A Nature research highlight says aged mice lacking granzyme K showed improved heart and liver function and less kidney damage, with age-related liver stiffening and scarring declining.
A Nature research highlight published on 12 November 2026 reports that researchers have found an enzyme that drives ageing in the body's tissues. The article is headlined "Found: a protein that drives ageing without unleashing inflammation."
Aged mice engineered to lack granzyme K have improved heart and liver function and less kidney damage, according to the Nature research highlight. Age-related stiffening and scarring of liver tissue declined in mice that were bioengineered to lack a certain enzyme. The article states that drugs that reduce the levels of this protein might one day combat the effects of ageing without impairing the body's immune defences.
The Nature highlight references a study by Kannangara, D. et al. published in Immunity, with the doi (2026). The Nature article is a research highlight and is dated 12 November 2026. The doi for the Nature highlight is
The findings suggest a possible route to addressing ageing-related tissue decline while preserving immune function, though the Nature article frames this as a possibility for the future rather than an available treatment.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower reaches peak activity overnight, with up to five meteors per hour expected under dark skies. The moon will be 4%-lit, offering good viewing conditions.
A global team profiled 25.5 million brain cells from humans, macaques and marmosets to create the most detailed atlas of the basal ganglia, a region linked to Parkinson's disease, addiction and other conditions.
