A link between aging, gut bacteria and leukemia risk (IMAGE)
Caption
The image on the left shows tiny signaling structures called TIFAsomes (red) being formed in blood cells when cultured with the plasma of an aged healthy 73-year-old individual, but not when cultured with the plasma of a young healthy 31-year-old individual. A new study in Nature led by cancer experts at Cincinnati Children’s reports that these aging-related TIFAsomes can be activated by a bacterial byproduct that can escape from the gut into the bloodstream and fuel the expansion of pre-leukemic cells. Now the research team is working to develop a compound that may disrupt this process before full-blown leukemia develops. Source: Cincinnati Children’s
Credit
Cincinnati Children's
Usage Restrictions
none
License
Original content