In a promising turn of events for the field of anti-ageing research, scientists have discovered that blocking an inflammatory molecule known as interleukin-11 (IL-11) can significantly extend the lifespan of mice. This revelation has sparked hopes that the same treatment could one day be used to slow the ageing process in humans.
At its core, this discovery hinges on IL-11, a protein that becomes more prevalent as organisms age. When produced in excess, IL-11 causes inflammation and damages cells, accelerating the natural ageing process. The study, conducted by a team at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science and Duke-NUS Medical School, aimed to counteract these effects.
"It is like pouring petrol onto a fire," remarked Stuart Cook, a leading researcher at Duke-NUS Medical School. Excess inflammation, fueled by IL-11, exacerbates cellular damage. The researchers experimented with 37 mice, injecting them every three weeks with a drug designed to block IL-11. These mice, treated from the human-equivalent age of 55 onward, lived over 20% longer than their untreated counterparts.
The findings, published in Nature, revealed that treated mice not only lived longer but also exhibited fewer cancer cases, reduced cholesterol levels, and improved muscle strength. Less than 16% of these mice developed tumors, compared to more than 60% in the control group. These changes cumulatively suggest that IL-11 blockers could mitigate many age-related ailments.
Importantly, mice are not humans, and translating these findings to human treatments requires further research. Multiple trials are underway to assess the safety of anti-IL-11 therapies for conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, but none have specifically targeted ageing.
Jesús Gil, a biochemist from London, expressed optimism. "There is no reason to think that what we have seen in mice will not work in people," he said. The treated rodents, akin to human 55-year-olds, experienced remarkable health benefits, resembling an extended human lifespan to about 104 years.
One particularly vivid description from the lab recalls how treated mice appeared leaner and more active, had better coat color, and retained superior vision and hearing compared to untreated peers. This health transformation led researchers to dub them
