“ How HMGB1 Protein Controls Cellular Aging
HMGB1 normally resides inside the nucleus of cells, where it helps organize DNA. But when cells become stressed or aged, a state scientists call “senescent,” they release this protein into their surroundings. Once outside the cell, HMGB1 can exist in different chemical forms depending on how much oxygen it has been exposed to.
The research team from Korea University College of Medicine discovered that only the “reduced” form of HMGB1 acts as an aging accelerator. Much like how rust depends on environmental conditions, the chemical surroundings determine whether this protein triggers damage. The reduced form, which hasn’t been exposed to much oxygen, can bind to cellular receptors and activate aging pathways. The oxidized form, by contrast, loses this ability.”
https://studyfinds.org/aging-contagious-protein/
