Latest news with #ReHMGB1
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Aging Can Spread Through Your Body Via a Single Protein, Study Finds
Take note of the name: ReHMGB1. A new study pinpoints this protein as being able to spread the wear and tear that comes with time as it quietly travels through the bloodstream. This adds significantly to our understanding of aging. Short for reduced high mobility group box 1, ReHMGB1 triggers senescence in cells, permanently disabling them. It doesn't just do this locally; it can send damaging signals throughout the body, particularly in response to injuries or disease. "An important question in aging research is why senescent cells increase with age," write the study authors, led by researchers from the Korea University College of Medicine. Related: The team says their findings could help develop ways to keep us healthier for longer. If we can block or control this protein's signals, it might slow the cascade of cellular decline that comes with age. "This study reveals that aging signals are not confined to individual cells but can be systemically transmitted via the blood, with ReHMGB1 acting as a key driver," says Korea University biomedical engineer Ok Hee Jeon. The researchers were able to identify ReHMGB1 as a critical messenger passing on the senescence signal by analyzing different types of human cells grown in the lab and conducting a variety of tests on mice. When ReHMGB1 transmission was blocked in mice with muscle injuries, muscle regeneration happened more quickly, while the animals showed improved physical performance, fewer signs of cellular aging, and reduced systemic inflammation. The next step would be to see how this process could be disrupted, and this particular type of aging signal kept more localized – so the health conditions that come with old age might not be as damaging. "By blocking this pathway, we were able to restore tissue regenerative capacity, suggesting a promising strategy to treat aging-related diseases," says Jeon. This process is only one contributor to aging out of many, but the signals that ReHMGB1 spreads are particularly important in terms of our bodies becoming dysfunctional over time and less able to carry out repairs. It's also worth bearing in mind the useful functions of ReHMGB1 in the body: alerting our biological systems to damage and indicating that repairs are needed. Any kind of intervention will have to take that into consideration. We know that, generally speaking, populations are living for longer than ever before, and that's putting both our bodies and scientific research into uncharted territory. The various routines built into our cells must continue to function when years ago our bodies would have long given up. Related: From where we live to the genetics we're born with, there are many contributors to aging and lifespan. By learning more about how these work, we'll be better able to manage them – and perhaps extend life further. "Building on current research in these areas will be essential to understanding the therapeutic potential of redox-sensitive HMGB1 in aging-related diseases and its role as a systemic mediator of senescence," write the researchers in their published paper. The research has been published in Metabolism. Related News New Genetic Test Predicts Children With Future Risk of High BMI This Diet Helps Lower Dementia Risk, And We May Finally Know Why A Signal of Future Alzheimer's Could Hide in The Way You Speak Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
26-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Way Aging Spreads Through Your Body Revealed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For the first time in the world, a Korean research team has discovered how aging in one part of the body can spread to another via the bloodstream. The discovery offers new insights into how aging works and could lead to treatments that slow—or even reverse—age-related decline in the future. In their study, professor Ok Hee Jeon and colleagues at Korea University studied on a protein called High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1.) This protein is released by aging cells and is part of a group of molecules collectively called SASP—short for senescence-associated secretory phenotype. These molecules are chemical signals that aged, or "senescent," cells use to communicate. They can influence nearby cells—and, in the case of one form of HMGB1, can cause neighboring healthy cells to begin aging as well. A graphical abstract showing that blocking HMGB1 in mice can reduce this chain reaction and limit the spread of aging cells.' A graphical abstract showing that blocking HMGB1 in mice can reduce this chain reaction and limit the spread of aging cells.' Korea University Medicine Aging Spreads Through the Bloodstream Until now, it was believed that aging cells only affected their immediate surroundings. However, the new study shows that aging signals can travel through the bloodstream and impact cells in completely different parts of the body. In other words, aging might spread like a ripple effect across tissues. The research, published in the journal Metabolism – Clinical and Experimental, identified a special form of HMGB1 called reduced HMGB1 (ReHMGB1). This form moves through the blood and can cause aging in distant tissues like muscles, kidneys, and skin. Lab and Animal Testing Show Strong Results The team tested their theory using both lab-grown cells and live mice. They found that ReHMGB1—but not its oxidized version—triggered aging in several types of human cells. Mice injected with ReHMGB1 showed increased aging markers and experienced muscle weakness. To dig deeper, researchers studied mice with muscle injuries. When these mice were treated with antibodies that blocked HMGB1, they healed faster, showed fewer signs of aging, and regained strength more effectively. "This study reveals that aging signals are not confined to individual cells but can be systemically transmitted via the blood," said Professor Jeon. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about aging? Let us know via health@ Reference Shin, J.-W., Jang, D.-H., Kim, S. Y., Lee, J.-J., Gil, T.-H., Shim, E., Kim, J. Y., Kim, H. S., Conboy, M. J., Conboy, I. M., Wiley, C. D., Shin, J.-S., & Jeon, O. H. (2025). Propagation of senescent phenotypes by extracellular HMGB1 is dependent on its redox state. Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental, 168.
