On January 16th, 2026, Nature Aging published new research co-authored by AFAR Grantees Zhixun Dou, PhD, and Yanxin Xu, PhD, on metformin as a possible treatment to reduce age-related inflammation caused by cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCFs).
The abstract states, “Chronic inflammation promotes aging and age-associated diseases. While metabolic interventions can modulate inflammation, how metabolism and inflammation are connected remains unclear. Cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCFs) drive chronic inflammation through the cGAS–STING pathway in senescence and aging. In aged mice, metformin reduces ALIX, CCFs, and cGAS-mediated inflammation in the intestine. Our study identifies a mechanism linking metabolism and inflammation and suggests targeting the nuclear egress of chromatin fragments as a strategy to suppress age-associated inflammation.”
Dr. Dou is a 2020 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty recipient and a 2022 Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research recipient.
Dr. Xu is a 2024 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research recipient.
Read “Metformin inhibits nuclear egress of chromatin fragments in senescence and aging” here.
