A study has found that laboratory mice live longer when an immune protein called IL-11 is blocked. This protein promotes inflammation and blocking it in middle-aged mice increased metabolism, reduced frailty, and extended lifespan by about 25%. IL-11 and its molecular partners exist in humans, and drug candidates blocking IL-11 are in human trials for cancer and fibrosis. The results from Nature suggest potential impact on human longevity, with IL-11 offering a clear path to clinical testing. The accidental discovery of IL-11’s link to ageing has prompted further research, with potential for therapeutic interventions in the future.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02298-5