New Insights into Aging: Monocyte Secretome as a Predictive Biomarker

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Aging by @Nathan Basisty reveals that secreted proteins from senescent monocytes, known as the SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype), can predict key age-related clinical outcomes such as inflammation, obesity, lipid levels, and physical decline.

Using advanced nanoparticle-based enrichment, mass spectrometry (MS), and machine learning, the researchers identified approximately 3,600 proteins upregulated in senescent monocytes compared to controls. Among these, a high-impact SASP panel was detected in human blood plasma and shown to correlate with biological aging, validated across two large aging cohorts.

Gene Ontology analysis of the top 200 proteins revealed enrichment in aging-relevant biological processes such as interferon response and transmembrane transport, highlighting the SASP as a quantifiable marker of systemic aging.

This study bridges the gap between cellular senescence research and clinical biomarker development, offering a promising path toward early detection of accelerated aging and personalized interventions targeting senescence pathways.

Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00877-3