Small Extracellular Vesicles from Young Blood Enhance Mitochondrial Function and Reverse Aging

Recent research published in Nature Aging reveals that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from young plasma can counteract age-related decline by enhancing mitochondrial function. A team from Nanjing University demonstrated that sEVs from young mice extend lifespan and rejuvenate aged tissues in older mice.

Weekly injections of young sEVs into 20-month-old male mice increased median lifespan by 22.7%, with the longest-living mouse surviving up to 1,266 days, equivalent to 120-130 human years. This surpasses the longevity benefits of caloric restriction and other interventions.

The study highlights that sEVs stimulate PGC-1α expression through their miRNA cargoes, significantly improving mitochondrial energy metabolism and reversing senescent phenotypes across multiple tissues, including the hippocampus, muscle, heart, and bone.

These findings suggest that young sEVs could be a natural, non-toxic intervention for age-related diseases and overall health improvement in aging individuals, marking a promising avenue for clinical applications.