Scientists have just discovered a protein that has been silently aging your immune system and found a way to stop it.

Written by Flavia Marinho

Published on 22/04/2026 at 15:06

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Study involving the University of Tokyo and St. Jude places among the most observed proteins a central piece of the aging of the immune system and points to a new route to keep the cell factory that sustains the body’s defenses young.

A group of scientists found among the proteins a hidden mechanism that helps age the immune system and may change the search for ways to keep the body’s defense young. The focus fell on MLKL, a protein known for its link to cell death, but which appeared to be acting in another way: damaging the mitochondria of hematopoietic stem cells, responsible for producing blood cells and sustaining the immune response throughout life.

The study was published on April 6, 2026, in Nature Communications by researchers from the University of Tokyo and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Among the analyzed proteins, MLKL appeared where no one expected

The surprise came from where the protein ended up. Instead of pushing these cells to death, as science used to associate with MLKL, the researchers saw the protein accumulate in the mitochondria after stresses related to aging, such as inflammation and replicative stress.

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The immune system loses momentum when the blood factory ages

This impact hits the heart of blood renewal. According to the authors, aged hematopoietic stem cells lose their self-renewal capacity, produce fewer new cells, and become more inclined to generate myeloid cells rather than lymphoid cells, a switch that weakens the immune response over the years.

It was precisely this pattern that the activation of MLKL helped to push.

When scientists shut down the protein, the picture changed

In experiments with mice, the scenario turned. Cells without MLKL maintained better regenerative capacity, produced healthier immune cells, showed less DNA damage, and preserved mitochondrial function even under stress or in older animals.

On another front of the work, stem cells without the protein managed to repopulate the blood system more efficiently after transplantation, a sign that the wear and tear can be halted at the source.

The race now aims for a way to keep the immune system young without promising miracles

The result raised both alarm and hope at the same time. The researchers did not test a ready therapy on humans, and St. Jude itself states that the study still points to a direction for future research, not an immediate treatment.

The bet now is to discover whether temporarily blocking this pathway during times of strong biological stress, such as chemotherapy, transplant, or gene therapy, can help preserve blood formation and reduce premature aging of the immune system.

The discovery touches on a central point of aging biology because it shifts the focus away from just genes and places proteins and mitochondria at the center of the story.

If this pathway is confirmed in future studies, MLKL may cease to be just a technical laboratory name and become one of the most promising targets in the attempt to keep the body’s defenses young for longer.

Comment on what you think about this discovery and share this article with those who follow science, longevity, and new strategies to protect the immune system.

Scientists have just discovered a protein that has been silently aging your immune system and found a way to stop it.

Study involving the University of Tokyo and St. Jude places among the most observed proteins a central piece of the aging of the immune system and points to a new route to keep the cell factory that sustains the body’s defenses young.

Among the analyzed proteins, MLKL appeared where no one expected

The immune system loses momentum when the blood factory ages

When scientists shut down the protein, the picture changed

The race now aims for a way to keep the immune system young without promising miracles

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Scientists have just discovered a protein that has been silently aging your immune system and found a way to stop it.

Study involving the University of Tokyo and St. Jude places among the most observed proteins a central piece of the aging of the immune system and points to a new route to keep the cell factory that sustains the body’s defenses young.

Among the analyzed proteins, MLKL appeared where no one expected

The immune system loses momentum when the blood factory ages

When scientists shut down the protein, the picture changed

The race now aims for a way to keep the immune system young without promising miracles

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With billions in loans, China is rebuilding Nigeria’s railway network from scratch, abandoning the British colonial tracks that have turned to scrap and creating a corridor of over 1,300 km to take the load off the roads of Africa’s largest economy.

Austrian engineers have developed an inflatable concrete technology that transforms flat slabs into domes using only air pressure, eliminating scaffolding and temporary forms, and potentially changing the way bridges, tunnels, and curved roofs are constructed worldwide.

Australia prepares to dredge 96.5 million m³ in Moreton Bay to deepen, widen, and realign channels of the Port of Brisbane, in a project of up to 25 years designed to accommodate larger ships and enhance maritime safety and regional port efficiency.

Study solves great ancient mystery: remains of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, are identified in Vergina and resolves the enigma of the Macedonian royal tombs that had lasted half a century.

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