Scientists have reported encouraging early results from a drug that may help improve wound healing in ageing skin by reducing the buildup of dysfunctional cells associated with ageing.
The study, published in Aging (Aging-US), examined the effects of ABT-263, a drug that targets so-called senescent cells — damaged or ageing cells that stop dividing but can continue affecting surrounding tissues.
Researchers associated with Boston University applied ABT-263 directly to the skin of ageing mice and monitored their recovery after wounds were created.
The findings indicated that treatment reduced the number of senescence-associated cells in the skin and was followed by improved wound healing compared with untreated ageing skin.
Why Do Wounds Heal More Slowly With Age?
As the body ages, senescent cells can accumulate in tissues. Although these cells no longer actively divide, they can release signals that affect nearby cells and interfere with normal tissue function.
Researchers believe this buildup may contribute to the slower healing response often seen in older skin.
By reducing the number of these cells, ABT-263 appeared to improve the skin’s ability to recover from injury in the mouse experiments.
Could the Treatment Eventually Be Used in Humans?
The findings could provide a potential direction for developing treatments for age-related wounds, including wounds that heal slowly after surgery or those associated with certain chronic conditions.
However, the research is still at an early stage. The reported experiments were conducted in mice, and the safety and effectiveness of ABT-263 for wound healing in humans have not yet been established.
Further laboratory research and properly designed clinical trials will be required before the drug could be considered a proven treatment for wound healing in older people.
For now, the findings offer a promising research lead rather than an established therapy for human patients.