Scientists identify protein driving age-related organ damage

Scientists at Monash University have discovered that a protein known as granzyme K plays a critical role in driving age-related damage to vital organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys. This finding, published in the journal Immunity, could lead to new treatments to help people maintain healthier organs as they age. Granzyme K is a protein produced by immune cells and its levels tend to increase significantly with age in both mice and humans.

However, the exact role of this protein in age-related organ damage was not well understood until now.

Senior researcher Professor Nicole La Gruta explained that while aging organs generally become more susceptible to diseases, the new study reveals that granzyme K is a key driver of this damage. Notably, mice that lacked granzyme K exhibited significantly reduced signs of organ aging, even though their immune systems aged normally. This challenges the long-held belief that organ and immune aging are closely linked, opening up new possibilities for developing treatments to protect vital organs from age-related damage.

The researchers observed improved heart function and reduced fibrosis (scarring) in mice without granzyme K, as well as in those with elevated levels of granzyme K in human inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. However, further research is needed to determine the protein's role in human organ aging and to investigate whether blocking granzyme K later in life could provide similar benefits.

The discovery represents a promising new direction in the field of healthy aging research, offering potential avenues for reducing the risk of age-related diseases.