A team of researchers from the University of Osaka has made a breakthrough discovery that could hold the key to reversing cellular aging. The study focused on the protein AP2A1, which was found to toggle cells between a “young” and “old” state.
The researchers experimented with the expression of AP2A1 in cells of different ages and found that suppressing the protein in older cells reversed senescence and promoted cellular rejuvenation. On the other hand, overexpressing AP2A1 in young cells advanced senescence.
According to lead study author Pirawan Chantachotikul, the team’s findings suggest that senescent cells maintain their large size through improved adhesion to the extracellular matrix via AP2A1 and integrin β1 movement along enlarged stress fibers. The discovery of AP2A1 as a marker for cellular aging offers new hope for future treatments of age-related diseases.
The study’s results have sparked excitement among researchers, with bioengineering professor Shinji Deguchi praising the findings as “very intriguing.”
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/cellular-aging-reversing-ap2a1-protein-senescence-bioengineering-2032591