Published on: Jan 27, 2026
A new study from the Universities of Oxford and Nottingham suggests a novel way that rapamycin protects immune cells from aging. Unlike previously proposed mechanisms, such as enhancing autophagy or reducing protein synthesis, rapamycin appears to directly reduce DNA damage in T cells.
Researchers exposed human T cells to zeocin, a chemical that induces DNA double-strand breaks. Zeocin significantly increased γH2AX, a marker of DNA damage, along with senescence markers and mTORC1 activity. Rapamycin treatment dramatically reduced DNA damage and mTORC1 activity, improving T cell survival: 24 hours after exposure, over 60% of rapamycin-treated cells were viable, compared to just 20% in controls.
Interestingly, the protective effect persisted even when autophagy was inhibited, indicating that rapamycin’s benefit is at least partially autophagy-independent. Direct measurements confirmed that rapamycin-treated cells had fewer DNA lesions, though it remains unclear whether rapamycin prevents damage formation or accelerates repair.
Professor Lynne Cox highlighted the rapid effect:
The cells showed less DNA damage even after just four hours – a very fast response, revealing a new area to explore how rapamycin preserves immune cell function during aging.
This work points to a new mechanism for rapamycin’s geroprotective effects, emphasizing its potential role in maintaining immune health and combating immunosenescence.
Source: https://lifespan.io/news/rapamycin-protects-immune-cells-by-reducing-dna-damage/
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