Senolytics ⇒ Senescent Cells Originally Evolved to Ward Off Cancer

[jocko6889]

Cellular senescence, a major factor in the aging process originally evolved as an anti-cancer mechanism. Cells that can no longer divide cannot become cancerous. This was not a problem for most of human history, where humans rarely died from old age.

"People died of starvation and predation, accidents and infections,” says Prof Campisi, co-founder of Unity Bio, a leader in the growing field of cellular senescence.

The problem we now face is that in most modern countries, these factors no longer apply. Old age is now the leading cause of death and cellular senescence is a major factor in the aging process. Scientists must tread carefully, however. They must find ways to rid the body of senescent cells without raising the risk of cancer.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environ ... 2?mode=amp

[AlbertY]

This is why "telomere therapy" is not a good anti-aging therapy: elongate the telomere protect the cell from senescence but by the meantime give them a chance to became cancerous.

Senolytic therapy does not have this kind of concerns. Senescence protects us against cancer by stopping the DNA-damaged cells from dividing and proliferating, in this way they do not have the chance to accumulate more DNA mutation and transform into cancer. However, once the senescent cell formed, it is no longer protective anymore. In young tissue, the senescent cell should be cleaned by the immune system after they formed. But in old tissue, they accumulate. Thereby compromised the tissue function. What is worse is, they also secreting "poison" that transform their healthy neighbor cells into senescent cells as well. And "ironically", quoted from Judith Campisi, they actually increase the risk of cancer. So we don't need to worry about cancer by taking senolytics.

[josephr143]

This is why "telomere therapy" is not a good anti-aging therapy: elongate the telomere protect the cell from senescence but by the meantime give them a chance to became cancerous.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "telomere theropy"? I don't think NMN is considered telomere therapy but it has shown to stabilize telomeres and even lengthen them by activating sirtuins. There has also been no evidence that NMN has caused cancer.

[AlbertY]

This is why "telomere therapy" is not a good anti-aging therapy: elongate the telomere protect the cell from senescence but by the meantime give them a chance to became cancerous.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "telomere theropy"? I don't think NMN is considered telomere therapy but it has shown to stabilize telomeres and even lengthen them by activating sirtuins. There has also been no evidence that NMN has caused cancer.

I mean activating telomerase. Telomere is more an indicator of aging. If you are younger and healthier, your telomeres might be longer; but if you just elongate the telomeres, you are not necessarily be younger and healthier, even might increase the risk of cancer. For NMN, it is more like the first circumstance I mentioned above.