More Data on Plasma Dilution in Humans
Diluting blood plasma in old individuals reduces circulating levels of harmful signals, such as pro-inflammatory proteins and debris, for long enough to allow improvement in tissue function. Significant dilution requires the introduction of new albumin, and there is presently some question over how much of the benefits result from the dilution of circulating factors versus delivery of albumin which is typically sourced from blood donations from (on average) younger individuals, and is thus less damaged. Researchers here report on the effects of repeated plasma dilution treatments in three human patients, showing an improvement in circulating protein levels known to change with age, some inflammation-linked, some more generally associated with processes of aging. It is an interesting addition to present understanding, and suggests the need for clinical trials of plasma dilution: it is a cheap intervention, and thus even modest benefit makes it worth the effort.
For people, plasma dilution is known as plasmapheresis or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE); it replaces a patient's plasma with saline and purified albumin. The blood cells are returned to the patient so that while the cell profile does not change, the circulating blood proteins are diluted, including cytokines, autoreactive antibodies or toxins, and such pathogenic determinants of specific disorders. Although its full therapeutic benefits are still being discovered, TPE is one of the treatments for autoimmune and neurological diseases.
Here, we followed the effects of a miniaturized TPE in mice and of pilot studies of TPE with 3 human patients by studying the longitudinal effects of rounds of TPE on hallmarks of systemic aging. The results demonstrate significant and lasting rejuvenation of both humoral and cellular blood compartments in people who underwent repeated plasmapheresis. The rejuvenative changes are not limited to a reduction of inflammaging but encompass diminished circulatory protein markers of neurodegeneration and cancer, as well as reduced senescence, lower DNA damage, and improved myeloid/lymphoid homeostasis.
would this in any way clear dna debris?
I'm curious about whole-blood donation in regards to this. Is diluting both the plasma and the cells better, even though we have to regenerate the lost cells?
@erasmus
do you mean damaged DNA within the cells, or some free-floating DNA fragments in blood plasma?
By today's understanding the latter are harmless , unless you have some mRNA which was to get inside a cell to have any effect. And the former stay inside the cell confines , so no direct cleanup here. Probably the absence /reduction of inflammation might help with cleanup indirectly.
As of albumin replacement. It has its own critical function, so that might be more important than the pro-inflammatory factors.
Albumin is a protein made by your liver. Albumin enters your bloodstream and helps keep fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels into other tissues. It is also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes throughout your body. Without enough albumin, fluid can leak out of your blood and build up in your lungs, abdomen (belly), or other parts of your body.
Why only few people are trying TPE as preventative intervention?
Just donating blood by itself appears to have youth benefits
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35697258/