Identification of senescent cells in the tissues of aged animals and the effect of their removal on prolonging individual life span.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H04043
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology
• Principal Investigator: Ishigami Akihito 地方独立行政法人東京都健康長寿医療センター(東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所), 東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所, 研究部長 (50270658)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 橋本 真一 和歌山県立医科大学, 先端医学研究所, 教授 (00313099)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 老化 / 老化関連遺伝子 / 老化細胞 / トランスクリプトーム解析 / シングルセル遺伝子発現解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To identify senescent cells in tissues and organs of aged animals, we attempted to identify age-associated genes (AGs) and senescent cells by single-cell transcriptome analysis. We found three age-associated genes (AG1, AG2, and AG3). According to previous reports, AG1 is involved in induction of apoptosis, AG2 inhibition of inflammation, and AG3 inhibition of cell proliferation. However, there have been no reports showing a relationship between AG1, AG2, and AG3 and aging. Histological analysis revealed AG1-positive cells in the liver of aged animals, which are likely to be senescent cells. If we can identify senescent cells in aged animals, we can search for senolytic drugs that actively eliminate these cells and apply them to clinical use in humans.

Free Research Field

老化

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により得られる研究成果は，誰もが知りたい「老化機構の解明」，そして日本における高齢者の健康寿命の延伸(老化制御)に繋がる．