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Key Benefits

Biologic Description

Mouse Study 2

The FOXO4-DRI represents a significant advancement in the field of senolytic agents, compounds that selectively induce the death of senescent cells. This synthetic peptide is intricately designed, with a molecular structure derived from the FOXO4 transcription factor and composed of a D-amino acid sequence. This configuration not only enhances its stability but also improves its bioavailability.

 

At the heart of FOXO4-DRI's mechanism of action is its ability to disrupt the interaction between the FOXO4 protein and p53, a key player in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. In senescent cells, which are cells that have ceased to divide and accumulate in tissues, this interaction helps them resist apoptosis.

 

By intervening in this process, FOXO4-DRI specifically targets these senescent cells, triggering their death and thereby mitigating their contribution to aging and age-related diseases. Senescent cells are known for their pro-inflammatory secretory phenotype, termed the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP), which FOXO4-DRI effectively reduces, improving tissue function.

 

The pharmacokinetics of FOXO4-DRI, including its administration routes, are a focal point of ongoing research, especially in terms of optimizing its delivery and minimizing off-target effects. The peptide's D-amino acid structure contributes significantly to its resistance to enzymatic degradation, a crucial factor in its effectiveness.

 

FOXO4-DRI's potential therapeutic applications are vast and varied. In the realm of age-related diseases, it offers hope for treating conditions like osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. In oncology, there's potential for it to target senescent cells within the tumor microenvironment, possibly impeding cancer progression and metastasis. Moreover, in regenerative medicine, FOXO4-DRI could enhance tissue repair and regeneration by clearing out senescent cells, thereby improving the efficacy of stem cell therapies.

 

The peptide's journey from discovery to application is backed by substantial research. Initially characterized in a groundbreaking study published in Cell (Baar et al., 2017), FOXO4-DRI demonstrated promising senolytic activity in mice. Following this, a series of studies have explored its effects in various models of age-related diseases, focusing on atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration. The research has also delved into understanding its pharmacokinetics and developing delivery methods to maximize its efficacy while reducing potential side effects.

 

It is progressing toward clinical trials, which are essential to ascertain its safety and effectiveness in humans. Looking ahead, there's a concerted effort to refine the peptide's structure further, enhancing its specificity and overall functionality. Long-term safety remains a crucial area of focus, particularly in understanding the implications of senescent cell clearance over extended periods.

 

Additionally, there's interest in investigating how FOXO4-DRI might work in conjunction with other senolytic agents or treatments to combat age-related diseases more effectively.

 

FOXO4-DIR is a groundbreaking senolytic agent with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of aging and age-related diseases. Its targeted mechanism of action offers a novel and promising approach to medical interventions in these areas. However, comprehensive research and clinical trials are imperative to fully unlock and understand its potential benefits and safety profile.

Dosage Guidelines

The objective of this dosing regimen is to mitigate the effects of aging and age-related diseases through a targeted "cell cleansing" approach. The starting dose, intended to gauge tolerance and initial response, aligns with standard practices in early-phase clinical trials where safety is paramount. The route of administration could be intravenous or subcutaneous, factors determined by the peptide’s stability and bioavailability requirements.

When contemplating the administration of FOXO4-DRI, a senolytic peptide designed to target senescent cells, two distinct hypothetical dosing regimens come to the forefront, each with its unique scientific reasoning. It's critical to remember that these protocols are speculative and would necessitate extensive clinical validation for practical application.

Daily Dosing

In the daily dosing regimen, the approach involves administering a lower dose, such as the 300 mcg - 500 mcg subcutaneously every day. This cycle might be short and continuous, like a week-long course, followed by a break. The logic behind this regimen is based on pharmacokinetics; if FOXO4-DRI has a short half-life, daily administration could ensure a consistent level of the drug in the body.

 

This constant presence might be necessary for the ongoing disruption of the FOXO4-p53 interaction in senescent cells, especially if these cells accumulate rapidly. However, this approach raises concerns about the higher risk of side effects due to more frequent dosing, challenges in patient adherence due to daily injections, and the potential for an overstimulated immune response.

300 - 500 mcg

Daily

1 Week

Weekly, Bi-Weekly or Monthly

 

On the other hand, the bi-weekly dosing regimen proposes a higher dose, potentially up to 2 mg - 10 mg, administered subcutaneously over a longer period, such as several weeks or months, with intervals between cycles. This less frequent dosing aligns with the senolytic nature of FOXO4-DRI, as senescent cells do not proliferate quickly, and thus, continuous administration might not be necessary.

 

This approach might reduce the risk of side effects and is more practical and potentially more cost-effective, which could improve patient compliance. However, ensuring that the dose is potent enough to induce apoptosis in senescent cells effectively without frequent administration is crucial. Following the initial dose, a gradual escalation could be employed, depending on tolerability and observed efficacy. 

 

Moreover, this regimen would require careful long-term monitoring to assess efficacy and safety, and adjustments might be needed based on individual patient responses.

2 - 10 mg

Bi-Weekly

4 Weeks

Both the daily and bi-weekly dosing regimens for FOXO4-DRI offer different advantages and pose various challenges. The daily regimen ensures consistent drug levels but may increase the risk of side effects and practical challenges.

 

Conversely, the bi-weekly regimen focuses on convenience and potentially reduces adverse effects but may require a higher dose for effectiveness. The decision between these regimens should be based on empirical clinical trial data and tailored to individual patient needs. Until such data is available, these approaches remain theoretical and should be navigated with caution, always under strict medical supervision to ensure patient safety and treatment efficacy.

 

The protocol would ideally focus on populations likely to benefit most from senolytic therapy, such as the elderly or patients with diseases characterized by a high burden of senescent cells.

Side Effects

The safety profile and potential side effects of FOXO4-DRI, a pioneering senolytic peptide, stand at the forefront of current biomedical discussions, primarily due to the limited and nascent nature of data regarding its impact on the human body. Originating from a groundbreaking 2017 study published in Cell, FOXO4-DRI was introduced as a well-tolerated agent without notable side effects within the scope of that research. However, this foundational study provides only a glimpse into the peptide's safety, lacking the breadth and depth required for a comprehensive understanding of its long-term effects and implications across diverse human populations.

 

A significant portion of the existing knowledge about FOXO4-DRI's safety and side effects emanates from anecdotal accounts, particularly from the biohacker community. These self-administration reports have brought to light a spectrum of possible side effects, ranging from localized reactions like burning or itching at the injection site to more systemic responses such as fatigue, muscle soreness, and nausea. While these accounts offer valuable insights, they fall short of the rigorous, controlled observations provided by clinical trials and thus must be approached with caution.

 

A critical aspect of FFOXO4-DRI's administration, especially given its experimental nature, is the vigilant tracking of vital biomarkers. This surveillance, encompassing regular blood and urine tests, DNA methylation tests, and medical scans, is essential to not only gauge the peptide's effectiveness but also to closely monitor any emerging safety concerns.

 

Furthermore, there are drug interactions, particularly noted among online communities like Longecity, against the concurrent use of FOXO4-DRI with certain compounds such as Rapamycin, Quercetin, corticosteroids, and cortisol, due to potential interactions that might diminish the peptide's senolytic efficacy. This cautionary stance advocates for a washout period ranging from 1-2 weeks to as long as five weeks, with a minimum duration of 96 hours.

 

The age-related efficacy of FOXO4-DRI has also been a point of debate. Insights from Longecity suggest that the peptide might be less effective, or even unnecessary, for healthy individuals in their 20s and 30s, presumably due to a lower baseline level of senescent cells in this demographic. This perspective introduces the complexity of age as a factor in the peptide's efficacy and further underscores the necessity for targeted research in diverse age groups.

 

Moreover, a critical concern that has emerged is the potential for FOXO4-DRI's senolytic ability to be excessively potent, posing the risk of unintended consequences in human subjects. This highlights the importance of cautious dosage determination and rigorous monitoring during administration to prevent any adverse outcomes that might arise from an overzealous eradication of senescent cells.

 

The challenges faced by FOXO4-DRI are not unique in the realm of senolytic therapies. A common hurdle is the uncertainty surrounding their long-term effectiveness. For instance, studies such as one on osteoarthritis (Jeon et al., 2017) have noted the re-emergence of senescent cells post-treatment cessation. This observation raises questions about the underlying mechanisms of senescence and the necessity of addressing the root causes that drive cellular senescence, rather than merely focusing on the symptomatic removal of senescent cells.

 

A further complication lies in the potential exacerbation of chronic inflammation. Ineffective clearance of apoptotic bodies might lead to secondary necrosis, culminating in the release of pro-inflammatory molecules and aggravating systemic chronic inflammation. This risk posits a critical limitation on the therapeutic window for senolytic drugs like FOXO4-DRI, demanding a fine balance between efficacy and safety.

 

While FOXO4-DIR carries substantial promise as a senolytic agent against cellular senescence, its safety profile remains largely uncharted. The current landscape of understanding, primarily based on limited clinical data and anecdotal experiences, calls for a more comprehensive and systematic approach to safety evaluation. The need for extensive work in developing a robust safety profile for this peptide cannot be overstated. Until a more thorough understanding is achieved through rigorous clinical trials and research, any application of FOXO4-DRI must be navigated with utmost caution and under strict medical oversight. The promise it holds is tantalizing, but it is coupled with a responsibility to tread carefully in the realm of experimental therapeutics.

References:

Senolytic Peptide FOXO4-DRI Selectively Removes Senescent Cells From in vitro Expanded Human Chondrocytes

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a procedure used to treat articular cartilage injuries and prevent the onset of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. In vitro expansion of chondrocytes, a necessary step in ACI, results in the generation of senescent cells that adversely affect the quality and quantity of newly formed cartilage. Recently, a senolytic peptide, fork head box O transcription factor 4-D-Retro-Inverso (FOXO4-DRI), was reported to selectively kill the senescent fibroblasts. In this study, we hypothesized that FOXO4-DIR treatment could remove the senescent cells in the expanded chondrocytes, thus enhancing their potential in generating high-quality cartilage. To simulate the in vitro expansion for ACI, chondrocytes isolated from healthy donors were expanded to population doubling level (PDL) 9, representing chondrocytes ready for implantation. Cells at PDL3 were also used to serve as the minimally expanded control. Results showed that the treatment of FOXO4-DRI removed more than half of the cells in PDL9 but did not significantly affect the cell number of PDL3 chondrocytes. Compared to the untreated control, the senescence level in FOXO4-DRI treated PDL9 chondrocytes was significantly reduced. Based on the result from standard pellet culture, FOXO4-DRI pre-treatment did not enhance the chondrogenic potential of PDL9 chondrocytes. However, the cartilage tissue generated from FOXO4-DRI pretreated PDL9 cells displayed lower expression of senescence-relevant secretory factors than that from the untreated control group. Taken together, FOXO4-DRI is able to remove the senescent cells in PDL9 chondrocytes, but its utility in promoting cartilage formation from the in vitro expanded chondrocytes needs further investigation.
Author: Yuzhao Huang, Yuchen He , Meagan J. Makarcyzk, Hang Lin

Publication Date: April 2021

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Tools to eliminate senescent cells
Another important reference comes from a 2017 article in Nature, which discusses various tools for eliminating senescent cells, including FOXO4-DRI. This article provides a broader context for understanding the potential of FOXO4-DRI in senescent cell clearance but does not specifically focus on human trials. Ageing and many diseases are partly driven by the accumulation of damaged cells that no longer divide. It emerges that these senescent cells can be eradicated in mice using a drug that interferes with the activity of the protein FOXO4.

Authors: Manuel Serrano

Published: May 2017

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Targeted Apoptosis of Senescent Cells Restores, Tissue Homeostasis in Response to Chemotoxicity
and Aging

This study reviews the role of oxytocin in regulating various physiological processes, including eating behavior and metabolism. It discusses how chronic administration of oxytocin can lead to weight reduction by reducing food intake, increasing energy expenditure, and inducing lipolysis. This study emphasizes oxytocin's potential therapeutic applications in metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes mellitus.
Authors: Marjolein P. Baar, Renata M.C. Brandt, Diana A. Putavet, Jan H.J. Hoeijmakers, Judith Campisi,
Peter L.J. de Keizer
Published: 2017 March

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Molecular modelling of the FOXO4-TP53 interaction to design senolytic peptides for the elimination of senescent cancer cells

Senescent cells accumulate in tissues over time as part of the natural ageing process and the removal of senescent cells has shown promise for alleviating many different age-related diseases in mice. Cancer is an age-associated disease and there are numerous mechanisms driving cellular senescence in cancer that can be detrimental to recovery. Thus, it would be beneficial to develop a senolytic that acts not only on ageing cells but also senescent cancer cells to prevent cancer recurrence or progression.

Authors: Michael A. Valentino, Jieru E. Lin, and Scott A. Waldman
Published: Oct 2021

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Expression and clinical significance of FOX04 in colorectal cancer

The positive expression rate of FOXO4 protein in colorectal cancer tissues was 47.50%, which was significantly lower than that in matched noncancerous tissues (91.25%, P<O. 01). Statistical analysis showed that the expression of FOXO4 in colorectal cancer tissues were not obviously correlated with the patients' age, gender , tumor sizes and depth( P >0.05) . however, there were significant differences of FOXO4 expression in tumor differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).

Authors: Liu Xiang-qiang, Tang Shan-hong, Zhang Zhi-yong, Jin Hai-feng
Published: 2011 Sep

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