Scientists at Boston University have found that topical application of the drug ABT-263 removes senescent cells and significantly accelerates skin regeneration, infohub.kz reports.
Researchers at the Aram Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University have discovered that topical application of ABT-263 can substantially speed wound healing in aging skin. The results of the research team led by Daniel Roh were published in the scientific journal "Aging".
As the body ages, so-called senescent cells accumulate in tissues. They stop dividing but do not die, releasing substances that trigger chronic inflammation and hinder natural regeneration. ABT-263 belongs to the class of senolytics—compounds capable of selectively eliminating damaged cells without affecting healthy ones.
In experiments, scientists applied a gel form of ABT-263 to the skin of 24-month-old mice for five days. As a result, markers of cellular aging p16 and p21 decreased in the test animals. By day 24 after injury, wounds had fully closed in 80% of treated mice compared with 56% in the control group. On young skin, the drug produced no such effect.
The researchers noted that the removal of senescent cells triggered a brief inflammatory response that activated genes responsible for collagen production, new blood vessel formation, and tissue restructuring. Topical application of the drug avoided the side effects typical of oral senolytics. According to the authors, the method could be used for preoperative preparation and treatment of chronic wounds in older adults after clinical trials in humans.