Scientists from Ben-Gurion University in Israel have identified cells capable of halting biological aging. They are called CD4-Eomes. As the body ages, “zombie cells” accumulate. Such cells lose the ability to divide but still produce molecules. These molecules cause inflammation, which affects the development of age-related diseases and lifespan. According to the study, CD4-Eomes cells attack and destroy harmful aging molecules, halting aging processes at the molecular level. During the experiment, Israeli scientists transplanted CD4-Eomes into young and old laboratory mice. As the number of aging cells increases, the immune system adapts to destroy them. In genetically modified mice with the CD4-Eomes specialization removed, the number of aging cells was much higher. CD4-Eomes cells also had a protective effect in severe illnesses, such as liver cirrhosis. They helped reduce scarring in the organ. In the future, scientists plan to investigate how the reactions of CD4-Eomes cells will differ in various people depending on their genetics, degree of aging, and other factors. In the future, these cells may form the basis for anti-aging drugs, writes Nature Aging.
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