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Anti-Aging Molecules Come To the Rescue of Covid-19 Infected Seniors

Natural Killer Cells Are Antidote To COVID-19

Why are older Americans more likely to succumb to infections such as the COVID-19 coronavirus?

One answer to that question resides in the fact older adults have more non-renewable senescent cells in their bodies when renders them more vulnerable to disease.  They also have fewer and more sluggish natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell known for directly eradicating cancer cells.  NK cells do this by secretion of interferon and tumor necrosis (death) factor (TNF)s.

Progressive accumulation of senescent cells is considered a hallmark sign of aging.

With advancing age there is an accumulation of so-called senescent “zombie” cells, that is, cells that no longer revitalize and regenerate themselves in what is known as the cell renewal cycle.  Cell senescence has long been thought to be an irreversible process that results in fragility (increased vulnerability to infection, injury, etc.) in the latter years of life.

The presence of senescent cells fosters or exacerbates several pathologies such as arthritis, bone loss (osteoporosis), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and vulnerability to infection.

It is immune cells (white blood cells) that naturally clear the body of these defunct or senescent cells.  In particular, a type of white blood cell known as a natural killer (NK) cell clears the body of these worn-out stagnant cells.

NK cells are also considered to be key players in life-long protection from infection, especially after vaccination.

Natural killer (NK) cells represent just 10-15% of white blood cells.  There are maybe 2 billion natural killer cells circulating in healthy adults.

NK cells also recruit another class of white blood cells called macrophages that literally engulf and digest senescent cells as well as cancer cells and viruses.

Fisetin is a molecule found in strawberries that has been found to be the most potent anti-senescent agent found in nature, exceeding other well-known anti-senescent molecules such as quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin and catechin from green tea.

The red wine molecule resveratrol strongly provokes the production of NK cells and thereby chases senescent cells out of the body, and does so at very low doses.  In fact, high-dose concentrations of resveratrol have a deleterious effect upon NK cells, resulting in their death.  So modest dose resveratrol is the rule.

NK cells can become senescent themselves.  The strawberry molecule fisetin actually reduces the number of senescent natural killer cells thereby keeps cancer and infections in check.

It would take about 37 strawberries to provide an effective dose of fisetin, so fisetin dietary supplements are more practical.

The reversal of aging via destruction of senescent cells is now considered a strategy to prevent and cure aging and its associated chronic diseases.

Immunotherapy with natural molecules is a strategy to remove senescent cells in the prevention and cure of ageing and chronic diseases that goes unrecognized by modern medicine.

The COVID-19 coronavirus-infected cells promulgate healthy cells to become senescent cells.

In a laboratory experiment, mice exposed to a mouse hepatitis virus, a coronavirus closely related to COVID-19, all died.  But when given fisetin, 50% of the mice survived.

Quercetin, another polyphenolic molecule commonly found in red apple peel and red onions as well as red wine, promotes natural killer cell (NK) activity.

Molecular synergism

A compilation of the data involving polyphenols such as resveratrol, fisetin and quercetin suggests such a combination would have synergistic rather than just additive effects in increasing natural killer cell counts and activity.

Inherited vulnerability to infection

Natural killer cells have a special activating receptor which communicates with infected cells.  About 4% of the population lacks this activation receptor and in another 30% of the population this receptor is only partially active.  COVID-19 patients with a partial or absent NK-activating receptor are more likely to experience severe COVID-19 infection.

It has been reported that those individuals who positively respond to flu vaccination have activators that stimulate NK cells.

Resveratrol activates NK cells via this same receptor.

Other ways to boost natural killer cells

The additional provision and consumption of 10 milligrams of the trace mineral zinc has been found to increase the quantity of interferon-producing natural killer cells.

High-dose (4000 milligrams) of vitamin C has also been reported to increase natural killer cell activity by 10-fold in 78% of patients.

The receptor that activates natural killer cells is far less sensitive in laboratory mice that are depleted of vitamin C.

Natural killer cells are considered a universal COVID-19 antidote and low NK cell counts correlate with a longer duration of viral shedding and worse survival among infected patients.

Conquer infection, live longer

Fewer senescent cells and more active natural killer cells is a recipe for health and longevity, something vaccines don’t address.  It is difficult to conceive how vaccines would be effective without active NK cells and abolishment of senescent cells.

To overcome COVID-19, strategies to reverse human aging need to be employed.  Theoretically, an anti-aging pill would prolong the life of seniors and spare them from the ravages of infection, in particular COVID-19.