Scientists have developed a way to
rejuvenate the ageing immune system by using mRNA to boost the liver into an
immune-supporting organ. When people age, their immune system weakens. It is mainly
because thymus, the organ near the heart responsible for producing and
supporting T cells, shrinks slowly and stops functioning. This makes older
adults more vulnerable to infections and reduces the effectiveness of vaccines
and treatments.
To counter this problem, researchers
designed an mRNA-based approach that compensates for the thymus’s reduced
activity. Instead of trying to repair the thymus directly, they gave mRNA to
liver cells, prompting them to produce key immune-boosting signals that the
thymus normally supplies. These signals help T cells survive, diversify, and
respond more effectively to threats.
Experiments with mice showed better immune
performance. Older mice that received the mRNA therapy generated diverse
populations of T cells after vaccination. They responded better to cancer
immunotherapy compared with untreated mice. Importantly, the approach worked
temporarily, reducing the risk of harmful side effects seen in earlier methods
that relied on circulating growth factors.
The thymus plays a crucial role early in
life by guiding immature T cells through a selection process that ensures
immune diversity. However, it begins to decline from early adulthood and by age
75, it almost becomes nonfunctional, leading to immune aging.
Scientists believe that restoring essential
immune functions could help people remain healthier for longer and aim to strengthen
immune protection well into old age. The experiment is still in the animal
stage, and if adapted for humankind, it could help strengthen immunity up to
old age.
