As we age, more and more senescent cells accumulate in our bodies. These cells no longer divide and no longer support the tissues they are in. Instead, they release harmful substances that can also trigger the aging of surrounding cells. This process contributes to tissue deterioration, chronic inflammation, and an increased risk of diseases such as cancer.
Researchers have now discovered that there are differences in the types of harmful substances that senescent cells release. For example, there are cells that become obsolete due to a tumor-suppressing gene called p16, and cells that become obsolete due to a carcinogenic effect. These two types of cells release different substances that each affect surrounding tissues in their own way.
Importantly, p16 cells mainly produce small vesicles called extracellular vesicles, which can also cause surrounding cells to age without causing much inflammation. Cells that age through a carcinogenic effect actually secrete more inflammatory substances. This shows that aging also has a different impact on the body through different routes.
These new findings help better understand how aging cells damage our bodies and may lead to improved methods to counteract these harmful effects. This is important for promoting healthy aging and preventing age-related diseases.
Source: Josh Conway
