Vitality Unleashed: The Functional Medicine Podcast

Zombie Cells: The Hidden Enemy

• Dr. Kumar from LifeWellMD.com • Season 1 • Episode 84

Share episode

Send us a text

Ever wonder why you don't have that same youthful energy anymore? The answer might surprise you: it's your "zombie cells." 

These zombie cells—scientifically known as senescent cells—stop dividing but refuse to die off naturally. The real problem comes from what they do while lingering in your body. They continuously release inflammatory compounds, creating a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation that zaps your energy and disrupts your metabolic health. Making matters worse, these troublemakers even interfere with your immune system's ability to control inflammation, creating a perfect storm for accelerated aging.

Groundbreaking research is showing we might be able to fight back against these cellular zombies. Scientists have discovered promising compounds called senolytics (which destroy senescent cells) and senomorphics (which quiet their harmful signals). A fascinating study using a combination of dasatinib and quercetin (D&Q) in mice showed remarkable improvements in metabolism, inflammation levels, and even liver health. The treatment reduced markers of cellular aging in fat tissue, improved blood sugar control, and decreased triglycerides, suggesting we might one day have powerful tools to address these age-related challenges.

While these specific treatments continue through research pipelines, you don't have to wait to start fighting senescent cells. Incorporating flavonoid-rich foods (like colorful fruits and vegetables), maintaining regular physical activity for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and practicing effective stress management can all help combat the effects of these zombie cells today. Ready to explore personalized approaches to cellular health and longevity? Contact LifeWellMD at 561-210-9999 to discover how the latest science can support your journey toward optimal health and vitality.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.

Connect with Us:
If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. For more insights and updates, visit our website at Lifewellmd.com.

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.

Speaker 1:

Have you ever noticed that as you age, you might not have that same pep in your step?

Speaker 2:

You're not alone. It's a common experience and you know it's something that a lot of our patients at LifeWellMD ask about too.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, what can we do to keep that youthful energy? I mean, is it just part of getting older?

Speaker 2:

Well, today we're diving deep into some really interesting research that sheds light on one of the key factors behind that age-related slowdown, and it might surprise you. All right, let's hear it it all comes down to what are called senescent cells.

Speaker 1:

Senescent cells.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you can think of them like zombie cells.

Speaker 1:

Zombie cells. Now you've got my attention.

Speaker 2:

As we age, these cells stop dividing, but they kind of linger around instead of dying off, like they're supposed to Interesting. And these zombie cells aren't just harmless bystanders they can actually cause some trouble.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I'm intrigued. Tell me more about these zombie cells. What makes them so problematic?

Speaker 2:

Well, the key is that these senescent cells, they don't just sit there quietly, they release a whole bunch of inflammatory substances. In the scientific world, we call this the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, or SSSP. Got it? Yeah, but for you listening, what it really means is that these zombie cells are constantly sending out signals that contribute to chronic, low-grade inflammation throughout your body.

Speaker 1:

Chronic inflammation. We hear that term a lot these days and it sounds like it could be connected to many of the health challenges we face as we get older.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, that's right. This ongoing inflammation is linked to a wide array of age-related diseases and dysfunctions. And here's another fascinating aspect of this the immune system your body's defense system, is designed to keep things in check, right? Yeah? Well, it turns out these senescent cells can mess with the immune system designed to keep things in check, right? Yeah? Well, it turns out these senescent cells can mess with the immune system. If that communication between those two goes wrong, it can actually worsen that inflammatory environment we talked about.

Speaker 1:

So it's like a double whammy the zombie cells themselves are causing inflammation, and then they're also interfering with the body's ability to control that inflammation. Yeah, but for those listening, the big question is can we do anything about this? Is this just an inevitable part of getting older, or is there something we can do to fight back against these zombie cells?

Speaker 2:

That's the million-dollar question, right, and the exciting thing is that research is revealing some very promising possibilities. Scientists are exploring ways to target these senescent cells using compounds called senolytics. Senolytics yeah, these are essentially like guided missiles that seek out and destroy those zombie cells. Wow, target these senescent cells using compounds called senolytics. Senolytics yeah, these are essentially like guided missiles that seek out and destroy those zombie cells.

Speaker 1:

Wow Okay, that sounds pretty high tech.

Speaker 2:

And they're also xenomorphics, which work a bit differently. They aim to suppress those harmful inflammatory signals that senescent cells produce.

Speaker 1:

So senolytics destroy the zombie cells and xenomorphics try to quiet them down.

Speaker 2:

You got it.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing. This is really cutting edge stuff. What kind of research is being done in this field right now?

Speaker 2:

Well, a really interesting study we're looking at today investigated the effects of a specific senolytic combination.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And this combination consists of two compounds dosatinib and quercetin. It's often shortened to D and Q D and Q.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I've heard of quercetin before. I think it's an antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, right?

Speaker 2:

You're absolutely right. Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid and it's found in a variety of plant foods. Now, dosatinib, on the other hand, that's an FDA approved medication that's used to treat certain types of leukemia.

Speaker 1:

Interesting. So how did they combine these two very different compounds to target senescent cells?

Speaker 2:

Well in preclinical studies. That's research that's done before human trials. This D&Q combination has shown promise in improving several age-related conditions in animal models, and the study we're discussing today took a closer look at how D&Q affects aging in mice. The title of the study is Senolytic Drugs, dasinib and Quercetin Attenuate Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Ameliorate Metabolic Function in Old Age.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's a mouthful yeah.

Speaker 2:

It was published in a scientific journal called Aging Cell in 2023.

Speaker 1:

So what exactly were these researchers trying to find out?

Speaker 2:

They wanted to see if intermittent treatment with D&Q could actually reduce those signs of senescence, decrease inflammation and improve the metabolic function in older mice.

Speaker 1:

Okay, makes sense. So they're basically testing whether this D&Q combo can actually make a difference in how these mice age.

Speaker 2:

Precisely, they focus on two key areas adipose tissue, which is fat tissue, and the liver, both crucial for metabolism.

Speaker 1:

Okay, and what did they find Like? What were the key takeaways for listeners?

Speaker 2:

Well, in the fat tissue, particularly in the perigonatal white adipose tissue, or PGWOT for short, they saw some really remarkable results.

Speaker 1:

PGWOT Got it, so a specific type of fat.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, found in the abdomen.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And what they found was that D&Q significantly reduced several key markers of senescence.

Speaker 1:

So actual evidence that these zombie cells are being cleared out.

Speaker 2:

That's right. For example, they saw a decrease in cells positive for a marker called SABetagal.

Speaker 1:

SABetagal, that's a marker of senescence right.

Speaker 2:

You got it.

Speaker 1:

Okay, what else did they find?

Speaker 2:

They also found fewer crown-like structures which indicate inflammation in fat tissue, and they observed lower levels of gene and protein expression for two genes that are closely linked to cellular aging P16 and P21.

Speaker 1:

So this D and Q combination really seemed to be putting the brakes on both cellular aging and inflammation in this important metabolic tissue.

Speaker 2:

That's the takeaway, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Fascinating. So it wasn't just about reducing the number of senescent cells, but also about dialing down their inflammatory activity.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. They saw a suppression of several pro-inflammatory SSP genes in the fat tissue, including things like MCP1, tnf-alpha and IL-6, all of which play a significant role in driving inflammation.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so the DNQ was hitting these zombie cells from multiple angles. What about the visual evidence? Did they actually see a difference in the tissues themselves?

Speaker 2:

They did. When they looked at the tissue samples under a microscope, they could clearly see fewer senescent cells and inflammatory structures in the mice that received the DNQ treatment.

Speaker 1:

So pretty compelling evidence that this combination was having a real impact at the cellular level. Now you also mentioned the liver earlier. Did they see similar effects in that organ?

Speaker 2:

They did find some interesting results in the liver. With D&Q treatment they observed a decrease in the expression of the senescence-related gene P16. They also saw a reduction in one pro-inflammatory marker, mcp1. But it's worth noting that these effects in the liver weren't as pronounced as those seen in the fat tissue.

Speaker 1:

So maybe DNQ has a stronger effect on certain tissues than others.

Speaker 2:

That's a possibility.

Speaker 1:

And what about skeletal muscle? Did they look at that at all?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, Interestingly they didn't find any significant changes in senescence or inflammatory markers in the skeletal muscle.

Speaker 1:

So it seems like the fat tissue was really the primary target in this study.

Speaker 2:

As it appears, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Earlier we talked about how these senescent cells can also affect the immune system. Did this study look into that aspect at all, specifically in the fat tissue?

Speaker 2:

It did. The researchers looked at the presence of T cells and macrophages, which are specific types of immune cells, in the PGY, that abdominal fat tissue we talked about. They found that as the mice aged, there was a natural increase in these immune cells in the fat tissue. Okay, makes sense. But what's really interesting is that the D&Q treatment actually reduced the number of those immune cells in the older mice.

Speaker 1:

So it's like the D&Q calmed down the immune response in the fat tissue.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and they also observed a reduction in the gene expression of certain T cell regulators.

Speaker 1:

Interesting. So by reducing the senescent cells and the inflammation they cause, the DNQ seemed to have a positive ripple effect on the immune system within the fat tissue.

Speaker 2:

Precisely. It really highlights the interconnectedness of these different systems in the body.

Speaker 1:

This is all fascinating stuff, but for our listeners. What does this mean for overall health? Did the researchers see any improvements in the metabolism of these mice?

Speaker 2:

Well, that's where the findings become especially relevant for you listening. What they found was that D&Q treatment actually improved fasting blood glucose levels and overall glucose tolerance in the older mice.

Speaker 1:

So better blood sugar control.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and what's interesting is that this improvement wasn't because the mice suddenly started producing more insulin or became more sensitive to insulin. It seems to have worked through a different mechanism.

Speaker 1:

That's intriguing. How did the D&Q contribute to better blood sugar control then? Hmm, that's intriguing. How did the DNQ contribute to better blood sugar?

Speaker 2:

control, then? Well, one thing they observed was that DNQ enhanced the ability of insulin to suppress plasma non-esterified fatty acids, or NIFAs. These are basically free fatty acids circulating in the bloodstream.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so DNQ helped insulin do its job of keeping those fatty acids in check.

Speaker 2:

Right. They also found increased levels of certain transcripts in the fat tissue, suggesting that DNQ might be improving how the body processes fats which could contribute to better glucose control.

Speaker 1:

So it's like a multi-pronged approach better glucose control, potentially through improved fat metabolism.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we can't forget about the liver's role in all of this.

Speaker 1:

Right, you mentioned earlier that they found some effects in the liver as well. What were those again?

Speaker 2:

Yeah Well, they observed that the improved glucose tolerance was linked to a reduction in hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Speaker 1:

Hepatic gluconeogenesis. Okay, break that down for us. What does that mean?

Speaker 2:

Gluconeogenesis is basically the liver's process of producing glucose. It's a natural process that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Speaker 1:

Got it, so the liver makes glucose when needed.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and what they found was that the D&Q treatment seemed to reduce this process in the liver, which would help keep blood sugar levels more stable.

Speaker 1:

Interesting. So it's like the D&Q was telling the liver to ease up on producing so much glucose, maybe because other aspects of metabolism were working more efficiently.

Speaker 2:

That's a good way to think about it. At the molecular level, they found that D&Q lowered the gene expression of key enzymes that are involved in gluconeogenesis. They also saw changes in a key protein that regulates this process.

Speaker 1:

So D&Q was influencing the liver's activity at a pretty fundamental level.

Speaker 2:

And there's another interesting finding related to the liver they saw an increase in the gene expression of FGF21, a hormone that's involved in regulating metabolism.

Speaker 1:

FGF21. Okay, another key player in the metabolic puzzle.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and perhaps one of the most significant findings was that D&Q treatment reduced age-related collagen deposition in the liver.

Speaker 1:

Collagen deposition. What's that?

Speaker 2:

It's basically the buildup of collagen which can lead to fibrosis or scarring in the liver. This scarring can interfere with the liver's ability to function properly.

Speaker 1:

Ah, I see so the D&Q was potentially protecting the liver from this age-related damage.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's what the study suggests, and this reduction in liver scarring could definitely contribute to the improved metabolic function they observed in the mice.

Speaker 1:

So we're seeing potential benefits for fat tissue, benefits for the liver and overall better blood sugar regulation Very impressive. Did they look at other aspects of fat metabolism, like triglyceride levels, for instance?

Speaker 2:

They did. They found that DNQ administration reduced both fed and fasting plasma triglyceride levels in these older mice, and they also observed an overall improvement in what's called systemic lipid tolerance, which basically means the body was better at handling fats.

Speaker 1:

So lower triglycerides, better fat metabolism. That's great news.

Speaker 2:

It is. However, it's worth noting that, in this particular study, d&q didn't seem to affect cholesterol levels.

Speaker 1:

Okay, interesting. So it had specific effects on certain aspects of fat metabolism, but not others.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's right. It didn't alter total cholesterol, ldl, vldl or HDL levels.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so some very promising results in these mice, but the question is how does this research translate to us humans?

Speaker 2:

Right, that's the key question, and this is where we at LifeWellMD come in. You see, at our clinic we are dedicated to staying at the forefront of these kinds of discoveries in longevity and healthy aging. We want to apply this knowledge to help people like you live healthier, longer lives.

Speaker 1:

So LifeWellMD is keeping a close eye on this research on senescent cells and how it might translate to human health.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. We're always looking for the latest advancements that can benefit our patients, and, while the specific D&Q combination used in this study is still in its early stages and will require more research and clinical trials before it could be widely used in humans, the fundamental concept of targeting senescent cells is a major focus in longevity medicine and it greatly influences our approach to promoting your wellness.

Speaker 1:

It's encouraging to hear that LifeWellMD is staying ahead of the curve and thinking about how to apply these findings to real-world patient care. Now I'm sure our listeners are wondering what can they do right now, based on this research, to support healthier aging and potentially address these zombie cells?

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Even though the D&Q treatment is not yet available for general use, there are things you can do today to influence your health and potentially affect senescent cell accumulation and inflammation.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I like the sound of that. So what's the first step?

Speaker 2:

Well, first and foremost, focus on a nutrient-rich diet. Remember that one of the components of D&Q is carotidin, and carotidin, as we discussed, is a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables.

Speaker 1:

Uh-huh. So eating our fruits and veggies is more important than ever.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and it's not just about getting your vitamins and minerals these colorful fruits and vegetables are packed with flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and might even have xenomorphic effects.

Speaker 1:

Xenomorphic, meaning they could help reduce the harmful effects of senescent cells.

Speaker 2:

That's the idea. So load up on those berries, leafy greens and colorful veggies.

Speaker 1:

Makes sense. What else can our listeners do?

Speaker 2:

Regular physical activity is another crucial component of healthy aging. Exercise has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body.

Speaker 1:

We always hear that exercise is good for us, but now we have even more reason to get moving.

Speaker 2:

Exactly and it can specifically benefit your metabolic health, which we know is linked to senescent cell activity.

Speaker 1:

Okay, diet and exercise. What's the third key element?

Speaker 2:

Stress management. Chronic stress can really take a toll on your body and contribute to information and potentially accelerate cellular aging.

Speaker 1:

So finding healthy ways to manage stress is important not only for our mental well-being, but also for our physical health and longevity.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation or just finding activities that help you relax and unwind can make a big difference in the long run.

Speaker 1:

Diet, exercise and stress management. These are the pillars of a healthy lifestyle and it's fascinating to see how they tie into this cutting-edge research on cellular aging.

Speaker 2:

It really highlights how lifestyle choices can influence our health at a very fundamental level.

Speaker 1:

And for listeners who want a more personalized approach to their health and wellness, lifewellmd can help right.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. We offer comprehensive health and wellness assessments that take into account your individual needs and goals, and we stay up to date on the latest research, including the exciting developments in senescent cell science, to develop tailored strategies to help you achieve optimal health and longevity.

Speaker 1:

That's great to hear. So if you're listening and you're intrigued by this research and want to explore personalized options for your own health journey, what should you do?

Speaker 2:

Give us a call at LifeWellMD. Our number is 561-210-9999. Our team is ready to answer your questions and help you understand how we can support your well-being and longevity goals.

Speaker 1:

So we've covered a lot of ground today. We've learned about these fascinating senescent cells, also known as zombie cells, and how they accumulate as we age and contribute to inflammation and metabolic issues.

Speaker 2:

And we've seen how targeting these cells with senolytics like docetinib and curcinin has shown some really promising results in preclinical studies, improving metabolic function and reducing those negative effects of aging.

Speaker 1:

It's really exciting to see this research unfolding and to think about the possibilities it holds for the future of healthy aging.

Speaker 2:

And it's important to remember that, even though these specific treatments may not be widely available just yet, you have the power to make positive changes today that can influence your health and longevity.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely those lifestyle factors we discussed diet, exercise and stress management are key, Exactly so. As we wrap up today, here's a final thought for you to ponder. Okay, what if we could fundamentally change how we age by effectively addressing these zombie cells? What steps will you take today to invest in your future health and well-being?

Speaker 2:

And if you're ready to explore personalized approaches to your health, wellness and longevity, based on the latest scientific insights, we invite you to connect with us at LifeWellMD. Just give us a call at 561-210-9999. We're here to help you on your journey to a healthier future.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for joining us today on this deep dive into the science of aging. We'll see you next time. See you then