Scientists have discovered insights about the immune response to a virus found in all human tissues that attack the elderly and kill senescent or aged skin cells.

Senescent cells stop proliferating but do not die, accumulating in the body over time, fueling chronic inflammation, and leading to diseases such as cancer and degenerative disorders.

Studies demonstrated that in the aged, particularly immune cells known as killer CD4+ T cells prevent the growth of senescent cells, and these findings were published in the journal Cell.

Subsequent studies discovered that aged skin cells carry a protein, or antigen, generated by human cytomegalovirus. Senescent cells that produce this protein become targets for attack by killer CD4+ T lymphocytes. This common herpesvirus causes a lifelong latent infection in most humans with no symptoms.

These discoveries, which highlight the beneficial function of viruses in our bodies, offer a wide range of clinical implications and enable a new therapeutic method to eradicate aged cells by enhancing the anti-viral immune response.

According to the researchers, this study could lead to advancements in cosmetic dermatology, such as developing novel therapies to make skin look younger.

 (Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/boosting-anti-viral-immune-response-could-slow-down-aging-study-493823)