Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Speaker: Keiko Kono, Associate Professor, Membranology Unit
Title: Cell Membrane Damage and Aging
Our bodies are composed of 37 trillion cells; all cells are surrounded by a ~5 µm cell membrane, which is thinner than a soap bubble. Therefore, our cells experience frequent mechanical stress and cell membrane damage during our regular activities. There are two known cellular fates after cell membrane damage, either recovery or death. We recently discovered the third cellular outcome: cell aging. Accumulating evidence suggests that cell aging explains some features of our body aging. Our study would ultimately address the long-standing question of how our cells age and how we age, and potentially contribute to healthy aging, stemming from the Okinawan traditional culture of healthy aging.
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Speaker: Keiko Kono, Associate Professor, Membranology Unit
Title: Cell Membrane Damage and Aging
Our bodies are composed of 37 trillion cells; all cells are surrounded by a ~5 µm cell membrane, which is thinner than a soap bubble. Therefore, our cells experience frequent mechanical stress and cell membrane damage during our regular activities. There are two known cellular fates after cell membrane damage, either recovery or death. We recently discovered the third cellular outcome: cell aging. Accumulating evidence suggests that cell aging explains some features of our body aging. Our study would ultimately address the long-standing question of how our cells age and how we age, and potentially contribute to healthy aging, stemming from the Okinawan traditional culture of healthy aging.
