UCLAの研究チームは、老化に伴い肝臓に蓄積して脂肪肝の原因となる「ゾンビ細胞」と呼ばれる老化免疫細胞を特定した。マウスを用いた実験でこの細胞を除去したところ、不健康な食事条件下でも肝臓の損傷が修復され、体重の減少も確認された。この研究成果は『Nature Aging』に掲載され、人間においても同様のメカニズムが肝疾患に関与している可能性が示唆された。
UCLAの研究チームは、高齢のマウスや高コレステロールのマウスの肝臓に、p21およびTREM2タンパク質を発現する老化マクロファージが蓄積していることを明らかにした。若いマウスではこの特徴を持つマクロファージは全体の約5%にとどまるが、高齢のマウスでは60〜80%に達し、炎症の増加と相関していた。シニアオーサーでUCLA教授のアンソニー・コバルビアス氏は、これらの細胞を、数が少なくても組織全体に混乱を引き起こす「立ち往生した車」に例えた。コバルビアス氏は、「1台の車が立ち往生するだけで何マイルもの渋滞が発生しうる。それが5台、10台と徐々に増えていく状況を想像してほしい」と語った。
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Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco report that higher levels of the iron-associated protein FTL1 in the hippocampus of older mice are tied to weaker neural connections and worse performance on cognitive tests. In the experiments, reducing FTL1 in older mice was associated with increased neuronal connectivity and improved memory performance, findings published in Nature Aging.
Researchers at The Rockefeller University have created a detailed cellular atlas of aging by analyzing nearly 7 million cells from 21 organs in mice. The study reveals that aging begins earlier than previously thought and occurs in a coordinated manner throughout the body. Findings highlight differences between males and females, along with potential targets for anti-aging therapies.
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Researchers at UCLA have identified a protein that slows muscle repair in aging but enhances cell survival in mice. Blocking the protein improved healing speed in older mice, though it reduced long-term stem cell resilience. The findings suggest aging involves survival strategies rather than mere decline.
Researchers at University College London have discovered how the body naturally shuts down inflammation using fat-derived molecules called epoxy-oxylipins. These molecules prevent the buildup of immune cells linked to chronic diseases like arthritis and heart disease. A study involving a drug that boosts these molecules showed faster pain relief and reduced harmful immune activity.
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Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have discovered that a compound produced by healthy gut bacteria can reduce the risk of fatty liver disease in the offspring of mice fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet during pregnancy and nursing. The compound, indole, derived from breaking down the amino acid tryptophan, improved liver health, blood sugar levels, and weight management in the young mice. This finding highlights the role of the maternal microbiome in preventing metabolic disorders like MASLD in children.