A protein counters liver DNA packaging changes in aging male mice
After one month, extra SIRT6 protein reversed about 80% of liver DNA-packing changes identified between young and old male mice.
Limit: The result concerns molecular patterns, not improvements in liver function or lifespan
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
In experiments in male mice, researchers tested whether extra SIRT6, a protein that modifies DNA-packaging proteins, could counter liver chromatin aging. Chromatin is DNA packed together with proteins. They compared mice engineered to produce extra SIRT6 throughout life with unmodified mice at 5–7 and 18–21 months. Older engineered mice retained more young-like DNA-packing patterns. Their gene activity shifted away from inflammation and toward metabolism.
The team also injected 24-month-old male mice with 200 billion virus particles carrying instructions for liver cells to make SIRT6 or a control protein. One month later, extra SIRT6 reversed about 80% of age-related changes in how open the DNA packaging was within regions identified by comparing young and old unmodified mice. These regions shifted toward younger patterns, but overall DNA accessibility remained unchanged.
Why it matters
The study addressed a question about liver aging: whether age-related changes in DNA packaging can be altered after they have developed.
Caveats
The late-life result concerned molecular patterns rather than demonstrated improvements in liver function or lifespan. The experiments involved male mice, not females or humans.
- AAV-mediated SIRT6 gene therapy
- SIRT6
- Chromatin
- Age-related chromatin accessibility changes
- Chromatin accessibility
- Mice
The paper
SIRT6 overexpression counteracts chromatin aging in the male murine liver
Bar-Ilan University
Nature Communications, May 14, 2026, Open access
