Originally indicated for preventing organ rejection in patients receiving organ transplants, rapamycin is now being explored for its potential to intervene with the aging process and extend lifespan. A recent study showed that topical application of rapamycin on aging skin resulted in a significant reduction in senescence marker p16INK4A protein levels, suggesting that rapamycin may decrease cellular entry into senescence or promote the clearance of senescent cells. An increase in collagen VII, a vital component constituting the skin barrier, was also observed which may be attributed to the modulating effect of rapamycin on autophagy of misfolded collagen and intracellular trafficking of vesicles packed with collagen. Moreover, there were also clinical and histochemical evidence of improvement in skin appearance in some participants. Therefore, rapamycin may play an important role in battling against aging in human tissues.
Keywords: rapamycin, skin, aging, senescence
Reference
Chung CL et al. GeroScience. 2019;41(6).
