Diabetes causes diminish or disappear when "zombie cells" are removed, shows study

Mayo Clinic researchers and their collaborators have shown that when senescent cells – also known as "zombie cells" – are removed from adipose tissue in obese mice, the severity of diabetes and various causes of its causes disappear or disappear. The results appear in Aging cell.

The inflammation and dysfunction of adipose tissue cause some of the insulin resistance in obese people. In many cases, this dysfunction is caused by zombie cells that have already been shown to be responsible for conditions related to aging and disease, including osteoporosis, muscle weakness, nerve degeneration and heart disease. These cells also accumulate in the adipose tissue of the obese, diabetic and mice.

In this study, researchers using genetically modified mice and wild-type (normal) mice eliminated zombie cells in two ways: by causing genetic-mediated cell death and by administering a combination of senolytic drugs. Senolytic drugs selectively kill senescent cells but not normal cells. As a result, glucose levels and insulin sensitivity improved. The mice also showed a decrease in inflammatory factors and a return to normal function of fat cells.

Senolytic medications have also been shown to improve kidney and heart function, two common complications of diabetes.

"Our results show that senescent cells are a cause of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction related to obesity, and that senolytic drugs are promising for the treatment of these conditions and their complications, including diabetes" , says James Kirkland, MD, Ph.D., lead author of the article. Dr. Kirkland is the director of the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging at the Mayo Clinic.