Senolytic Treatment Improves Responsiveness To Mechanical Loading In The Skeleton Of Aged Mice
As we age, our bodies accumulate “senescent cells,” often called “zombie cells,” because they stop dividing but don’t die, instead releasing harmful substances that can damage surrounding healthy tissue. This accumulation is linked to various age-related health issues, including a decline in bone health. One crucial aspect of bone health is its ability to adapt and strengthen in response to physical forces, a process known as mechanotransduction. Unfortunately, this ability diminishes significantly with age, contributing to weaker bones and conditions like osteoporosis.
Recent research explored whether clearing these senescent cells could restore the bone’s responsiveness to mechanical loading in older individuals. Scientists used a special treatment designed to selectively eliminate senescent cells in aged mice. They found that this treatment effectively improved how the bones of these older mice reacted to mechanical stress. Specifically, the bones showed a nearly doubled increase in new bone formation on their inner surface when subjected to loading, compared to untreated aged mice. This suggests that the presence of senescent cells plays a significant role in the age-related decline of bone’s ability to strengthen itself.
These findings are exciting because they point towards a novel strategy for maintaining skeletal health as we get older. By targeting and removing these problematic senescent cells, it might be possible to enhance the bone’s natural capacity to respond to exercise and other physical activities, potentially offering new ways to prevent and treat age-related bone loss.
Source: link to paper