At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Kotb Abdelmohsen, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), presented his groundbreaking research on the role of exosomes in combating cellular senescence. By using exosomes derived from early-stage stem cells, Abdelmohsen's team showed promising results in reducing senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and inflammation in cells. His research suggests that exosomes could become a valuable tool in age-related therapies, with the potential to slow down or reverse some of the damaging effects of ageing.

Key Points:

• Exosomes and Cellular Senescence: Kotb Abdelmohsen's presentation focused on exosomes—small extracellular vesicles—and their role in modulating cellular senescence, a key hallmark of ageing.
• Stem Cell Exhaustion and Senescence: He highlighted how stem cells become exhausted with age, while senescent cells accumulate and secrete harmful substances (SASP) that worsen tissue damage and inhibit regeneration.
• Exosomes as Therapeutic Agents: Abdelmohsen and his team tested exosomes derived from trophoblast stem cells and found they could potentially reduce senescent cell activity and promote tissue repair.
• Reduction in Inflammatory Markers: Exosomes were shown to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines and SASP factors in senescent cells, improving cell proliferation and reducing DNA damage.
• Mechanistic Insights: Through multi-omics approaches, his team identified proteins and pathways modulated by the exosomes, which help suppress the harmful effects of senescent cells and support tissue remodeling.
• In Vivo Studies: Future work includes testing exosome therapies on ageing mice to assess their impact on ageing markers and healthspan, with the goal of developing treatments for age-related diseases.