Singaporean Scientists discover protein that causes ageing
Singaporean scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery that could potentially revolutionize our understanding of aging. The research team identified a key protein, interleukin-11 (IL-11), that plays a significant role in promoting aging by causing fat accumulation in the liver and abdomen, as well as reducing muscle mass and strength—two major signs of aging in humans.
This discovery, published in the prestigious journal Nature on July 17, marks the first time that IL-11 has been linked to aging. The study demonstrated in a pre-clinical model that counteracting the effects of IL-11 not only slowed down the aging process but also increased the lifespan of mice by up to 25%.
The finding was serendipitous. Anissa Widjaja, the study's first and co-corresponding author, explained that the link between IL-11 and aging was discovered accidentally while the team was investigating the protein's role in scarring of the heart and kidneys. During this research, tissue samples revealed that IL-11 levels increased with age, sparking the team's interest in further exploring its effects on aging.
As people age, cells accumulate damage, and IL-11 acts like an alarm system, triggering the body's immune response and causing inflammation, which accelerates aging across various organs. The team conducted a 25-week experiment in 2020 using mice equivalent in age to 55-year-old humans. They injected these mice with an anti-IL-11 drug and found that by the time the mice reached the equivalent of 70 human years, their metabolism had improved, shifting towards generating beneficial brown fat, enhancing muscle function, and extending their lifespan.
The research suggests that IL-11 acts as a "master switch" for aging, and by blocking this switch with anti-IL-11 therapy, the aging process can be significantly slowed. The drug developed to inhibit IL-11 has shown a good safety profile with no observed toxicity in pre-clinical trials. However, it will take time before this therapy can be commercialized, as it must first undergo clinical trials to ensure its safety and effectiveness in humans.
The research team, led by Dr. Stuart Cook, is now seeking partners and funding to begin phase one clinical trials. Their ultimate goal is to make anti-IL-11 therapy widely available, helping people around the world to lead longer, healthier lives.
