JERUSALEM, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli scientists have discovered a special group of immune cells that may help slow biological aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Wednesday.
The study, published in Nature Aging, found that T helper cells play a crucial role in maintaining the body's immune system balance as people age.
These cells appear to help clean out the system of senescence cells that build up in the body over time. Such buildup usually causes inflammation and tissue damage.
When the scientists reduced the number of these special cells in mice, the animals aged faster and had shorter lifespans.
A Japanese study of supercentenarians, people who live well beyond 100, showed that their immune systems contained many of these cells. Now, the Israeli team believes these cells may be one of the keys to maintaining an age-appropriate immune system.
The researchers concluded that maintaining proper immune system suited to a person's stage of life, not a younger or overactive immune system, may be the real key to healthy aging.
They explained that tracking changes in these cells from early adulthood could reveal how fast a person is aging and allow early steps to maintain healthy aging. A gap of decades can develop between a person's biological age and his chronological age.
They said the discovery may lead to new ways to diagnose and treat age-related diseases and promote longevity. ■
