Chronic inflammation 'could contribute to accelerated ageing'

Chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis could be more directly linked to accelerated ageing than was previously understood to be the case.

A new research project from the Institutes for Ageing and Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University has revealed for the first time that inflammation could be a cause - rather than a consequence - of faster ageing.

Researchers used mice in which a gene that normally limits the inflammatory response was switched off, but that were otherwise completely healthy. This allowed them to observe how inflammation can trigger cell senescence or ageing, as well as prompting the release of powerful molecules such as oxygen free radicals or reactive oxygen species, which have been linked to the ageing process.

According to study findings published in the journal Nature Communications, treatment with ibuprofen - a simple and cheap anti-inflammatory drug - was able to reverse the progression of cell senescence and restore the ability of tissues to regenerate.

Typically, inflammation occurs when the immune system is attempting to fight off germs, causing pain and feverishness as a side effect. However, in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions, this natural process occurs out of control, creating persistent pain and cell damage.

Study leader Thomas von Zglinicki, professor of cellular gerontology at the university's Institute for Ageing, said: "People age differently, some much faster than others. We know already that faster ageing is often associated with activated markers of chronic inflammation.

"With these results, we can now seriously start thinking about inflammation as a potential driver of accelerated ageing and how we might be able to delay it."

Arthritis Research UK and the MRC are funding two new centres for musculoskeletal ageing in Birmingham and Liverpool, which aim to define the key factors - both biological and lifestyle-related - that drive age-related musculoskeletal frailty.

"Our scientists are trying to understand the processes underlying the loss of muscle, bone and cartilage that occurs with age, and the role played by inflammation, metabolism, altered hormones and obesity," said a spokeswoman for the charity.

"If they can find ways of addressing these processes, it may be possible to delay age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system."

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