TL;DR: Pig-derived exosomes (E5) significantly extended lifespan and improved health markers in female Sprague-Dawley rats, with one treated rat setting a world longevity record for its species at just over 4 years.
Key Findings:
- Lifespan Extension:
- Control group: Oldest rat lived to 39.5 months; 50% died before 38 months
- Treatment group: Earliest death at 38 months; 50% lived past 40 months
- World record: One E5-treated rat lived slightly over 4 years
- Health Improvements: a. Strength: E5 doubled to tripled grip strength by day 150, maintaining superiority until study end b. Biomarkers:
- Decreased: Blood urea nitrogen, TNF-α, IL-6, p53, NF-κB
- Increased: GSH, SOD (antioxidants)
- Unchanged: Weight, creatinine
- Methodology:
- Subjects: 16 female Sprague-Dawley rats (8 per group)
- Treatment: E5 administered 5 times (start, days 68, 181, 280, 377)
- Duration: 420 days, starting at 24 months of age
- Potential Mechanisms:
- Increased antioxidants
- Decreased inflammation
- Reduced NF-κB (associated with age-related diseases)
- Delayed epigenetic alterations (hypothesized from decreased p53)
- Context:
- Builds on previous research showing E5 reverses aging biomarkers in rats
- Exosomes are cell-to-cell communication vesicles
- EVs investigated for liver fibrosis treatment and as disease biomarkers
- Limitations and Future Directions:
- Small sample size (16 rats total)
- Exact mechanisms for record-breaking lifespan extension unclear
- Further research needed to determine human applicability