Cellular Senescence Study Kit

Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide based on the natural epithalamin produced by the pineal gland. It activates telomerase (hTERT), the enzyme responsible for adding telomeric repeats to chromosome ends, thereby extending telomere length and increasing cellular replicative capacity. It also stimulates melatonin production from the pineal gland, restoring circadian rhythm function that declines with age. Additionally, it modulates antioxidant enzyme expression and has been shown to extend lifespan in animal models.

FOXO4-DRI is a retro-inverso peptide (D-amino acid mirror image in reverse sequence) designed to disrupt the interaction between FOXO4 and p53 in senescent cells. In cellular senescence, FOXO4 accumulates in the nucleus and sequesters p53, preventing p53-mediated apoptosis and keeping senescent cells alive. FOXO4-DRI competitively blocks this interaction, freeing p53 to trigger apoptosis selectively in senescent cells while sparing healthy cells. This makes it a targeted senolytic agent.

Pinealon is a synthetic tripeptide bioregulator designed to target the pineal gland and central nervous system. It penetrates cell membranes and reaches the nucleus where it binds to specific DNA sequences to regulate gene expression related to neurotransmitter synthesis, antioxidant enzyme production, and neuroendocrine function. It promotes melatonin synthesis in pinealocytes, has neuroprotective properties against oxidative stress, and modulates neuronal apoptosis through regulation of anti-apoptotic gene expression.

Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded by the MT-RNR2 gene (16S ribosomal RNA). It exerts cytoprotective effects by binding to IGFBP-3 (blocking its pro-apoptotic effects), binding to BAX (preventing mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and apoptosis), and activating the STAT3 signaling pathway via the CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130 receptor complex. Humanin protects neurons from amyloid-beta toxicity and has broad anti-apoptotic, inflammatory-pathway, and metabolic regulatory functions.