What it is
FOXO4-DRI is an experimental peptide designed to trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) selectively in senescent cells, nicknamed "zombie" cells because they have stopped dividing but remain in tissue. "D-retro-inverso" describes how the peptide is built: from D-amino acids, the mirror-image forms of the usual L-amino acids, assembled in reverse order. It features in longevity research on senolytics, compounds meant to clear senescent cells.
In the PeptidesAI encyclopedia it is categorized under immune and skin anti-aging. It is a research reagent with no human data.
How it's thought to work
The original study identified FOXO4 as a pivot in senescent cell viability and designed a peptide that perturbs the interaction between FOXO4 and p53. In senescent cells, this selectively caused p53 to leave the cell nucleus and triggered apoptosis, an action described as senolytic.
What the research says
In the 2017 Cell study by Baar and colleagues, the FOXO4 peptide neutralized chemotherapy-induced (doxorubicin) toxicity in mice and restored fitness, fur density and renal function in both fast-aging and naturally aged mice. No human clinical trials have been published, and FOXO4-DRI is not FDA-approved.
Reported side effects
No human safety data exists. Because the approach is designed to induce apoptosis, effects on other tissues remain a theoretical concern, and the compound is considered experimental.
Reconstitution
FOXO4-DRI is sold as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) research reagent in 5 mg and 10 mg vials. It has no established human use, so the worked example below illustrates the arithmetic only.
Worked example. A 5 mg vial is 5,000 mcg. Reconstituted with 2 mL of BAC water, that works out to 5,000 mcg ÷ 2 mL = 2,500 mcg/mL. On a U-100 insulin syringe, where each unit is 0.01 mL, each unit holds 2,500 × 0.01 = 25 mcg. Use the peptide reconstitution calculator to work out the concentration and units for any vial size and water volume.
Important notes
FOXO4-DRI is an experimental research reagent with no human data, so its risks in people are unknown. It is not FDA-approved.
Sources
- Targeted Apoptosis of Senescent Cells Restores Tissue Homeostasis in Response to Chemotoxicity and Aging.. Baar MP et al. Cell, 2017. Preclinical
Frequently asked questions
These questions cover the same ground as the sections above, in a shorter format.
What is FOXO4-DRI?
An experimental D-retro-inverso peptide designed to trigger apoptosis selectively in senescent ("zombie") cells, studied in longevity research.
How is FOXO4-DRI thought to work?
It perturbs the interaction between FOXO4 and p53 in senescent cells, which causes p53 to leave the nucleus and triggers apoptosis, a senolytic action.
What does the research on FOXO4-DRI say?
A 2017 Cell study reported restored fitness, fur density and renal function in aged mice. There are no human clinical trials.
What are the reported side effects of FOXO4-DRI?
No human safety data exists. Inducing apoptosis carries theoretical risks, and it is considered experimental.
How much is one unit from a 5 mg FOXO4-DRI vial?
With 2 mL of BAC water, a 5 mg vial is 2,500 mcg/mL, so one unit on a U-100 syringe (0.01 mL) holds 25 mcg.
The full entry, plus the calculator
The PeptidesAI app has the complete encyclopedia entry for FOXO4-DRI — one of 70 compounds covered — plus the reconstitution calculator, a dose log and reminders. Free to download on iPhone.
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