Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University have developed Pasta, a new tool that estimates the biological age of cells and tracks how quickly they are ageing. The tool, described in Advanced Science, can also identify substances that influence cellular ageing and differentiate between older, senescent cells and more youthful, stem cell-like cells.

The researchers found that cells with a higher biological age often showed increased activity in genes associated with DNA damage and cellular stress. To develop the tool, they analysed gene activity data from more than 17,000 healthy tissue samples and later examined over three million gene profiles involving cells exposed to various drugs and genetic alterations.

The analysis identified substances and biological pathways that could either accelerate or reduce cellular ageing. Laboratory experiments confirmed two candidates: pralatrexate, which accelerated cellular ageing, and piperlongumine, which appeared to promote a more youthful cellular state.

Lead author Jérôme Salignon said the tool could help researchers better understand the mechanisms driving ageing and identify potential candidates for treating age-related diseases and cancer. However, further research is needed before these findings can be translated into treatments for patients. Unlike many existing methods limited to specific tissues or data types, Pasta provides a broader approach to studying biological ageing across different cellular contexts.

Source: https://www.awazthevoice.in/health-news/researchers-develop-tool-to-estimate-biological-age-of-cell-66416.html