Ben Gurion University Scientists Discover Immune Cells That Slow Aging

This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for age-related diseases and chronic inflammation.

By Shula Rosen

Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have identified a special type of immune cell that may slow down the aging process rather than accelerate it.

The research, led by Professor Alon Monsonego, offers a new way to think about how our immune systems change as we get older.

The study, published in Nature Aging together with the Weizmann Institute of Science, looked at CD4 T helper cells—immune cells that help the body fight infections.

Monsonego’s team discovered a unique subset of these cells, called Eomes+CCL5+ T cells, that increase with age and appear to protect the body by clearing worn-out, “senescent” cells.

These old cells can cause inflammation and damage if they aren’t removed. When the scientists reduced the number of these protective cells in mice, the animals aged faster and had shorter lifespans.

Monsonego said the discovery challenges the idea that aging is best slowed by “rebooting” the immune system to resemble that of a young adult. “People think the key to reversing aging is to make their immune system young again,” he explained in a press release. “But our research suggests it’s more important for the immune system to function properly for each stage of life.”

The team’s findings were reinforced by a Japanese study of supercentenarians—people over 100—whose immune systems were rich in the same type of protective T cells. This suggests that these cells could be linked to healthy, longer lives.

The researchers believe that tracking immune system changes could help identify a person’s biological age, which doesn’t always match their actual age in years. Monsonego said that monitoring immune health starting in one’s 30s could help doctors detect early signs of accelerated aging and take preventive steps.

This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for age-related diseases and chronic inflammation. The study was funded by Israel’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the Litwin and Gural foundations, with contributions from researchers at Ben-Gurion University and the Weizmann Institute.