Longevity & AgingSenolytic Drug Duo Reverses Arterial Aging by Clearing Zombie Cells
Researchers found that long-term treatment with dasatinib and quercetin (D+Q), a senolytic drug combination, significantly reduced vascular endothelial senescence in aged mice. Administered biweekly for eight months, D+Q lowered key senescence markers, restored the enzyme eNOS to its normal nitric oxide-producing form, reduced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, and recovered endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed activation of the relaxin signaling pathway and upregulation of nitric oxide synthase genes. The findings suggest that periodically clearing senescent cells from blood vessel walls can meaningfully reverse age-related arterial dysfunction, pointing toward a viable therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular aging.
