Dasatinib and quercetin combination therapy produced distinct effects in 25-month-old female versus male mouse bladders, with females showing enhanced protein quality control through increased ERAD markers and improved urothelial thickness. Female bladders exhibited higher baseline expression of PERK pathway stress proteins, while males demonstrated more efficient cellular cleanup mechanisms through autophagy. This research addresses a critical knowledge gap in bladder aging, which disproportionately affects women through lower urinary tract dysfunction. The sex-specific responses to senolytic intervention reveal fundamental differences in how aging bladders handle cellular stress between sexes. These findings could explain why women experience bladder problems at higher rates as they age and suggest that personalized approaches to bladder health interventions may be necessary. While promising, the study's limitation to mouse models and the modest improvements observed indicate this represents an early step rather than a clinical breakthrough. The work establishes important groundwork for understanding sex differences in organ aging and positions senolytics as potential tools for addressing age-related urological decline in women.
Senolytic Therapy Shows Sex-Specific Effects on Aged Bladder Function
📄 Based on research published in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Read the original paper →For informational, non-clinical use. Synthesized analysis of published research — may contain errors. Not medical advice. Consult original sources and your physician.