Zombies as you may have seen in the movies are humans that refuse to die. They linger in the population and wreak havoc among the living humans. As you get older your body accumulates zombie cells also called senescent cells which are cells that have stopped dividing and are no longer functioning properly.
They can accumulate in the body over time and contribute to aging and age-related diseases ¹. Senescent cells can be identified by the presence of certain markers, such as p16INK4a and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) ².
Senescent cells can secrete a variety of molecules, including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteases. This is known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) ³.
The SASP can have both beneficial and harmful effects on the body. On the one hand, it can promote tissue repair and regeneration. On the other hand, it can contribute to inflammation and other age-related diseases .
Eliminating senescent cells has been proposed as a potential treatment for age-related diseases. Senolytics are a class of drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells. They work by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in senescent cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Senolytics have been shown to improve physical function and lifespan in mice ¹. However, there are concerns that senolytics could have unintended consequences, such as the elimination of healthy cells or the promotion of cancer by allowing cells with mutated DNA to survive¹.
There are several over-the-counter senolytics available for purchase. These include:
- Fisetin: Fisetin is a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, apples, persimmons, onions, and cucumbers. It has been shown to selectively eliminate senescent cells in mice .
- Quercetin: Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables such as apples, onions, grapes, berries, and broccoli. It has been shown to selectively eliminate senescent cells in mice .
- Curcumin: Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric. It has been shown to selectively eliminate senescent cells in mice .
In conclusion, senescent cells are cells that have stopped dividing and are no longer functioning properly. Eliminating senescent cells has been proposed as a potential treatment for age-related diseases.
Senolytics are a class of drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells. However, there are concerns that senolytics could have unintended consequences, such as the elimination of healthy cells or the promotion of cancer.
More research is needed to fully understand the risks and benefits of targeting senescent cells.
(1) Senolytic – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senolytic.
(2) Senolytic drugs: from discovery to translation – PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32686219/.
(3) Senolytic drugs boost key protective protein – Mayo Clinic Press. https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/research-innovation/senolytic-drugs-boost-key-protective-protein/.