The study, published in the international science journal Cell Reports, shows that individuals aged 100 and over not only live longer; It also offers critical scientific clues on how to protect themselves from age-related diseases such as heart diseases, dementia and cancer.
RARE DEFENSE CELLS INCREASE AFTER THE AGE OF 100
Within the scope of the research conducted in Japan by Biologist Kosuke Hashimoto from Osaka University and his team, a group of 28 people aged between 70 and over 110 were examined. Researchers found that CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD4 CTLs), which are known for their ability to kill cancer cells in the immune system and normally make up less than 5 percent of the T cell population, increased dramatically in people aged 110 and older.
According to the data obtained, while the rate of these "killer cells" is around 4 percent in young individuals, it rises to 10 percent in 100-year-old individuals and up to 18 percent in supercentenarians over 110 years old. The findings show that the immune system, which is expected to weaken with aging, actually enters an active restructuring process against external threats.
MAY ACT AS AN ANTI-CANCER BARRIER
When the T cells in question detect an antigen threat in the body, they are programmed to destroy the target by producing copies of themselves. Researchers came across a striking result when they compared the CD4 killer cell receptors in samples taken from individuals over the age of 110 with their databases. Although none of the participants had a lifetime history of cancer, the cell lines appeared to largely match cell patterns in lung cancer patients.
Immunologist Ana Caetano Faria from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in her assessment of the subject, reminded that tumor cells generally appear at later ages, and stated that these killer cells may function as a "protective barrier against tumor growth" to prevent this situation.
THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD IS SEEKING ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE FOR THE PRINCIPAL FUNCTION OF CELLS
Although the findings created excitement in the scientific world, experts remain cautious. Researcher Shawn Demehri from Massachusetts General Hospital points out that these cells may be responding not only to cancer but also to a different specific antigen in the body. Biochemist Alejandro López-Soto from the University of Oviedo states that the idea that cells protect against cancer for centuries is biologically very plausible, but their direct tumor-killing effects need to be proven in the laboratory.
Kosuke Hashimoto and his team continue to work on new data sets obtained from young individuals to understand exactly which tissues of the body these mysterious cells settle in and what function they perform there. The study is expected to provide a basis for new cancer and anti-aging treatments to be developed through the immune system in the future.
