical trials with a new therapy that may slow down the aging process and combat age-related disease. The company has licensed two new drug candidates, derivatives of the drug Rapamycin, from pharmaceutical giant Novartis. PureTech have recently announced
Scientists Reverse DNA Damage in Mice. Human Trials are Next.
March 28, 2017
DNA is a critical part of cells, the instruction manual for building them. While DNA is well protected within the cell nucleus, damage does occur; therefore, DNA repair is absolutely essential for cell function, cell survival, and the prevention of cancer. The good news is that
Will Increased Lifespans Be Only for the Rich?
March 26, 2017
The concern that rejuvenation biotechnologies might cause social disparity and further widen the gap between rich and poor is one of the most commonly raised ones, probably second only to concerns of overpopulation. Like many others, this concern may appear valid at first, but it does