mRNA rejuvenates aging immune system – the liver as a fountain of youth
Can the weakened immune systems of older individuals be rejuvenated? Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), HI-STEM*, and the Broad Institute have demonstrated that this is possible with an innovative approach. In a study now published in Nature, the team showed that mRNA technology can be used to transform the liver in mice into a temporary source of important immune regulatory factors that are naturally lost during aging. This restores the formation of new immune cells, allowing older animals to develop robust immune responses again and fight tumors effectively.
This therapy has dramatic effects: Older mice once again produce more young, naive T cells and are thus much better able to ward off new pathogens. At the same time, the functions of two other important players in the immune system, dendritic cells and B cells, which often lose activity with age, improve. The immunological improvements are directly reflected in the ability to respond to vaccinations – an effect that corresponded to a “rejuvenation” of the vaccine response by several months in the study – which represents a significant improvement given the short lifespan of mice.