Inhibition of MTCH2 as a novel modality for ageing therapy
Our bodies are constantly subjected to assaults from our environment, injury, or disease. When individual cells are damaged beyond repair, they must be cleared to protect the function and health of the organism. However, as we age, this clearance process becomes less efficient, leading to the accumulation of damaged cells throughout the body. These so called ‘senescent cells’, named because they no longer divide or grow, cause inflammation that affects adjacent healthy tissue. Consequently, accumulation of senescent cells is thought to contribute to many age-related diseases including osteoporosis, neurodegeneration, and heart disease and leads to functional declines in mobility and cognitive function during aging. Dr. Voorhees’ team seeks to understand how senescent cells resist clearance by programmed cell death with the goal of developing novel strategies to eliminate senescent cells and increase healthy lifespan.
