'Zombie Cells' Are Still Alive But Can't Function, And They Accumulate as We Age

Damage to the ends of your chromosomes can causezombie cells that are still alive but can't function, according to a recent study.

The chromosomes that provide structure and support for genetic material are formed when cells 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- The protective cap on the genetic material at the end of the chromosomes is called the telomeres.

Each time a cell divides, the ends of the chromosomes shorten. As cells divide more and more as you age, your telomeres become shorter and less able to protect your genetic material.

Cancer can be caused by damage to genetic material.

Cells can avoid becoming cancer by entering a zombie-like state that stops them from dividing through a process called cellular senescence.

Cells that are resistant to death accumulate over time. They can be beneficial to health because of their ability to attract immune cells to clear out cancer cells.

They can contribute to disease by impairing immune function and secreting chemicals that promote inflammation.

We wanted to know if the damage to the telomeres could cause the cells to die. We had to confine the damage to the telomeres.

The cells were grown in the lab. The dye made it sensitive to light.

A light with a wavelength slightly shorter than the red light on the cell will cause the cell to produce oxygen free radicals, sparing the rest of the chromosomes.

Even when the protective caps weren't shortened, direct damage to the telomeres turned cells into zombies. We found that the reason for this was because the telomeres were disrupted and the chromosomes were more vulnerable to damage.

Why it matters

The telomeres are shorter with age. They limit the number of times a cell can divide by the length of the cell.

An excess of free radicals produced from both normal bodily processes as well as exposure to harmful chemicals like air pollution and tobacco smoke can lead to a condition called oxidative stress that can shorten the telomeres.

This can cause age related diseases such as immunodeficiency, cardiovascular disease, and metabolism.

Our study shows that telomeres serve as an alarm clock that shows a cell divided too many times, and as a warning bell for harmful levels of oxidative stress. Telomer damage is enough to turn a cell into a zombie.

What other research is being done

Treatments and interventions that protect the telomeres are being studied by researchers. The removal of zombie cells can promote healthy aging by improving cognitive function, muscle mass and function, and recovery from viral infections.

Drugs called senolytics are being developed that can either kill zombie cells or prevent them from developing at all.

What's next

The consequences of damage to the telomeres in dividing cells are the focus of this study. We are looking at how this damage will affect cells that don't divide.

It's not clear why the telomeres of non-dividing cells and tissues become less functional with age.

Ryan Barnes is a researcher in Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh.

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