{
  "id": 6600502,
  "title": "Blocking a protein may reduce buildup of harmful aging cells",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/blocking-a-protein-may-reduce-buildup-of-harmful-aging-cells",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-10T15:00:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-blocking-protein-buildup-aging-cells.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A team of researchers from Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University has discovered a protein called PD-L2 that may prevent harmful aging cells from being detected and removed by the body's immune system. This protein could potentially serve as a target for treatments aimed at removing these harmful cells or as a blood marker to monitor their presence. The findings were published in Cell Metabolism. The researchers observed that in laboratory mice, blocking or removing PD-L2 reduced the number of aging cells and their associated inflammatory substances. As a result, the mice exhibited improved glucose processing and increased grip strength. Additionally, the study found that human aging cells produced higher levels of PD-L2 compared to younger cells, and the protein levels increased in certain human tissues with age. If a method can be discovered to block this protein, it may help the immune system eliminate these cells, potentially alleviating age-related health issues. Further research is needed to determine if blocking PD-L2 is safe and beneficial for human patients and to better understand its role in age-related diseases.",
  "summary": "A team led by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators has identified a protein that may hide aging cells from the body's immune system, allowing them to build up and contribute to age-related health problems.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}