Key points from article :
Scientists are learning how immune cells clear senescent cells that contribute to aging and chronic diseases.
In a healthy state, invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells eliminate cells the body senses as foreign, including senescent cells.
The iNKT cells become less active with age and other factors like obesity.
Finding ways to stimulate this natural surveillance system offers an alternative to senolytic therapies.
"Using iNKT-targeted therapy can piggyback on their exquisite, built-in specificity," said Anil Bhushan, senior author.
Could remove senescent cells by using lipid antigens to activate iNKT cells.
When treated mice with diet-induced obesity, their blood glucose levels improved, while mice with lung fibrosis had fewer damaged cells, and also lived longer.
"This is a potential immune therapy for senescence and fibrosis," - Mallar Bhattacharya, co-author.
"...activating iNKT cells could be used to treat a wide variety of diseases," - Bhushan.
Study by UCSF published in Cell Press: Med.
