Research focuses on the major signalling mechanisms affecting lifespan, highlighting the AMPK-mTORC1 axis’s significance in metabolic health and ageing-related pathologies. The study proposes IL-11 as a key contributor to age-related decline, linking its upregulation with inflammation, cellular senescence, and metabolic dysfunction. Genetic and pharmacological approaches in mice support the hypothesis that IL-11 signalling negatively impacts healthspan and lifespan. Surprising results show that IL-11 inhibition improves metabolism, reduces age-related frailty, obesity, and liver damage, and preserves telomere length. Inhibition also prevents glucose intolerance, suggesting IL-11’s crucial role in ageing-related metabolic decline.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07701-9