A protein fingerprint in the blood reveals the secrets of healthy aging and detects future disease risks
Agencies3 min read
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Scientists have revealed a "protein fingerprint" in the blood that may help predict in the future how well people will enjoy healthy aging, by measuring the balance between specific types of immune cells and the proteins they produce, according to what was published by the Live Science website.
The results indicate that the path of aging is not the same for all people, even those born on the same day, as some maintain good health for longer periods while others are more susceptible to chronic diseases associated with aging.
The immune system of young people contains large numbers of "naive" T cells, which, upon exposure to infections or vaccines, transform into memory cells capable of quickly recognizing pathogens. These cells produce proteins known as "granzymes," most notably "granzyme K" and "granzyme B," which help eliminate infected cells.
In a study published in the journal Immunity, researchers found that people who have a specific balance between the cells producing these two proteins tend to enjoy better health as they age. Maxim Artyomov, an immunologist at Washington University and a co-author of the study, said that this balance could be used in the future as an indicator to determine whether a person is heading toward healthy aging or not.
The research team had previously observed the accumulation of "granzyme K"-producing cells in the tissues of aged mice, and also noted their elevated levels in the elderly. In the new study, the researchers sought to understand the relationship between them and the cells producing "granzyme B."
The first phase included analyzing immune cells from more than 2,600 people aged between 18 and 97 years. The results showed that an imbalance between the cells producing the two proteins was associated with an increased likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases and certain chronic immune disorders.
The researchers also analyzed blood samples and immune cells from 329 people and were able to identify a "protein fingerprint" associated with the levels of "granzyme B"-producing cells. They then searched for this fingerprint in about 48,000 participants in the UK Biobank.
Extended follow-up for about 17 years showed that people whose blood samples carried this fingerprint were more susceptible to death and to developing diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver and kidney diseases, indicating that certain characteristics in the immune system may be linked to long-term health risks.
Independent experts described the results as promising, as they may reveal new biological mechanisms associated with aging.
However, the researchers emphasized that the study showed a strong correlation between these immune markers and health status, but it does not prove that these changes are the direct cause of health deterioration. They stressed the need for further studies to determine whether these cells actually contribute to the occurrence of diseases or are merely a reflection of them.
