SECRET OF YOUTH: how the «snot barrier» works
Carolyn Ruth Bertozzi is an American chemist and Nobel laureate (2022). She holds a Ph.D. and is a professor at Stanford University / britannica.com
Another round of experiments on mice has given scientists a clue as to where to look for an antidote to aging. A protein-based protective barrier has been discovered in the brain’s blood vessels. It acts as a kind of «dam» under attack by the waves of time. As the «dam» breaks down, we age. The question remains: can we «repair» it?
THE CURIOUS NOBEL LAUREATE
T
he author of the sensational experiment is Carolyn Bertozzi from Stanford University. Her contribution to modern science is indisputable, as evidenced by her earlier Nobel Prize in Chemistry. While studying the brain, Bertozzi turned her attention to a molecule that had, until then, remained largely unknown to science.
According to Carolyn, it had remained «invisible» to researchers. But the inquisitive mind of the Nobel laureate prompted her to fill in this gap and take a closer look. This curiosity sparked the work of Stanford graduate student Sophia Shi, who focused her research on the glycocalyx — a molecular layer that lines the blood vessels.
THE «SNOT BARRIER» IN BLOOD VESSELS
This layer is formed by mucins — large protein molecules that create strong bonds with each other. Mucins coat the inner lining of blood vessels throughout the body. Their clusters form a water-filled, sticky, slippery gel-like substance. In appearance, the glycocalyx strongly resembles the nasal mucus we’re all familiar with — which also serves a protective role.
It moisturizes the mucous membranes and traps dust, allergens, viruses, bacteria, and fungi that try to enter the body with inhaled air. Bertozzi suggested that this very «snot barrier», lining the blood vessels of the brain, maybe what stands in the way of the gradual degradation of our organs and systems.
A «FORTRESS» IN NEED OF «REPAIR»
Of course, it’s not the only mechanism by which our body defends itself against the harmful effects of aging. But it is a key component of a broader system of protection — the blood-brain barrier, which restricts the passage of harmful molecules from the blood into the brain. Such molecules cause inflammation in the brain, leading to Alzheimer’s disease and other severe conditions that we strongly associate with old age.
This happens because the «snot barrier» begins to break down. Gaps form in the walls of the «mucin fortress», allowing harmful molecules — constantly attacking the brain — to break through. Having clarified the role of mucins, Carolyn Bertozzi naturally asked the next question: could genetic engineering somehow be used to «repair» this «snot barrier»?
REBUILD THE BARRIER, AND AGEING WILL RETREAT!
Scientists began systematically observing the processes taking place in the glycocalyx of lab mice brains. In young mice, the mucin layer on the blood vessels was thick and rich. In older mice, it appeared thinner, drier, and patchy. Additionally, the older blood vessels showed a deficiency of a specific class of mucins. As a result, the «snot barrier» became more permeable.
In aged mice, the damaged barrier led to learning and memory problems. The root of these issues lay in the reduced activity of the enzymes responsible for producing mucins. Once the scientists enhanced the production of these enzymes, the mucin barrier was restored, brain inflammation subsided, and the mice performed much better on cognitive tests.
SCIENTISTS CONSIDER «SMUGGLING»
The work carried out by scientists at Stanford University under the leadership of Carolyn Bertozzi opens new possibilities for modern medicine. Aging is a concept that applies not only to the brain. Age-related changes in the glycocalyx of blood vessels likely affect more than just the brain — they may impact other organs as well.
For instance, this could be linked to the decline in kidney function with age, as the kidneys are responsible for filtering blood. Bertozzi plans to continue her in-depth research on mucins, believing their role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier may be even more dynamic and complex.
On the one hand, mucins prevent certain molecules from passing through blood vessel walls. On the other, scientists believe mucins actively manage molecules — transporting some while excluding others. Bertozzi aims to unravel these processes to eventually «smuggle» essential drugs through the «snot barrier».
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