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🔬TODAY’S BREAKTHROUGH
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition that causes breathing difficulties, chronic cough, and inflammation. A new study shows that senolytic drugs can reduce senescent cells and airway inflammation in COPD.
The Discovery:
Researchers studied airway cells from COPD patients and cigarette smoke–exposed mice. They found that a senolytic combination dasatinib plus quercetin (D+Q) cleared senescent cells, reduced inflammatory markers, and improved tissue health. This is the first evidence that senolytics may directly target COPD pathology.
The Science:
COPD airway cells retained high levels of the senescence marker p16INK4a in culture.
Treating patient-derived cells with D+Q reduced p16INK4a by ~50%, improved barrier integrity, and lowered inflammatory SASP factors (MMP-2, IL-33, CCL3).
In smoke-exposed mice, D+Q reduced p21WAF1, CXCL1, neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, and overall lung inflammation.
Proteomics confirmed broad shifts away from inflammatory cytokines and proteases after senolytic treatment.
Findings suggest senescent cells drive COPD progression and can be therapeutically cleared.
Your Action:
Senolytic therapies remain experimental. The best protection today is smoking cessation, exercise, and maintaining clean air exposure. These steps reduce inflammation and protect lung resilience while senolytic trials advance.
Bottom Line:
Targeting senescent cells with senolytics offers a potential new way to slow or treat COPD, a major age-related lung disease.
Source:
Senolytic therapy reduces inflammation in epithelial cells from COPD patients and in smoke-exposure mice. Frontiers in Medicine. Baker JR, Daly L, Hassibi S, Kimura G, Nishimoto Y, Kizawa Y, Ito K. Published: April 28, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1451056
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Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen.