Male Monocyte-Like Cells Are Prone To A Senescence-Induced Pro-Inflammatory State
As we age, our bodies often experience chronic, low-grade inflammation, a condition known as “inflammaging” that contributes to many age-related diseases. This inflammation is partly driven by the accumulation of “senescent” cells—cells that have stopped dividing but remain active, often releasing substances that promote inflammation. While it’s known that aging affects men and women differently, the specific impact of biological sex on how immune cells age and become inflammatory has been less clear.
Recent research explored this by inducing senescence in human immune cells, specifically “monocyte-like cells,” which are a type of white blood cell crucial for our immune response. The scientists observed that while both male and female cells showed signs of aging, male monocyte-like cells exhibited a significantly greater increase in “pro-inflammatory markers.” These markers are like signals that tell the body to ramp up its inflammatory response. This finding suggests that male immune cells might be more prone to becoming pro-inflammatory as they age. Understanding these sex-specific differences in cellular aging could pave the way for developing more targeted and effective anti-inflammatory treatments in the future.
Source: link to paper