Scientists have discovered a new way to look for aging cells across a wide range of biological materials; the new method will boost understanding of cellular development, aging, and the causes of diverse diseases.
Cellular senescence is a fundamental biological process involved in everyday embryonic and adult life, both good – for normal human development – and, more importantly to researchers, dangerous by triggering disease conditions. Up to now, available senescence-detecting biomarkers have very limited and burdensome applications. Therefore, a more effective, precise, and easy-to-use biomarker would benefit research and clinical practice considerably.
Universal Biomarker Assay for Aging Cell
The study presents a novel method for detecting senescent cells using a biotin-linked Sudan Black B analogue, offering a sensitive, specific, and universally applicable tool for research in cancer, aging, and other biomedical fields. “The method we have developed provides unprecedented advantages over any other available senescence detection products – it is straightforward, sensitive, specific, and widely applicable, even by non-experienced users,” said Professor Townsend.
“In addition to helping researchers make significant new breakthroughs into the causes of diseases – including cancer – through a more effective understanding of senescence in cells, the new process will also aid the impact of emerging cellular rejuvenation therapies. “By the better identification – and subsequently elimination of – senescent cells, tissues can be rejuvenated and the health span extended.”
The research on the new methodology – published as ‘Robust, universal biomarker to detect senescent cells in biological specimens’ in the journal Ageing Cell – has led to two pending UK patents.
Reference
- Evangelou, Konstantinos, Nikolaos Lougiakis, Sophia V. Rizou, Athanassios Kotsinas, Dimitris Kletsas, Daniel Muñoz-Espín, Nikolaos G. Kastrinakis, et al. 2017. “Robust, Universal Biomarker Assay to Detect Senescent Cells in Biological Specimens.” Aging Cell 16 (1): 192–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12545.
- Press release from the University of Manchester UK