Researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University have developed a tool called Pasta that estimates a cell’s biological age by analyzing gene activity, offering insights into aging mechanisms and potential treatments for age-related diseases.
The tool, named Pasta and described in a study published in Advanced Science, uses gene expression data to determine how quickly cells age, distinguishing between senescent and youthful cells. Researchers analyzed data from 17,000 tissue samples and three million gene profiles to identify substances that influence aging, including pralatrexate, which accelerated cellular aging, and piperlongumine, which made cells more youthful, according to the study.
Researchers develop tool to estimate biological age of cell
Pasta’s development was led by Jérôme Salignon, a researcher at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, and Federico Pietrocola, a senior researcher at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet. The team emphasized that previous tools for measuring biological age were limited to specific tissues or data types, but Pasta was designed to work across multiple tissue types and laboratory techniques. With this tool, we can track how cells change over time and gain insights into the mechanisms driving ageing,
Salignon said.
The researchers validated Pasta’s effectiveness by testing it on public databases containing gene profiles from cells exposed to thousands of drugs and genetic modifications. They found that cells with high biological age exhibited increased activity in genes linked to DNA damage and cellular stress. Christian Riedel, a professor at Stockholm University, noted that 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.
The study highlights the potential of gene expression data as a universal metric for aging. Riedel added, We are entering a new era in which biological age can be used as an experimental measure in many different types of studies.
Pasta’s broad applicability could enable researchers to analyze existing datasets without needing specialized samples, accelerating aging research across disciplines. The tool is freely available, allowing all research groups to apply it to their data.
Revolutionary Tool 'Pasta' Estimates Biological Age of Cells Using
Pasta’s ability to identify compounds that alter cellular aging opens new avenues for drug discovery. In laboratory experiments, pralatrexate was found to accelerate aging, while piperlongumine reversed it. The tool can help identify candidates for future treatments of age-related diseases and cancer, Salignon said. However, the researchers emphasized that results are based on cell-based experiments and require further validation before clinical application. Our results are based on cell-based experiments,
Salignon noted. Further research is needed before they can be translated into treatments for patients.
The study also underscores the complexity of cellular aging. Biological age does not necessarily correspond directly to chronological age, as cells within the same body can age at different rates. Changes in gene activity reflect these differences, with high biological age cells showing heightened stress responses. The researchers analyzed gene activity data from 17,000 tissue samples taken from healthy individuals to develop the tool, followed by testing on three million gene profiles from public databases.
Researchers develop new tool to estimate biological age of
The research team cautioned that translating findings into therapies will require extensive follow-up. They stressed the importance of validating Pasta’s predictions and assessing safety. The tool’s creators also highlighted its role in understanding the mechanisms behind aging, including the identification of substances and biological pathways that influence cellular aging. Pasta opens up entirely new possibilities for understanding the mechanisms behind ageing and for systematically searching for genes and substances that can influence it,
Riedel said.
The development of Pasta represents a significant advancement in aging research. By providing a scalable, adaptable method for measuring cellular age, the tool could become a cornerstone for studies on longevity, disease prevention, and personalized medicine. Researchers plan to refine Pasta’s accuracy and explore its potential. The study, titled Pasta, a versatile transcriptomic clock, maps the chemical and genetic determinants of aging and rejuvenation, was published in Advanced Science and includes details on funding and conflicts of interest.
Readers should note that while Pasta offers a novel approach to measuring cellular aging, its findings are limited to laboratory experiments. The study underscores the growing role of transcriptomic analysis in aging research, with Pasta serving as a versatile resource for scientists worldwide.
