“Reliably determining the biological age of cells has long been a major challenge. We can now do this using gene expression data – a type of data that is already routinely generated in a great many research studies. I believe we are thus entering a new era in which biological age can be used as an experimental measure in many different types of studies.” Pasta opens up entirely new possibilities for understanding the mechanisms behind ageing and for systematically searching for genes and substances that can influence it,” says Christian Riedel.
Jerome Salignon continues:
“The tool can help us identify candidates for future treatments of age-related diseases and cancer. In laboratory experiments, we validated two new candidates: pralatrexate, which accelerated cellular ageing, and piperlongumine, which made the cells more youthful. However, our results are based on cell-based experiments, so further research is needed before they can be translated into treatments for patients.
See the study for funding details and any conflicts of interest.
Publikation
“Pasta, a Versatile Transcriptomic Clock, Maps the Chemical and Genetic Determinants of Aging and Rejuvenation” , Jérôme Salignon, Maria Tsiokou, Patricia Marqués, Enriqueta Rodríguez-Diaz, Hazel Ang, Federico Pietrocola, Christian G. Riedel, Advanced Science, online July 27, 2026, doi: 10.1002/advs.76740