In a groundbreaking study, scientists have unveiled a new experimental drug that extends the lifespan of middle-aged mice by an impressive 25%. This innovative treatment, which involves an antibody known as anti-IL-11, has shown remarkable results in enhancing the longevity of its test subjects while also alleviating common age-related ailments. The potential implications for human health are enormous, as researchers are now turning their attention to whether this drug could be a pivotal step in revolutionizing the way we approach aging and related diseases and might soon become a key player in the quest for human anti-aging solutions.
What is Anti-IL-11 and its effects on mice?
Anti-IL-11 is an antibody that targets and inhibits the cytokine interleukin-11 (IL-11), which influences aging through its effects on inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolism.
In the abovementioned study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science, Imperial College London, and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore gave the mice the antibody injection when they were 75 weeks old – equivalent to a human age of 55 years. Thanks to improved metabolism, muscle function, and reduced aging biomarkers and frailty due to the antibody, the mice went on to live to an average of 155 weeks, 35 weeks longer than mice who were not treated.
Genetic deletion of the IL-11 gene in mice extended lifespan by an average of 24.9%. Treatment with anti-IL-11 antibody also extended the median lifespan in mice by over 20% in both males and females when given starting at 75 weeks of age.
The Anti-IL-11 treatment also reduced cancer-related deaths in mice. Furthermore, the Anti-IL-11 therapy lowered the incidence of diseases caused by fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and poor metabolism in mice. All of which are the hallmarks of aging.
Videos released by the scientists reveal that untreated mice exhibited greying patches on their fur, along with hair loss and weight gain. In contrast, the mice that received the injection had glossy coats and displayed increased activity.
What does it mean for humans?
Professor Stuart Cook, a senior scientist on the study, said the findings of the study are “very exciting”, as the potential implications of these discoveries for human health are massive.
“While these findings are only in mice, it raises the tantalizing possibility that the drugs could have a similar effect in elderly humans,” Cook said (via Sky News). “The treated mice had fewer cancers, and were free from the usual signs of aging and frailty, but we also saw reduced muscle wasting and improvement in muscle strength. In other words, the old mice receiving anti-IL-11 were healthier.”
In human cardiac fibroblasts, anti-IL-11 reduced markers of cellular senescence, inflammation, and metabolic decline associated with aging. The beneficial effects of inhibiting IL-11 appear to be mediated through improvements in metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis across multiple tissues. This suggests that anti-IL-11 antibodies could be a promising therapeutic approach for targeting aging and age-related diseases in humans.
Does the Anti-IL-11 treatment have side effects?
The study indicated that there were very few side effects associated with the Anti-IL-11 treatment. It also appears to have a better side-effect profile compared to other proposed life-extending drugs, which often have more pronounced adverse effects or do not work effectively across different sexes.
“Previously proposed life-extending drugs and treatments have either had poor side-effect profiles, or don’t work in both sexes, or could extend life, but not healthy life – however this does not appear to be the case for [anti] IL-11,” Professor Cook said.
Can aging be ‘treated’?
Long before the discovery of Anti-IL-11 treatment, scientists have been actively exploring methods to slow the aging process, aiming to help individuals maintain better health for longer periods. As people age, they often face multiple age-related diseases, which can significantly diminish their quality of life.
One promising avenue of research involves a diabetes medication called metformin, which has shown encouraging results in early studies regarding its potential anti-aging effects. Additionally, experiments involving severe calorie restriction in humans have garnered interest for their possible benefits in extending health span.
However, there is skepticism among some researchers about the feasibility of “treating” aging as a condition. Ilaria Bellantuono, a professor of musculoskeletal aging at the University of Sheffield, emphasizes the challenges that remain. “The problem with all these interventions is that we do not have evidence in patients,” she said. “Although trials are underway in the USA, there are scientific hurdles to overcome to use these interventions in patients, such as understanding who is at risk of frailty and would benefit from the intervention.”
Bellantuono added, “It is unthinkable to treat every 50-year-old for the rest of their life. Every drug has side effects and there is a cost associated with it.”
In conclusion, while the pursuit of effective anti-aging treatments is promising, it still comes with complex challenges that require careful consideration and further research.