With age, our immune system weakens, which makes us more vulnerable to disease. A new study has found that a novel antibody treatment may turn the wheel and restore the immune system of old mice to a more youthful state.
The problem:
Stem cells in the blood, those that can develop into any type of blood cells, undergo changes with age.
As a result, they tend to produce more myeloid-type white blood cells and less lymphoid-type white blood cells.
This imbalance impairs the immune system's ability to fight infections and causes chronic inflammation, which contributes to age-related diseases.
The solution:
A team of researchers from Stanford University has developed an antibody treatment that aims to correct this imbalance.
The treatment identifies and attacks these "biased" stem cells, thus allowing the body to create more normal immune cells.
Research results:
The researchers tested the treatment in 18-24 month old mice, which is equivalent to 56-70 years of age in humans.
After only one week, the treated mice had:
- 38% less biased stem cells
- More white blood cells of the lymphoid type
- Lower inflammation levels
To test the effectiveness of the treatment, the researchers infected the mice with the virus. As a result:
- 47% of the mice treated with antibodies were able to completely fight the infection
- Only 12.5% of the untreated mice managed to fight the infection
Implications for humans:
These findings are encouraging and point to the potential of antibody treatment to restore the immune system of older people to a younger state.
However, more studies are needed to understand the possible side effects of the treatment and to test its effectiveness in humans.
A promising breakthrough:
The current study is a significant breakthrough in our understanding of age-related immune decline and how it can be treated.
This novel antibody therapy may lead to new treatment options that will help older people fight infections and improve their overall health.
Extensions:
- Additional Effects: This treatment may also positively affect other aspects of health and aging, such as cognition, bone health, and cancer risk.
- Mechanism of action: The study describes the mechanism of action of the treatment at the cellular level.
- Challenges in translation to humans: There are many challenges in translating treatments from mice to humans, such as efficacy, safety and dosage.
- Continue research: The research team is planning clinical trials in humans to test the effectiveness of the treatment and its safety.
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References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07238-x
