Host: The Japanese Pharmacological Society
Name : The 96th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society
Number : 96
Location : [in Japanese]
Date : November 30, 2022 - December 03, 2022
Why do we age? This physiological phenomenon, which is experienced by everyone, is still largely unknown and remains a great mystery even today with the advancement of science and technology. Aging is a major risk factor for the development of many diseases such as cancer, but there is no clear answer as to why the elderly are more susceptible to cancer and various other diseases. Although little is currently known about the mechanisms that determine maximum lifespan, the mechanisms that control aging are gradually becoming clearer. In other words, it is now known that inflammation-inducing cells, such as senescent cells, accumulate in various organs and tissues with aging and adversely affect the microenvironment, which is the pathological basis for the decline of organ functions and the development of diseases such as cancer. Cellular senescence is induced by various senescence-inducing stimuli, such as DNA damage, telomere length reduction, and oncogene activation. However, senescent cell research to date has mainly been conducted using cultured cells, so it is difficult to determine whether senescent cells in individuals have the same characteristics as cultured cells. When and where do they exist? Also, can accumulation of senescent cells really induce age-related changes in individuals? Can senescent cells be efficiently removed from individuals? Many questions remain unanswered. Thus, in order to understand integrated changes in individuals such as senescent traits, it is essential to analyze them at the individual level using laboratory animals. In this symposium, I would like to introduce our recent findings and discuss whether it is possible to control human aging in the future.
