Study record
Clearance of p16Ink4a-positive senescent cells delays ageing-associated disorders (Baker et al., 2011)
Verdict
Baker et al. used the INK-ATTAC transgene to remove p16Ink4a-positive cells in progeroid mice. Lifelong clearance delayed several age-related disorders and late-life clearance slowed existing pathology, establishing a causal mouse-model result—not a drug or human treatment effect.
Study facts
| Study | Baker et al., Nature (2011) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Model / population | INK-ATTAC transgenic mice on a BubR1 progeroid background. |
| Intervention | AP20187-induced genetic clearance of p16Ink4a-expressing cells. |
| Sample size | Multiple experimental cohorts; no single study-wide N |
| Primary endpoint | Onset and progression of age-related phenotypes in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and eye. |
| Main finding | Lifelong clearance delayed the onset of several age-related disorders, and late-life clearance attenuated progression of established disorders. |
| PMID / DOI / Registry | PMID 22048312; DOI 10.1038/nature10600; Registry not applicable to this study type |
○ Evidence tier 6 — Animal healthspan / mechanism study
Record verify: verified against primary source
| Design | Transgenic genetic-clearance study (mouse) |
| N | Multiple experimental cohorts; no single study-wide N |
| PMID | 22048312 |
| DOI | 10.1038/nature10600 |
| Citation status | PMID 22048312 and DOI 10.1038/nature10600 verified against PubMed 2026-09-02 (Nature 2011;479(7372):232-236, Baker et al.) |
Identifiers: DOI verified; PMID verified; trial registry id not applicable to this study type. Record-level verification and identifier-level status are separate: a record can be fully verified against its primary publication while an identifier that cannot apply to the study type — a trial registry ID for an animal study, for instance — is marked not applicable. No identifier is fabricated, and none is left in a “pending” state.
Five-qualifier claim
| Species / population | INK-ATTAC transgenic mice (BubR1 progeroid background). |
| Exposure, route, schedule | AP20187 inducer to trigger apoptosis in p16-expressing cells. |
| Comparator / duration | Vehicle-treated transgenic littermates; lifelong. |
| Endpoint / numeric result | Clearing p16-positive cells delayed onset of age-related changes in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and eye. |
| What it did NOT establish | Genetic tool in a progeroid model; not a drug and not a human result. |