Peptide kills senescent cells, reverses chemo toxicity in mice

Researchers identified a therapeutic peptide that could be used to kill senescent cells, which are associated with a variety of aging-related disorders, and thereby rejuvenate animals and reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy. The group, which included scientists from Erasmus University Rotterdam, published its research in Cell.

In vitro binding studies showed that FOXO4-DRI, a D-retro inverso (DRI)-isoform peptide derived from forkhead box O4 (FOXO4), competed with native FOXO4 binding to p53, keeping p53 from cells' nuclei where it could induce senescence. Instead, inhibition of the interaction between FOXO4 and p53 led to apoptosis, killing senescent cells specifically...